Is anyone else having a handfasting as well as the regular (Legal) ceremony? I'm struggling to find folks to do it at the moment, but me and the Mister will be having one with me being Wiccan/Pagan. He's agnostic, but he doesn't mind at all.
I had a thought about maybe trying to weave it into the ceremony and be sneaky, having a basket of significantly coloured ribbons for guests to choose from and have each one come up and tie our hands with them making one large knot. We have a sall guest count, so it'd be short and sweet. It's not the traditional handfasting, but it still counts if we can't get our handfasting priestess/priest.
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
If you can be sneaky with it, then go ahead, specially if it still counts as having it done,
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorMelty Cat
Indeed. Especially considering the price of some of the handfasting celebrants out there I have seen. (Not in my area though.) It's a wonder anyone books them.
CommentAuthorInDreamland
I agree with GF, especially if it still counts x
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorKatieH
What is handfasting?
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
Handfasting is an old tradition that is still practiced by many in the Wiccan and Pagan communities.
The couple have their hands bound together by a handfasting cord, ribbon, or tartan of their family while vows are said.
The vows are usually something like 'Blood of my blood, bone of my bone. I give you my body that two might be one. I give you my spirit til our life be done.'
Though it's been adapted for modern times, as the original ceremonies had the couple bound for anything up to a year afterwards!
CommentAuthorKatieH
Ah thanks for explaining it Melty Cat :)
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
CommentAuthorMelty Cat
No problem. :)
CommentAuthorMrs M Wade
I'd never heard of this either
Became Mrs Wade 06/08/2016
CommentAuthorInDreamland
A couple of brides on here have had this I think I recall x
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorEmmaG
Hiya, yes we are having the handfasting ritual aswell as the usual ring exchange and will also be jumping over the broom ! We have written our ceremony ourselves and included this into it.. :)
Soooooo excited to be marrying my Best Friend !!
Life is Wild, Love it Live it !
CommentAuthorMelty Cat
Awesome. :D I'm finding it so hard to find a celebrant to do it, it's crazy.
CommentAuthorVictoriaL46
edited
Hi, my OH and I are having a handfasting ceremony for our wedding. As we live in Scotland and the Celebrant conducting the ceremony is Humanist ours is completely legal. We will also be saying words during the ring exchange.
Handfasting in the beginning was considered an arrangement between a couple where they would be in essence married for a year and a day. Sort of like betrothal. After which if they decided they didn't like married life together they could then go their seperate ways or if they did want to stay together they would have a full wedding ceremony.
It has since been adapted in many different ways from symbolic to ritualistic depending on the couples personalites and beliefs or lack thereof. For example, My OH is athiest and I am agnostic so for us the handfasting ceremony is purely symbolic and will involve our clasped hands tied with a tartan handfasting ribbon by my OHs sister to symbolise us "tying the knot" and then exchanging vows followed by the exchange of rings.
I've seen many different variations of handfasting and each one has been unique from involving the bridal party to each step forward with their own ribbon to tie a knot, Brides making their own ropes from ribbons supplied by the female members of their family and many more. Very adaptable.
Met in Nov 2005
Engaged 13th June 2013
Becomes Mrs Stewart on 10th Aug 2015 Honeymoon in Florida!
My Diary Thread: My Alice in Wonderland Wedding Diary
CommentAuthorEmmaG
that's a shame you cant find anyone, I don't know where you live but from July I will be a qualified celebrant and will be do handfastings aswell as all types of ceremonies and rituals. Id be more than happy to do yours if get stuck finding anyone local. Im south Devon though x
Soooooo excited to be marrying my Best Friend !!
Life is Wild, Love it Live it !