Handfasting ceremonies rooted in your path
What is a handfasting?
Handfasting is an ancient symbolic ritual in which two people’s hands are joined and bound together using cords, ribbons or other meaningful materials.
For some couples it forms an important part of their Pagan spiritual practice.
For others, it is a beautiful symbolic ritual they choose to include within a wider wedding ceremony.
There is no single modern handfasting script that everybody needs to follow.
And I’m very glad about that.
Ceremonies that feel like you
Handfasting is probably one of the ceremonies that feels most naturally at home beneath the Oak & Thorn name.
- Hands joined.
- Cords wrapped.
- Promises spoken.
- People gathered together to witness a commitment.
- Simple in principle, incredibly powerful when it’s made personal.
Your beliefs, Your handfasting
I’m an eclectic Pagan myself, so Pagan ceremony isn’t something I approach as an aesthetic.
I understand the importance of creating something that respects the people in the circle, their individual paths and what the ritual actually means to them.
Your handfasting can draw on the elements, nature, the seasons, deities, ancestry, symbolism or other aspects of your spiritual practice.
Or it can remain beautifully simple.
What can a handfasting include?
The Cords
- Your cords can be chosen for their colours, materials, symbolism or personal connection.
- Some couples make their own.
- Some involve family and friends.
- Some incorporate meaningful fabrics or natural materials.
- We’ll explore what works for you.
Your Vows
- A handfasting is about promises.
- Those promises should sound like yours.
- They can be serious, spiritual, romantic, funny or a combination of all four.
The elements and the natural world
- Earth, air, fire and water can be woven into a ceremony where appropriate, as can the changing seasons and natural surroundings.
Family and community
- People gathered around you can either witness the ceremony or take an active part in it.
A stand-alone handfasting
- Your handfasting doesn’t have to be part of a large wedding.
- An intimate stand-alone ceremony can be perfect for an elopement or micro celebration.
- Just you, the people who matter and somewhere that feels right.
- I offer exactly this kind of intimate stand-alone handfasting, including micro and elopement-style celebrations.
Handfasting as part of your wedding
- We can also make handfasting one element within a larger wedding ceremony.
- Your story, vows, rings, readings and other rituals can flow around it so the whole ceremony feels connected rather than as though someone simply dropped a handfasting into the middle.
Handfasting prices
Handfasting ceremonies from £800
The final cost will depend on the type of ceremony, location and what’s involved.
Let’s step into the circle
Tell me about your path, your ideas and where you imagine your ceremony taking place.
Talk to me about your handfasting
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to be Pagan to have a handfasting?
No. Handfasting has strong associations with Pagan and earth-based traditions, but modern handfasting ceremonies can take many forms. You may want a deeply spiritual Pagan ceremony or simply feel drawn to the symbolism of binding your hands together as you make your promises. What matters is that the ritual has meaning for you.
What actually happens during a handfasting?
Your hands are joined and cords are wrapped or tied around them while promises, blessings or vows are spoken. That’s the basic idea, but there isn’t one set Oak & Thorn script. We can incorporate your beliefs, the elements, family and friends, personal vows, music, readings and other ritual elements to create something completely individual.
Do we need our own handfasting cords?
We’ll talk about your cords while we’re planning the ceremony. You might have them specially made, create them yourselves or use colours and materials with a particular meaning. Family and friends can sometimes contribute materials too, giving the finished cords an even stronger personal connection.
Can friends and family take part in the handfasting?
Yes. People close to you can help place individual cords, offer blessings, give readings or take part in other elements of the ceremony. It can be a lovely way of recognising the community surrounding your relationship.
Can handfasting be part of a wedding ceremony?
Absolutely. It can sit naturally alongside your story, vows and ring exchange rather than feeling like a separate ceremony dropped into the middle. We’ll create the whole ceremony so everything flows together.
Can we have a handfasting on its own?
Yes. A handfasting doesn’t need to be attached to a large wedding. It can be a stand-alone commitment ceremony, an intimate gathering or something involving just the two of you and a handful of people somewhere meaningful.
