On August 7th, 1999, at Quail Hollow Ranch in Felton, Randa-Noel Johnson and Adreanna Riley were married in a Quaker/Neo-pagan ritual. Kathy Hubenet of the Seattle Society of Friends Meeting officiated.
Adreanna's attendants were: Wendy Jo Kroll, Eden Jakajebarga-Bell, Juanita Mora Malerva, and Deana Meyer. Also present were her mother, Melissa Young (plus her partner and his daughter), and nearly all of her extended family, including blood relatives and chosen relatives.
Randa's attendants were: Maid of Honor Rebecca Grey, brothers Mike and Dawit Johnson, stepbrothers Buck and Austin Ernest, and Tapati Amber Sarasvati. Also attending the ceremony were father Charles Johnson and his wife Mona Fabiano Johnson, many extended family members and close friends, and members of the local improv group Dianic Panic (of which both brides are members).
The ceremony began with the members of both bridal parties entering the circle of chairs, hands joined, spiraling in while singing, "We are the flow, we are the ebb, we are the weavers, we are the web." As they took their seats, Kathy Hubenet welcomed the guests and 4 attendants (Eden, Rebecca, Tapati and Wendy) called the four directions--a neo-pagan element invoking protective entities to join the assemblage to witness and bless the proceedings.
Kathy Hubenet then explained the Quaker elements of the ceremony, in which guests sit in silent contemplation while the bridal couple await the appropriate moment to come forth and state their intentions and vows to each other. Each of the brides meditated, and when they were ready they silently communicated to each other that it was time. They rose and faced the assembled guests and took turns telling each other the many reasons each chose to marry the other.
Again they took their seats, and again there was a period of silent reflection. Then, various guests took turns as they felt moved to, and addressed the brides with words of wisdom, blessings, or whatever came to mind. There was a pause, according to custom, between each statement.
When all who felt they wished to speak had had a chance, Ellie Kellman led the congregation in the song "Give Yourself to Love."
Kathy Hubenet then performed the handfasting--literally tying the brides' hands together lightly in a scarf. The wedding party then linked hands and spiralled back out of the group (singing, "May The Circle Be Open") toward the house, and the four attendants came back to release the spirits in the four directions.
Everyone present signed the wedding contract that will be displayed in the home of the newlyweds.
A dinner reception immediately followed the wedding and the klezmer band Hou Tza Tza played traditional Eastern European Jewish music complete with chair dancing and other traditional wedding tunes.
Randa is the daughter of Charles and the late Margaret Wrathall Johnson, and stepmother Mona Fabiano Johnson of Nevada City. She graduated from Nevada Union High School in 1984 and from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1988. She is completing her Masters' thesis for San Jose State University in History. She is a social worker at the San Andreas Regional Center in Salinas.
Adreanna is the daughter of Melissa Young of Seattle, Washington. She graduated from The Northwest School in 1989 and from Earlham College in 1993. She is a social worker at the San Andreas Regional Center in Watsonville.
The newlyweds spent two nights at The Blue Spruce Inn of Soquel, followed by a week in Yachats, Oregon.