Well, we are planning an alternative wedding, handfasting, we are doing the legal stuff quickly with the emphasis being on our ceremony, it is being conducted by a very good friend, my godson is playing the guitar as I walk down the aisle and we're going straight from photos to hog roast/bbq/buffet and party! We've totally skipped tradition (well what we now think of as tradition, handfasting is originally celtic and would be how us Welsh got wed years ago).
Well to the point...has anyone had an alternative wedding of any kind and did you feel it was as special as I think it will be? Also what about the traditionalists, would you be happy so long as the couple are genuinely making vows to one another?
CommentAuthorSpecialSundae
We're quite lucky in that you can have humanist and pagan ceremonies in Scotland. We're having a humanist ceremony with a handfasting. We weren't planning on the handfasting until our celebrant talked it through with us and showed us one of the ribbons he uses. I'm planning to make our handfasting ribbon out of the tartan from G's kilt on one side and fabric from my dress ont he other.
I have lots of friends who've had alternative ceremonies, starting with my godmother's wedding way back in 1989 where they got married on the beach. It's still the earliest wedding I can remember and one of the most special. I like alternative ceremonies and I think that it's important to make sure that the ceremony reflects the couple as much as possible whether they're traditional or offbeat.
CommentAuthorKye
I say stuff tradition because your making it your own its unique to you guys :D sounds like it will be a lovely day hun. I wouldnt care if it wasnt a typical wedding your still making ur vows to each other just in a different way xxxx
CommentAuthorEcoFreak
Tbh you can do whatever you like - it's your wedding :)
Out of interest what is handfasting? Does it have different words etc to go with it? xx
CommentAuthorEmmaLouise
Thanks all, handfasting is a celtic tradition which was legal in Scotland until 1939. It has been adopted by pagan/wiccans who are trying to make it legal again. I say adopted, pre christianity we were all pagans and worshipped more than one god. Anyway...you do ask the God and Godess for their blessing, you ask both as it symbolises equality. The rope which is tied around the bride and grooms wrists to bind them forever stays knotted to show their union and the rope is made by them for them. Our friend is conducting our ceremony so it is extra special for us. I also like that it doesn't say "till death do us part" it says "for as long as your love will last". It is someties considered a temporary wedding although the origins of this are sketchy at best. We will have to get married legally as well but this is what we want, we are not religious, my family are Catholic and Jewish (married) and just plain not religious at all!!! We are having everyone at our ceremony all 180+ of them because I can't not have the people we love there. Anyhoo hope that answers your questions. As for the rest of the words, it's very personal and can be adapted. :)
Eurgh the laws in this cuntry suck you have to get married by a regestered person at a regestered location it's just a scam to make more money IMO. have the wedding you want.
CommentAuthormelvis
eventhough im having a 100%'traditional' (as you say... its not always been the tradition...) wedding... if one of my friends/family decided to have an 'alternative' ceremony id still love it!!!
aslong as the couple are making a commitment and expressing thier love and respect for each other thats all that matters!! xxx
Cant wait to be Mrs Melissa Mooney!!!
Hes The Man Of My Dreams
Kos 2013!
