Handfasting

Whether binding your love for all eternity or starting out with a year and a day, a handfasting ritual generates the ceremonial union of two spirits, beautifully and magickally.

The ancient Celtic tradition of handfasting, though most commonly associated with neopaganism, is a timeless ritual formally binding your devotion. With perfect love and perfect trust, your lives are now intertwined—where there was one, now there are two. Whether your ceremony is performed by Priestess and Priest or an all-faith Minister, it can be tailored to your individual customs and beliefs. Clasped hands in the shape of infinity are tied with ribbons or cords of meaningful colors, symbolizing the intertwining of your lives. Usually held during spring and summer months, and often on Beltaine (May 1st), an outdoor ceremony can be as casual or as formal as you wish. It can be as simple as the two of you, each with a witness, and the officiant of your choosing, or it can be more elaborate, incorporating your beliefs by the casting of the circle and jumping of the besom (broom) or balefire.

As with any alternative ceremony, your planning begins by choosing the amount of your spirituality to incorporate into the ceremony. In the case of a neopagan handfasting, you should consider family and friends and how accepting they are of your spiritual choices. You don't want to alienate them with your alternative religious beliefs, but you must also stay true to yourself. When planning this type of more elaborate ceremony, we suggest incorporating some meaningful history and thoughtful explanations of customs and traditions into your wedding program, thereby including all guests in what makes your ceremony special to you. The more guests understand what your ceremony means, the more comfortable with it, and accepting of it, they will be. The handfasting ceremony is probably not the best time to come out of the broom closet—you need to concentrate all of your energy on the beauty of your day, and not court potential disaster.

For help developing customized handfasting information cards or programs to compliment your ceremony, contact us. We can also help with researching and writing your ceremony or vows.

Although brides often wear red, any color that has symbolic meaning to you can be used. In our links and resources section, you will find links to the meaning of colors for your dress and ribbons, as well as flower and crystal choices to enhance your celebration. From one cord, to three or six, your choice of colors and charms will hold meaning for you both as long as you are together, and should be chosen together, although some paths have different color decrees. With vows usually written by the couple, you can use sentiments or poetry that has a direct correlation to your newly joined lives.

A handfasting can also be ideal for same-sex couples in states where legal marriage is not yet recognized. The beauty of your day will not be marred by politics, but instead, celebrated for the beautiful love you share. After all, that's what a commitment ceremony is all about, whether legally binding or not.

Be creative, have fun and create the special day of your dreams, whatever they are. We are here to offer you inspiration and ideas, to assist you in the realization of those dreams.

Blessed Be.