Handfasting

HANDFASTING              

1. A handfasting is an old Pagan custom, dating back to the time of the ancient Celts. A handfasting was originally more like an engagement period, where two people would declare a binding union between themselves for a year and a day. The original handfasting was a trial marriage.

After seeing the handfasting ceremony that had been a part of my bestie's wedding in June of 2013, I had fallen in love with the idea and tradition of binding hand to hand and heart to heart. I also liked that you could put charms on to celebrate the members of each side of the family, and that the braided cord was like a symbol of the two families becoming one through the love of the couple.

So, I decided that handfasting would be the best choice for us as a couple. We're not overly religious. I was raised in the church. He wasn't. But I still wanted a ritual to be performed that symbolized our union, and this seemed perfect as it was "tying the knot" in a literal sense. And it left a physical manifestation of our bond for us to see forever.

The Chords

A three stand ribbon chord of our colors: Red, Yellow, and White. 

My charms on our handfasting chords:

 My half of the heart Ian gave me for Christmas (his broke. Can't find it), 

pieces of Ian Cunningham's grandmothers silk scarf (tying on) 

a blue gemstone charm for one of my grandmothers necklaces, 

the wish pearl I got when I was 8 on my first cruise where I wished to find my true love,

and a lace flower from mom's wedding dress.

This is how our chords are displayed now afterward in a shadow box with the bow ties and flowers and a napkin for the ceremony:

The Ceremony

In the next post I will post our entire wedding script, but below I have included the portion that was about handfasting:

(gets out handfasting chords) Handfasting is an old Celtic tradition, and Ian and Marli have chosen to use it to be an outward sign of the commitment they make here. The Chord is made of many strands of ribbon, and intertwined are pieces from each of their respective families, signifying that not only do two people become one today, but two families become one. Ian and Marli as your hands are bound together now,so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust.Above you are the sun and stars and below you is the earth.Like the sun and stars your love should be a constant source of light,and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow. Please hold the chord between your ringed hands. (Groom palm up, holding chord, Brides hand resting in his)

 Ian and Marli, this chord is a symbol of the life you have chosen to live together. Until this moment you have been separate in thought, word, and deed. But as this chord is tied together, so shall your lives become intertwined. With this chord, I bind you to the vows that you have made to one another. With this knot, I tie you, heart to heart, together as one.May this love knot always be a reminder of the binding together of two hands, two hearts, and two souls into one. And so you are bound to one another, for all the days of your lives. (Officiate ties love knot)

 And with the knot tied, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ian, you may kiss your bride. 

THE OFFICIATE USED IN BOTH CEREMONIES WAS TERRI BREEDING SCHLAG. IF YOU ARE IN THE GREATER ATLANTA AREA AND ARE LOOKING FOR AN OFFICIATE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT HER:
https://www.facebook.com/terrischlag

I hope you all enjoyed this. Feel free to take anything from the wording you'd like. I pieced several different handfasting ceremony wordings I found in order to achieve this. I also just free wrote some to add in as well.