Celebrate your special day with marriage celebrant Lynette McDonald, offering unique handfasting ceremonies and a range of wedding services. From circle rituals and jumping the broom to themed weddings and more, I provide personalised ceremonies across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.
Handfasting Ceremony
Tying the Knot, literally! Handfasting 101
Why should I include a handfasting ritual in my wedding ceremony?
Why should I include a handfasting ritual in my wedding ceremony?
Ever thought about literally tying the knot? Handfasting is your chance to do just that! This cool, old-school ritual goes way back to ancient Celtic times and is all about wrapping up your hands with your sweetheart’s during the ceremony. It’s a charming way to show you’re stuck together (in a good way!).
A Little History Lesson Original
Ever thought about literally tying the knot? Handfasting is your chance to do just that! This cool, old-school ritual goes way back to ancient Celtic times and is all about wrapping up your hands with your sweetheart’s during the ceremony. It’s a charming way to show you’re stuck together (in a good way!).
A Little History Lesson Originally, our Celtic ancestors used handfasting as a way to formally agree on a marriage. Think of it as the original “put a ring on it,” but with less bling and more, well, rope. Back when it was tougher to get a celebrant for a quick wedding, couples would handfast in a pinch, promising to wed for real later on.
Not Just for Witches Anymore These days, handfasting has made a magical comeback, not just among those cool, wand-waving folks in the neo-pagan and Wiccan communities, but also with couples looking for a splash of old-world charm in their wedding. While it’s a spiritual or symbolic act, it’s all about the vibes and the vision you bring to it.
How It Goes Down During a handfasting, you and your love will join hands (literally), and I’ll wrap them up snugly with a cord, ribbon, or even a chic scarf. You pick the colours and material that mean something special to you, maybe something that shouts “forever” or whispers “You’re my lobster.” Then, while your hands are tied, you’ll exchange vows, maybe shed a tear or two, and seal the deal with a knot, symbolising your intertwined lives.
Why should I include a handfasting ritual in my wedding ceremony?
Why should I include a handfasting ritual in my wedding ceremony?
Why should I include a handfasting ritual in my wedding ceremony?
Incorporating a handfasting ritual into your wedding ceremony can be a deeply meaningful and personalised addition. Here are several compelling reasons why you might consider including this ancient tradition in your special day:
Symbolic Unity: Handfasting visually symbolises the binding together of two lives. The act of tying your hands t
Incorporating a handfasting ritual into your wedding ceremony can be a deeply meaningful and personalised addition. Here are several compelling reasons why you might consider including this ancient tradition in your special day:
Symbolic Unity: Handfasting visually symbolises the binding together of two lives. The act of tying your hands together can be a powerful metaphor for your commitment to join your lives, reflecting the promises you make to support and bind your futures together.
Cultural or Spiritual Significance: For those with Celtic heritage or those who align with certain spiritual beliefs, including those from pagan or neo-pagan traditions such as Wicca and Druidism, handfasting can be a way to honour ancestral practices and beliefs. It connects you and your partner to historical customs, adding depth to your ceremony.
Customisation and Creativity: Handfasting allows for a high degree of customisation. You can choose cords that match your wedding colours, or select materials and colours that have specific symbolic meanings important to you and your partner. Each aspect of the ritual can be tailored to your personal story or the values you share.
Inclusivity and Participation: The ceremony can involve family members or friends in meaningful ways, such as having them place the cords over your hands or contribute a blessing. This can make your loved ones feel more connected to the ceremony and your union.
Memorable Keepsake: The handfasting cord can become a cherished keepsake after the wedding. Many couples display their handfasting cord in their home as a beautiful and constant reminder of the commitments made on their wedding day.
Alternative to Traditional Rituals: If you’re looking to step away from more conventional wedding elements, handfasting offers a unique alternative that still carries profound meaning. It’s particularly appealing for couples seeking a ceremony that stands out or reflects non-traditional values.
Expression of Eternal Commitment: The binding of hands is often seen as an expression of coming together for eternity. It's a physical manifestation of the idea of two people's lives being entwined and the decision to face the future as a united front.
Visual Impact: Handfasting adds a visual component to your ceremony that photographs beautifully and can captivate guests, making your ceremony not just something they listen to but also something they can visually engage with.
Choosing to include a handfasting ritual in your wedding is a way to enrich the ceremony with an act that is meaningful, visually engaging, and deeply personal. It's a beautiful tradition that celebrates the joining of two paths profoundly and visibly.
Handfasting; Why it's Super Symbolic.
Why should I include a handfasting ritual in my wedding ceremony?
Handfasting colour choices for your wedding day
The Cord: It’s all about staying connected. This cord wraps up your individual lives together, showing the world you’re a team now.
