I went to the 'first ever wedding' at the Edinburgh Fringe

The National

a day ago

But on Saturday, I was privileged to witness the marriage of Linus Ljunggren and Joseph Paterson, two festival icons.
Believed to be the first ever legal wedding to take place at the world-famous festival, the ceremony was as outrageous and delightful and camp as you might expect – but it was also a beautiful testament to two people who are deeply committed to each other.
The order of service for the ceremony, which took place at The Grand in Pleasance Courtyard (Image: NQ) The pair have known each other for more than 10 years and are true Fringe royalty. Through their production company Awkward Productions, they're known for their sell-out shows Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, and Gwyneth Goes Skiing – two of my favourite shows I've seen in recent years.
Before anyone asks – yes, their wedding was technically a "show". Yes, anyone could buy a ticket and come along. Yes, you could wear whatever you wanted.
In order to appreciate the wedding fully, you have to throw out any preconceived notions you might have about what a wedding is "supposed" to be. There is no perfect formula – it should simply be what you want it to be.
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The proceedings began with a heart-wrenching rendition of 2 Become 1 by the Spice Girls, sung by none other than comedian and actress Sooz Kempner.
Then the grooms arrived. In a wonderfully executed routine, Joseph came on stage to Charli XCX's Von Dutch, while Linus was literally carried down the aisle by a handful of shirtless men.
There were the classic wedding speeches – but with a twist. One of the best men gave a dramatic reading of Miley Cyrus's Party In The USA (there wasn't a dry eye in the room), while another best man gave a speech featuring random words which had been selected by the audience. It was pure, joyful chaos.
Joseph (left) and Linus (right) pictured with officiant Jackie Blackburn (Image: NQ) Onto the actual ceremony, which was officiated by Jackie Blackburn from City of Edinburgh Council, in case you were in any doubt that this was a real, legal wedding.
Of course, to get married you need rings. A group of performers from Recent Cutbacks (who also have a Fringe show) thankfully came to the rescue, with an Oscar-worthy retelling of Lord of the Rings, where they presented the couple with their own rings from Mordor.
Once the "I Dos" were exchanged, the audience gave one of the loudest standing ovations I've ever heard at the Fringe. It was beautiful to see a room full of mostly strangers come together, it felt like a scene from a movie.
It would be remiss of me not to mention what people were wearing. While there were lots of folk dressed in regular Fringe-going outfits, I did also spot a couple of people donning kilts, as well as a couple of corsages.
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As for the groom and groom, they were styled by Cosimo Damiano Angiulli, the designer behind SIMO THE LABEL, a sustainable, gender-fluid fashion brand based in Edinburgh. Their outfits were stunning – a lovely tribute to their individual personalities, while also complementing each other perfectly.
Instead of gifts, the couple asked for people to buy tickets to their shows (there's no such thing as a bad time for publicity), and to donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians.
For a couple so embedded in the fabric of the Fringe, I can't think of a better place to get married.
And if anyone was doubting just how committed they are to the festival – they're set to perform their newest show The Fit Prince (Who Gets Switched On The Square In The Frosty Castle The Night Before (Insert Public Holiday Here)) just hours after getting married.
To witness this beautiful ceremony was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and something I will cherish forever.