How to include a handfasting in your wedding ceremony

Handfasting Ceremony

What is handfasting?

Handfasting is one of the oldest known marriage unity rituals. Today it is a popular symbolic ritual for couples to include in their wedding or elopement ceremony. It symbolises the joining of your lives and your commitment to each other.

Often associated with Scotland, the roots of handfasting are found in Celtic and Norse ceremonies. Handfastings were commonly carried out in ancient times to signify a couple’s intent to marry and their commitment to one another. In fact, until the early C17th handfastings were legally binding.

Today many couples who are getting married enjoy including a traditional handfasting in their ceremony.

How is handfasting included?

A handfasting can be incorporated into your wedding ceremony by your wedding celebrant. There are several different methods, with different ways ribbons can be tied. However the meaning is always the same – to symbolise your commitment and love through the tying of ribbons.

It is the origin of the saying ‘to tie the knot’.

As a wedding celebrant who creates a personal ceremony for you, I’ll always discuss how the handfasting can be included. I like to fast your hands before you make your legal ‘declaration of intention’ to be married, or while you are making your wedding vows. Together you will then ‘tie the knot’ creating a symbolic memento of your wedding day.

What do we use to tie our hands?

You can chose to have your handsfasted using one, two or multiple ribbons or cords. Many couples like to use tartan ribbons or fabric, but it is personal choice.

You could chose to use ribbons that reflect your own culture or family traditions. Some couples have ribbons made from fabric that is meaningful – from the bride’s wedding dress, or a family heirloom. You can get creative – if you love rock climbing why not bind your hands with mountaineering ropes?!

You can buy handfasting ribbons and fabric online. Edinburgh based Ceotha create beautiful artisan handfasting cords. You can also find fabric, tartan and braided cords on Etsy.

Can we include family too ?

Yes, please do! Handfasting ceremonies are a brilliant way of including family or friends in your marriage ceremony. You can ask those you’d like to involve to hold the handfasting ribbons throughout the ceremony. They are then invited to come forward and lay them over your hands. But don’t worry – I’ll do the tying unless they want to!

Children can be involve too – in fact a handfasting is a fantastic way of involving children in your wedding ceremony. They can present the ribbons, help tie them or we can include their hands in the fasting.

We'd love to Find Out more

If you’re looking for a wedding celebrant who can include a handfasting in your marriage ceremoney let’s chat! I offer a free initial call so we can discuss your wedding ceremony and how we could work together. It’s my job to help you decide if a handfasting feels right to include in your marriage ceremony.