Stargazers wed at Stonehenge Aotearoa

HITCHED: Stonehenge Aotearoa managers Kay Leather and Richard Hall wed at a rain-soaked service at the Carterton stone circle last Sunday. PHOTO/KARINA HUNT

Visitors celebrating the spring equinox at Stonehenge Aotearoa last weekend were treated to a surprise - the wedding of Stonehenge managers and astronomers Richard Hall and Kay Leather.

The couple, who helped design, build and now run the henge, tied the knot in an ancient Celtic hand-fasting ceremony complete with medieval costumes and a high priestess at the Carterton henge on Sunday.

Groom Richard Hall said the ceremony was a "very, very colourful" event, timed to coincide with the ancient druidic festival of Alban Ellir, or spring equinox.

The wedding came as a surprise to many of those there, Mr Hall said.

"I didn't tell them we were getting married. I just said come along to the equinox, it will be a lot of fun."

A druidic high priestess, who is also a marriage celebrant, officiated at the ceremony, during which the couple walked through the stone circle, crossed hands and exchanged vows.

The pair, who met while working at the Carter Observatory in Wellington, wanted to hold the wedding at the place where they had put in so much work, Mr Hall said.

"We've put the last 15 years of our life into developing it, so it was important to have it here."

"A lot of people came up to us afterwards and said what a wonderful ceremony it was."

The wet weather did not put a damper on the day as the couple were well-equipped with umbrellas.

Stonehenge Aotearoa, owned by the Phoenix Astronomical Society, hosts two or three weddings every year.