no, it’s not an iron maiden concert

So what do you do when you’re avoiding one of the largest bear runs in the midwest?

Go to a satanic wedding of course.

I met Jane about five years ago as a favor for a guy I was dating who asked if I would look at her graphic design portfolio. We met in a smokey neighborhood basement bar and by the time we were done, we had her book reorganized and were well on our way to becoming friends.

A towering woman of over 6 feet, Jane is every bit a lady but possess a somewhat domineering undercurrent to her personality.

It wasn’t until our friendship developed that I discovered she is an active member, and somewhat of a celebrity, in the heterosexual S&M scene. I was already on my way to adoring her, but this little factoid was merely icing on the cake. (see previous non-blog evidence of my compulsion to collect interesting and odd friends.)

A widow at the time we met, Jane started dating Cliff, a practicing satanic priest, about a year later.

Stoic, well spoken and strikingly handsome, Jane’s new beau was nothing like what I pictured a satanist would look like. We embraced him as a friend-in-law and over the next few years their love grew and Cliff finally popped “the big question”.

The combo ceremony / reception was at a mid-town American Legion hall. I was in kitsch heaven amidst all the cinder-block and wood paneled fabulousness. xenohomo, MrMoLeather and power-pet-dyke Mz. Shameless met us in the parking lot.

The crowd was an eclectic mix of satanists, homosexuals and what appeared to be nervous protestants.

Jane asked me if I would take photos which provided the perfect distraction to keep any latent, residual catholic knee-jerk reactions from overcoming me.

The ceremony was really no more mystical than your typical high-catholic mass. Censor waving, standing, sitting, a reading from “the book of satan”. *the echo effect on the microphone during the reading did start to make me chuckle. (or at least I “hope” it was just an echo effect!)

The vows were actually quite beautiful and touching.

Dagger waving, black shrouds and reverse lord’s prayer aside, I got a little teary when they embraced and I saw the tears of joy streaming from Jane’s eyes.

The reception was casually low key. *or is that Loki?

Folks freely mingled and we enjoyed baked Mostaccioli – a St. Louis wedding reception cliche.

I bounced around and filled every Memory Stickâ„¢ I own.

Of course, I was taking the photos for Jane and not for blogging-purposes. Otherwise, I’d feel obligated to post…