Nearly 15 years ago I was a guest at the nuptials of Sunflower and Wingnut. These newlyweds were just two members of the hobo community celebrating in Britt, Iowa during the National Hobo Convention held every August. I hope this piece transports you to a humid, love-filled day in a rural Iowa Hobo Jungle. This article originally appeared in The Britt News Tribune on August 17, 2011.

BRITT – The bride wore white and carried a bouquet. The couple exchanged rings and vows.

They left on their honeymoon the next morning to an unknown destination; it just depends on where the train takes them.

Lorienza “Sunflower” Zahrt and Bill “Wingnut” Rose married at the Hobo Jungle in front of the hobo community and hundreds of curious spectators during the National Hobo Convention in Britt, on Aug. 13.

The ceremony featured several aspects unique to hobo weddings. Rhubarb leaves were stripped from the stalk and burned to rid the marriage of poisonous obstacles. A jig was performed halfway through the ceremony, where anyone from the crowd was invited to dance around the fire to “Rockin’ Robin.” Hobo Queen Sunrise, an ordained minister, anointed the couple to bless their future.

“The neatest thing for me was going to get the groom,” said Hobo Queen Sunrise. “He was so enthralled with his bride.”

Also unique to this occasion was the story of the bride and groom. After meeting at the Convention in 2009, Zahrt, a Britt native, and Rose reconnected there again in 2010-but this time Zahrt joined Rose on the rails at the close of the festival. Rose proposed in Minneapolis later that year.

“To my memory this is the first couple living in Britt who have been married in The Jungle,” said Connecticut Shorty.

Zahrt’s grandparents, William and Beverly Spencer of Britt, raised the bride from infancy.

“We’re happy for her,” said Beverly. “Surprised, but happy.”

“They’re so much alike,” said William. “Two peas in a pod.”

“Once we got together we knew we would get married here,” said Zahrt.

However the main message of the wedding is the same as a more traditional church affair.

Hobo Spike, the officiant of the ceremony, listed companionship, cooperation and family as some of the themes of the occasion.

“Although they’re not church weddings, the hobos consider themselves truly married,” said Shorty. “They’ll (the couples will) stay together for years.”

The bride and groom were dressed for the day.

Zahrt wore a traditional white wedding gown with yellow embroidery, with sunflowers in her hair as a nod to her adopted lifestyle.

But her groom got special attention.

“Look at you all dressed up,” said a passing hobo, as Rose prepared for the ceremony.

Rose wore blue and white striped bib overalls, with a yellow dress shirt, red bandanna and newly shaved face.

“The groom looked pretty dapper,” said Shorty.

But the one thing they both wore was the excitement for their future.

“Magical,” was the word the bride used to describe her day.

“To me this is really what a hobo king and queen are: riding trains together and getting married in Britt,” said Rose. “If that’s not a fairy tale hobo wedding I don’t know what is.”