Eryn & Andrew’s black belt in love leads to medieval wedding

Incorporating a shared passion into your wedding day is a clever way of making it unique to any other.

Eryn Campbell-Hardwick, 21, and Andrew Purcell, 44, took on the suggestion of their celebrant, Marry Me Marilyn, to include a belt-tying ceremony – representing their love of karate. “Marilyn suggested that we include an element of our martial arts journey together; a ‘belt tying’ ceremony, similar to those in medieval Celtic culture,” explains Eryn.

The pair met back in 2009 at a karate class. Andrew was on his learners with a yellow belt, and Eryn, further progressed on her brown belt. “Little did I know that the handsome stranger standing opposite me in sparring lines would one day be my husband,” says Eryn. “In our first ever sparring match, he won. I may have been upset about this had I been able to get his adorable smile out of my head.”

The special touch at their ceremony for the medieval wedding on July 12, 2014 at Tyalgum Ridge Retreat involved their siblings. Each draped a belt over the couple’s clasped hands, tying them together in matrimony. “Many of our karate ‘family’ really enjoyed this unique tribute,” smiles Eryn.

Photos courtesy of Angel Eyes Photography.

The bridesmaids’ black strapless gowns were purchased from Rare Dare Stones Corner.

“The two black belts were our current belts and those that we had achieved together,” Eryn says of the belt-tying.

The night concluded with a supermoon adding to the uniqueness of this wedding.

“Andrew is my best friend and my husband, and I can’t imagine a better man to spend my life with,” smiles Eryn.

Video by Angel Eyes Photography.