After consulting an astrologer for an auspicious date, William Laurence and Lan Xichen were married on the lakeshore of the Dragon Covert, on the 15th of April, 2023, in the company of their families: Temeraire, also known as Lung Tien Xiang, and special guests Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, Lan Sizhui, and Jin Ling.
The ceremony itself was a mix of Christian-Anglican and Chinese tradition: an Anglican ceremony, followed by the three bows to Heaven and Earth, the families, and to one another. During the exchanging of the rings, Will and Lan Xichen also affixed bracelets made of red thread by Lan Xichen to one another's wrists, so that they may find one another again in the afterlife.
Last month, close friends of Lan Xichen and William Laurence received in the mail invitations to celebrate their wedding with dinner and dancing. The invitations were hand-written by Will over watercolour paintings by Lan Xichen.
Guests would have arrived following the ceremony, to a well-appointed dinner, with catering arranged by Ignis Scientia. The sudden influx of relations during the week meant preparations had to be made very quickly, but both Will and Lan Xichen are well-trained in party planning, and so the event turned out beautifully. The tables were laid with fine China, with red chrysanthemum centrepieces made by Lan Xichen and Lan Sizhui.
As with the ceremony, dinner was a mix of traditions from Ancient Magical China and Regency England With Dragons. A whole cow was roasted for Temeraireโs enjoyment, while the dinner dishes for humans included roast goose, longevity noodles, several types of dumpling both vegetarian and meat-filled, fresh bread, and a seasonal strawberry dessert. The longevity noodles represent wishes of wishes of prosperity and good luck, and are meant to be kept long without being cut. The longer the noodles are kept before being eaten, the longer the prosperity and the luck.
During the dinner, Lan Xichen and Will went around to each of the tables to serve tea and thank their guests for being present. This is traditional, and of course itโs a big deal when someone hops dimensions to attend your nuptials.
A larger reception with dancing, an open bar, and wedding cake followed. Practically everyone they know (feel free to assume) was invited to this grand celebration, on invitations that were hand-penned by either Will Laurence or Lan Xichen. The decorations are mostly in the Chinese style, with bright red lanterns and streamers, red chrysanthemums are the flower of the hour and can be found all over, and the music covers a wide range of everything with a lean toward English country dances. Never learned a quadrille or a cotillion? Nowโs your chance!
The first dance was danced to the waltz that Lan Xichen wrote for Will when he finally succeeded in expressing his feelings. Dancers who take to the flagstones to dance may be pleasantly surprised to find that the flagstones are heated thanks to the underground hot springs at the Covert.
Guests who are hoping to catch Will and Lan Xichen smooching at any point of the evening are going to be sorely disappointed. But feel free to be scandalized at the long, fond looks they exchange, the hand holding, or, if they're especially watchful, they might, gasp, catch Will bringing Lan Xichen's knuckles to his lips.
Wedding gifts are not expected, but will be accepted if they show up anyway. Guest rooms have been made up, and any guests who have overindulged at the open bar, or simply don't want to make the trip home, are welcome to spend the night at the Dragon Covert. They'll be unlikely to see the grooms the next day, however.