A Wedding on Stage: Couple Tie the Knot in the Midst of Their Fringe Show

Published: 20th August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

At the bustling Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where performances often blur the line between spectacle and everyday life, Linus Karp and Joseph Martin made history by becoming the first couple to legally marry onstage as part of the official Fringe programme. Their decision to wed within the theatrical confines of the 750-seat Pleasance Grand was not merely an eccentric choice, but a deeply personal statement about love, performance, and the unique magic of Edinburgh. Friends, family, performers, and fringe-goers alike bore witness to the ceremony, blending the intimacy of a private union with the communal energy of the festival.

The couple, who have been together for eleven years, had planned a smaller celebration later in September but sought to complete the legal formalities in a location that had become deeply meaningful to them. Joseph, reflecting on the moment, explained, “We’ve been a real life couple for 11 years and we’re having a sort of a small ceremony in September but we wanted to do the legal bit first and we thought Edinburgh’s a very special place for us so why not do it there?” Their choice of attire, designed by Edinburgh-based Cosimo Damiano Angiulli, set the stage for a visual spectacle as each groom made his entrance to his own distinctive theme tune, blending theatrical flair with heartfelt ceremony.

For Joseph, nerves were natural as they prepared to step onto the stage, but the familiar rhythm of performance soon took over. “There was a moment where we left the stage just before the audience were led in and I felt the nerves kick in a little bit,” he said. “But then show mode kicked in and bizarrely, it felt like the natural place for us to be at that point. We’re at home.” Jackie Blackburn of Edinburgh City Council officiated the ceremony, noting the remarkable scale of the event. “I have been involved in many unique ceremonies but none quite on the scale of this,” she said. “It was by far the largest venue and greatest number of guests I’ve officiated in front. My favourite part of their ceremony was when the grooms made their vows and declarations to each other – they were so sincere, as in addition to the required legalities they had written their own personal vows. It was like a period of calm in the midst of magical romantic mayhem.”

The vows were as distinctive as the couple themselves. Joseph, originally from Northamptonshire, pledged to continue supporting Linus’s imaginative and playful ventures, which have included performances dressed as Princes Diana and Gwyneth Paltrow. Linus, from Sweden, described Joseph as the “sweetest most ridiculous person” and expressed eagerness to continue creating unconventional fringe productions together. Their families, too, embraced the celebratory atmosphere, joining the stage to share in the couple’s joy. Linus’s mother, Elisabeth Ljunggren, offered touching words: “Love is a gift to cherish and care for, every day in good times and bad, in sickness and health. We love you both to the moon and back.”

Adding to the festive mood, fellow performers such as Sooz Kemper, Emily Lamey, and the theatre company Recent Cutbacks provided entertainment for the assembled guests, while contributions to charity and show tickets replaced traditional wedding gifts. The celebration was brief, with just over an hour in the outdoor bar before the couple had to prepare for that evening’s performance, highlighting the unique intersection of art and life that defines the Fringe.

Looking ahead, the couple faces a busy schedule with US and UK performances planned for September and December, leaving little room for a traditional honeymoon. Yet Linus reflected on the nature of their celebration: “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. Maybe we’ll climb Arthur’s Seat. That seems like a good way to celebrate our Scottish wedding.”

In merging personal milestone with public performance, Linus Karp and Joseph Martin have created a remarkable moment that exemplifies the spirit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: a space where creativity, courage, and love converge, producing memories that will linger both on stage and in the hearts of those who witnessed it.