Wedding Forum - Register doing a handfastening...

Civil ceremonies are simple and short.

The superintendent registrar will explain the legal basis of marriage in this country. You will declare that you are legally free to marry, and then exchange vows. This can be accompanied with the exchange of rings if you wish.

That's it. Presumably the hand-fasting can occur with/or instead of a ring exchange. I think this depends on your registrar though.

I found an excellent link on civil ceremonies & will put it on your wall.

I did not think registraas can do this as handfasting is part of wican religion and they cannot do anything religious! Am i wrong? I liked the idea as thats how the Doctor marrys River Song!

In our island history in Scotland (and around Britain, but since I'm from the islands, I know our own history a little bit better), you entered a hand fasting for a year and a day, it was almost as binding as a marriage, but if the two people did not suit, they could go their separate ways at the end of it. Later it was a strip of fabric was bound to the wrists of the couple for the whole event, which resulted in the couple having to feed each other the wedding feast and give a more intimate feeling of bonding/closeness, having to rely on each other for sustenance. I think it is a beautiful addition to any wedding. David specifically proposed one year and a day after I moved in, because he knew I would immediately recognize the significance. I thought it was sweet! Once we get a meeting with the registrar for the area, we are going to see if she will allow our left hands to be bound during the service, but we will have to see if she is up for it.

I am, we live on the mainland now in a little place just south of Skye, we are getting married locally, but we aren't getting married with a religious minister - other than the churches, one isn't available without considerable expense. But we are getting married in a ceilidh hall next to the sea a further 9 miles away, then having the reception in our village hall around the corner from our house. Weather in this bit can be inclement in June so not risking outdoors for anything but the photos! lol If we cannot get our registrar (or she is unwilling) to do the handfasting part, we will possibly add it in somewhere else in the ceremony by our other registrar friend who is coming to the wedding. We shall see!

I hope you had great weather for your wedding MrsGothBride!!!

How lovely!!! Yes, was just telling a friend across the pond that it had been a bit blowy and wet thismorning!! Seems to be lessening now though! Grantown on Spey is a lovely area! Glad you had the good weather for the day, you caught some good luck there as its been a bit hit and miss this summer!

Going to look out my H2B kilt and see if I can find decent material to match so we can have it for the wedding. Will just have to keep my fingers crossed til then.

PS sorry Yvette...not kidnapping your thread I promise!

I love grantown on spey! used to go do Adventurous training there, but h2b used to work at RAF Kinloss (Ice Station Kilo was the joke!) which was close... fantastic micro climate place in the UK! Absolutely gorgeous!

did you manage to figure it out hunni as we are now looking int have jsut a handfastening but have to have a registrar to preform the legal parts as I live in wales and it is nt recognized as Iam pagan so this is the religious ceremony of my choice