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Wedding-themed shows are a staple at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Among them, Linus Karp and Joseph Martin star in the whimsically titled “The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday here)).”
However, this past Saturday marked a unique occasion as they became the first couple to officially marry onstage as part of the Fringe program.
Their wedding, held in the 750-seat Pleasance Grand, was a ticketed event, with friends and family joined by fellow performers and Fringe attendees.
“We’ve been together for 11 years, and while we’re planning a smaller ceremony in September, we wanted to formalize things legally,” explains Joseph. “Edinburgh holds a special place for us, so it felt like the perfect location.”
Both grooms donned outfits designed by Edinburgh-based Cosimo Damiano Angiulli (Simo the label), entering to their own personalized theme music.
“Just before the audience entered, I felt a wave of nerves,” Joseph admitted.
“But then, ‘show mode’ kicked in, and it strangely felt like the most natural place for us to be. We were home.”
Jackie Blackburn from Edinburgh City Council officiated the ceremony.
“I’ve presided over many distinctive ceremonies, but none quite on this scale,” she remarked.
“It was certainly the largest venue and the greatest number of guests I’ve officiated in front of.
“My favorite part was when the grooms exchanged vows. Beyond the legal requirements, they had written their own personal vows, creating a moment of sincere calm amidst the magical, romantic mayhem.”
Joseph, originally from Northamptonshire, pledged to continue supporting Linus’s “insane ideas,” referencing Linus’s performances as Princess Diana and Gwyneth Paltrow in their other shows, “Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story” and “Gwyneth Goes Skiing.”
Linus, from Sweden, described Joseph as the “sweetest, most ridiculous person” and expressed his excitement to create “more stupid fringe shows” together.
Both sets of parents joined their sons onstage, with Linus’s mother, Elisabeth Ljunggren, sharing their happiness in sharing the special day.
“Love is a gift to cherish and care for, every day in good times and bad, in sickness and health,” she said.
“We love you both to the moon and back.”
Fellow performers, including Sooz Kemper, Emily Lamey, and the theatre company Recent Cutbacks, provided entertainment, and guests were encouraged to donate to charity or purchase tickets to their shows in lieu of gifts.
The newlyweds enjoyed a little over an hour with their guests in the outdoor bar before their performance that day.
With upcoming US and UK dates in September and December, a honeymoon will have to wait.
“I’m not sure there’ll be time for a real honeymoon for a little while at least but performing at the fringe is very much a honeymoon in itself, very relaxing,” says Linus.
“Maybe we’ll climb Arthur’s seat. That seems like a good way to celebrate our Scottish wedding.”
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