Colours: Choose colours that tell your story—love, passion, fidelity, or whatever floats your love boat.
The Knot: This isn’t just any knot. It’s a keepsake, a tangible reminder of your promises and the day y
The Cord: It’s all about staying connected. This cord wraps up your individual lives together, showing the world you’re a team now.
Colours: Choose colours that tell your story—love, passion, fidelity, or whatever floats your love boat.
The Knot: This isn’t just any knot. It’s a keepsake, a tangible reminder of your promises and the day you decide one life is way better than two.
Here in Australia, handfasting is a purely symbolic gesture. But don’t worry, it packs a punch in the sentiment department and adds a lot of heart to your ceremony.
Whether you’re all in for the old-fashioned vibes or just want to add a personal twist to your big day, it’s a fab way to show the world just how tightly knit you and your partner are. Ready to get all wrapped up? Let’s chat about how we can weave some handfasting magic into your wedding day!
Tying the cord, Tying a handfasting cord is a symbolic part of the ceremony that embodies the connection and commitment between two people.
Handfasting colour choices for your wedding day
Handfasting: Materials needed and how to tie the cord.
Handfasting colour choices for your wedding day
The Handfasting Colours:
Red: Passion, strength, fertility, and courage. Red is a vibrant choice that symbolises deep love and vitality.
Orange: Encouragement, attraction, kindness, and plenty. It’s often chosen for its association with warmth and enthusiasm.
Yellow: Happiness, wisdom, harmony, and balance. Yellow brings a sense of joy and
The Handfasting Colours:
Red: Passion, strength, fertility, and courage. Red is a vibrant choice that symbolises deep love and vitality.
Orange: Encouragement, attraction, kindness, and plenty. It’s often chosen for its association with warmth and enthusiasm.
Yellow: Happiness, wisdom, harmony, and balance. Yellow brings a sense of joy and positive energy to the ceremony.
Green: Growth, fertility, prosperity, and peace. This colour is tied to nature and symbolises a healthy and prosperous life together.
Blue: Tranquillity, respect, health, and understanding. Blue can indicate a stable and harmonious relationship.
Purple: Power, piety, sanctity, and sentimentality. Often associated with nobility, purple adds a touch of luxury and deep spirituality.
Pink: Love, unity, honour, truth, and romance. Pink is a softer alternative to red that still emphasises a strong connection of love.
Black: Strength, wisdom, success, and consistency. Black may also symbolise a solid bond that endures all challenges.
White: Purity, concentration, meditation, and peace. White may also represent a new beginning and the start of a fresh chapter in life.
Silver: Creativity, inspiration, vision, and protection. Silver cords can be associated with the moon and feminine energies.
Gold: Unity, longevity, prosperity, and strength. Like gold, this colour in a handfasting cord can signify something precious and durable.
Couples might choose a single colour that holds special meaning for them, or they might weave together several colours to represent different aspects of their partnership and shared values. This customisation makes each handfasting ceremony unique and deeply personal.
Handfasting: Materials needed and how to tie the cord.
Handfasting: Materials needed and how to tie the cord.
Handfasting: Materials needed and how to tie the cord.
Tying the cord
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tie a handfasting cord during the ceremony:
Materials Needed
Tying the cord
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tie a handfasting cord during the ceremony:
Materials Needed
Handfasting Cord: Typically, about 1 to 3 meters long, depending on how many knots or wraps you wish to make. The cord can be made from different materials like silk, cotton, or a blend of fabrics, incorporating multiple colours.
Steps to Tie the Handfasting Cord
Prepare the Cord: Before the ceremony, select a cord that represents your relationship. The length should be enough to comfortably wrap around your joined hands several times and tie a knot.
Joining Hands: The couple faces each other and extends their hands towards one another. Traditionally, their right hands are joined to each other’s right hand, or they can cross arms (right hand to partner’s left hand and vice versa), which symbolises the infinity symbol and their lives crossing paths.
Wrapping the Cord: The officiant or a designated person begins by draping the centre of the cord over the couple’s hands.
Wrap the cord around the wrists/hands, typically three times. Each wrap can symbolise various aspects of the couple’s relationship or the promises they make to each other. For example, the first loop can represent the couple’s past, the second their present, and the third their future together.
Securing the Knot: After wrapping, the ends of the cord are tied in a knot over the couple’s hands. This can be an overhand knot or a more decorative one.
Some traditions involve tying multiple knots, each representing a specific aspect or promise in their relationship.
Completing the Ceremony: Once the knot is securely tied, the officiant usually offers blessings or final words. The couple then keeps the cord wrapped until the end of the ceremony, symbolising their binding agreement.
After the ceremony, the cord can be kept as a keepsake or even displayed in their home to remind them of their vows.