Cairns couple ‘tie the knot’ in traditional Viking ceremony
After meeting in an English pub, this couple have tied the knot in a unique way.
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After meeting in an English pub and relocating to Australia almost 20 years ago, a Far North couple have tied the knot in an intimate, tropical, Viking-themed ceremony.
Jon and Natalie Herbert, who were engaged for 18 years, said they wanted to do something fun and non-traditional for their nuptials.
“We’re both from England so we’re both Celtic, but I’ve got ancestry that goes back to Norway and Jon’s ancestry goes back to Sweden,” Natalie said.
“We love the whole Viking theme and we love fancy dress so we thought we’d do a Viking wedding.”
While their love story began in the English shire of Devon, it didn’t blossom until they moved to Australia in 2003.
“I travelled the world backpacking, spent a couple years in Australia and fell in love with the country,” Natalie said.
“Before anything got serious, I told Jon I wanted to emigrate to Australia at some point and a month later, he got offered a job in Darwin.”
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On their first night in Australia, Jon proposed at Kings Park, in Perth.
After almost two decades of “pestering” from family and friends, the couple finally took the plunge and married in an intimate ceremony in Yorkeys Knob.
“The wedding’s been on and off for various reasons, health issues, starting our own businesses and we’ve got a son who’s 16, but we’ve always been together,” Jon said.
“The appeal was, it was something different and not the same as everyone else. It’s a bit of fun and everyone can get involved in it.”
Natalie surprised her groom by riding horseback to the ceremony alongside her bridesmaids.
Among traditional Viking festivities, the couple literally tied the knot, with an intricately woven cord while reciting their vows.
Their guests and wedding celebrant got into the spirit of the occasion, dressing in their best Viking outfits including leather weapons straps, fake weapons and fur.
“When you say to somebody having a wedding and go it’s gonna be a Viking wedding, you get two reactions, one is ‘oh really?’ and the other is brilliant!” John said.
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Originally published as Cairns couple ‘tie the knot’ in traditional Viking ceremony
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