Deciding on a pagan themed wedding can be an exciting and unique way to celebrate your love and commitment. Paganism is a broad term that encompasses various spiritual traditions that honor nature, the cycles of the seasons, and ancient deities. Incorporating these elements into your wedding can make it a truly magical and meaningful experience. One of the key aspects of a pagan themed wedding is connecting with nature. Consider holding your ceremony outdoors, in a lush garden, forest, or by a lake. This will allow you to be surrounded by the natural beauty that paganism holds sacred.
This will allow you to be surrounded by the natural beauty that paganism holds sacred. You can also include natural elements such as flowers, stones, and herbs in your decorations and bouquets. This will symbolize the abundance and fertility associated with pagan beliefs.
The secret story of the Chippendales: Crime, murder and arson behind the glossy cuffs and collars
T he performers are instantly recognisable across the globe for their sleek signature look: handsome, muscled men in tight black pants, naked from the waist up except for wrist cuffs and bow ties, topped off with perfectly coiffed hair and unfailingly glistening smiles.
Chippendales took the entertainment world by storm when it burst onto the scene more than four decades ago, identifying a niche among a largely untapped population with increasing disposable income – women – as they benefited from expanding social and financial freedoms.
The enterprise seemed to add an element of class to the world of stripping, traditionally associated – particularly in movies and television – with underhanded deals, danger, drugs and crime.
Unbeknownst to most, however, the backroom dealings of the forces behind Chippendales were every bit as shady, spiralling so far as to include tax evasion, arson and eventually murder. To top it all off, there was even a bungling hitman named Strawberry in the mix.
The bizarre and deadly dealings are detailed in a new A&E docuseries that premiered this week titled Secrets of the Chippendales Murders - just months after another shocking series, Curse of the Chippendales, aired on discovery+.
“It’s titillating on so many levels, and you’ve got these huge personalities . in terms of the victims and the former dancers, let alone the founder,” Jeanie Vink, executive producer on the latter, told The Independent.
‘Curse Of The Chippendales’ trailer“It’s a fabulous story, to be honest. It’s one of my favourite shows I’ve ever worked on.”
She pointed out that “people remember the cuffs and collars” but have either forgotten or never knew about “the most bizarre murder-for-hire crime in the FBI’s history, by their own description”.
“It’s a story of greed – and how it ate away at everyone and everything that the business touched,” she said.
Chippendales began after businessman Steve Banerjee bought a failing West Hollywood club and attempted to turn it around, experimenting with everything from backgammon and mud wrestling as a gimmick. His luck finally changed when he allegedly stole an idea from another California bar and began offering a burlesque show for women.
It was a hit, with the phenomenon following the social revolutions of the 60s and 70s, tapping into not only women’s deeper pockets but also their growing senses of sexual and overall independence.
“Thanks to the TV shows, Chippendales was a household institution,” former dancer Roger Menache, now 66, told The Independent. “We were portrayed as good-looking, tall, dark and handsome guys that could entertain and have a persona, an image, of perfection – the epitome of what a good-looking man could be.”
The show quickly expanded with clubs in other cities and national and international tours – with performers becoming de facto celebrities accustomed to throngs of frenzied women across the world. Key to the Chippendales success, however, was Emmy-award-winning producer Nick de Noia, who joined forces with the quieter and socially awkward immigrant Banerjee to add the secret sauce to the Chippendales recipe.
Good-looking, charismatic and a seasoned showman, de Noia began getting much more of the fame and credit than the club’s original founder. Banerjee was not pleased and the men’s relationship deteriorated, especially after the pair signed a deal on a cocktail napkin that essentially gave de Noia the tour rights.
Banerjee decided the best way to deal with this was to have the showman killed, consulting a Bronx friend, Ray Colon, who hired a hitman named Louie – who unceremoniously walked into de Noia’s office in Manhattan in 1987 and fatally shot him in the face.
“Banerjee was motivated by jealousy – that Nick was getting the credit for Chippendales, jealousy that Nick was getting half of the door,” Candace Mayeron, an associate producer for the revue from 1981-1987, says in Curse of the Chippendales. “He was jealous of Nick’s ability to handle all the attention.”
De Noia’s murder went unsolved for years – and would only be unravelled as Banerjee’s criminal streak worsened. His jealousy extended far beyond his old partner, and he tried to take down other clubs by having them set on fire.
Initially, even those in Banerjee’s inner circle were unaware he was behind the arson attacks.
“I learned from the FBI that Steve was possibly involved in the firebombings of these other clubs that would feature male exotic dancers,” Chippendales’ longtime lawyer, Bruce Nahin, says in the discovery+ series. “Steve wasn’t real happy with competition. So I started to wonder if it was a charade, on Steve’s part, to double our security – because if we were the only club that didn’t get hit, then that would look suspicious.
“And if that was true, Steve was clearly not the person I thought he was.”
That was an understatement; moving on from arson, Banerjee and Colon cooked up more murder-for-hire plots. They hired a hitman named Strawberry to travel to England to kill members of a rival tour group – even providing him with cyanide-filled syringes.
Strawberry thought better of this idea, fearing he knew too much and could be next on their hit list, and he strolled into the FBI’s Las Vegas office to share his incredible tale.
