It’s not everyday you see a pack of Vikings making their way along Katoomba Street, but that’s exactly what happened earlier this month.
A Viking bridal procession was held in Katoomba on Saturday September 2, complete with a Norwegian choir, shield men with maidens in hand and a colourful bride and groom.
The spring wedding occurred at Kingsford Smith Park between teacher Freya Baska and her childhood sweetheart, builder Michael Telford, both 29.
”My mother is Norwegian and hand crafted all the wedding party's attire according to Viking tradition,” Ms Baska said.
“My partner and I do Viking reenacting; we are part of the crafting guild. It has cultural significance to both of us as we both have northern European ancestors. We are enthusiastically bringing our friends into the circle of Viking madness.”
The pair were in “the same class from kindy to late high school at a Steiner School” and are in the process of renovating an old Katoomba miner’s cottage they bought last year.
Some 100 guests celebrated and later enjoyed a reception at the couple’s home where “European/ Viking wholesome food” was on the menu.
“It was such an honour to bring the Katoomba folk into our Spring Viking wedding,” Ms Baska said.
“People stopped in their cars to take photos [and] business owners stood outside to wave us through. The hop on/hop off bus was full of very excited tourists,” she said.