“Any agent, whether you’re straight out of the academy or whether you’re a 25-year agent, this is the kind of case you want to get involved in,” FBI agent Scott Garriola says in Curse of the Chippendales. “Not only did we have this conspiracy to kill people over in London, but we have a murder which actually occurred in New York in 1987. We have two arsons we have to investigate, and this conspiracy extended from the mid-70s all the way up until . 1991.”
Colon and Banerjee were arrested in 1993, but the latter killed himself in jail while awaiting sentencing on charges of attempted arson, racketeering and murder for hire.
Throughout the documentary, everyone from dancers to law enforcement remains incredulous, decades later, at just how out-of-control and dangerous the backroom intrigue became.
“I instantly concluded: This can’t possibly be real life. This is the movies,” David Scheper, chief of major crimes at the US Attorney’s Office, says in the discovery+ show of the first time he realised the scope of the allegations. “If true, Steve Banerjee rested an international business empire largely on a willingness to kill and burn.”
Retired performer Menache, who fondly shares tales of his time with Chippendales, said he participated in the documentary because it aimed to show all sides of the enterprise – and he clearly doesn’t want the good elements to get lost, either.
“No one has ever touched the actual facts and . true life events and the actual storytelling of the actual dancers,” he told The Independent. “I wanted to tell my side of the story – how it started, how the brand name became so famous and successful.”
Curse of the Chippendales gave him an opportunity to relive great memories, he said – but, as a good friend of De Noia’s, a man he considered a mentor, Mr Menache believes people should know the full facts behind the phenomenon.
“In their minds, they relate to Chippendales as a male dance show, just entertaining, for ladies only, and all fun and games and making lots of money, and maybe cocky guys dancing,” he said of the average fan or person. “But behind closed doors, there was a lot of underhanded dealings – not so much with the cast, but Steve Banerjee and the management had a dark side.”
Another important factor to consider is incorporating pagan rituals and symbolism into your ceremony. The handfasting ritual, where the couple's hands are bound together with a ribbon, is a common pagan wedding tradition. This represents the joining of two souls and the creation of a spiritual bond. You can also include a ritual that honors the four elements – earth, air, fire, and water – to invoke blessings and harmony in your marriage. Choosing pagan-inspired attire can also set the tone for your wedding. Consider wearing flowing, bohemian-style dresses or suits made from natural fibers such as linen or cotton. You can also accessorize with floral crowns, crystal jewelry, or symbols representing specific pagan deities. Incorporating these elements will not only make you look ethereal but also connect you to the spiritual essence of paganism. It's important to note that when planning a pagan themed wedding, respectful research and understanding of the tradition are crucial. Paganism is a diverse spiritual path, and different traditions have their own unique practices and beliefs. Taking the time to learn about and incorporate the specific elements that resonate with you and your partner will ensure an authentic and meaningful celebration. In conclusion, deciding on a pagan themed wedding can be a magical and deeply personal way to honor your love and connection. By connecting with nature, incorporating pagan rituals and symbolism, and choosing attire inspired by the tradition, you can create a unique and unforgettable wedding experience. It's important to approach planning with respect and understanding, and to choose elements that hold true to your own beliefs and ideals..
Reviews for "Writing Your Own Pagan Wedding Vows: Personalizing Your Ceremony"
1. Jenny - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Deciding on a pagan themed wedding". As someone who has always been interested in pagan traditions, I was excited to read this book and get some inspiration for my own wedding. However, I found the book to be quite superficial and lacking in depth. The author only scratched the surface of pagan traditions and didn't provide enough practical advice or tips for planning a pagan themed wedding. I was hoping for more detailed explanations of rituals and ceremonies, but instead, I was left with vague descriptions that left me wanting more. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an in-depth guide on planning a pagan themed wedding.
2. Mark - 1/5
I found "Deciding on a pagan themed wedding" to be extremely underwhelming. The book seemed more like a collection of random thoughts rather than a comprehensive guide on planning a pagan wedding. The author's writing style was also quite convoluted and hard to follow. It felt like they were trying to include too much information without any clear organization or structure. Additionally, there were several factual inaccuracies in the book, which made me question the credibility of the author. Overall, I would advise anyone interested in planning a pagan themed wedding to look for other resources that provide more comprehensive and accurate information.
3. Sarah - 2/5
I picked up "Deciding on a pagan themed wedding" hoping to find some unique ideas and inspiration for my upcoming wedding. Unfortunately, the book fell short of my expectations. While it briefly touched upon some pagan traditions, it lacked creativity and didn't offer anything new or exciting. The author seemed to focus more on theoretical discussions rather than providing practical advice. Additionally, there were several sections that felt repetitive and could have been condensed or omitted altogether. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to those looking for fresh ideas and practical guidance for planning a pagan themed wedding.
4. Alex - 2/5
I was left unimpressed by "Deciding on a pagan themed wedding". The book lacked depth and failed to explore the intricacies of pagan traditions. It mostly provided a surface-level overview of certain practices without delving into their history or meaning. The author seemed to assume that the reader already had a solid understanding of paganism, which made the book less accessible for beginners. Furthermore, the writing style was overly verbose and made it difficult to follow the author's train of thought. I would advise readers to seek alternative resources for a more comprehensive understanding of pagan themed weddings.