Handfasting Ceremonies

A hand fasting ceremony is the perfect way to get more of your loved ones involved in your wedding ceremony. We take a look at Liz's hand fasting ceremony with husband Ky.

‘Handfasting’, or ‘Handbinding’ is a ceremony that recognises a marriage of heart, mind, body, and spirit - freely and openly undertaken, dating back to the 16th Century. Not only is it a beautiful and meaningful ceremony, it is also a wonderful way to involve more people in your marriage ceremony, you can perhaps choose people that are not already part of you wedding party or doing a reading, you may like to choose couples whose relationship you really admire.

An example of a hand fasting ceremony

Two ribbons are chosen, you can colour coordinate them to your wedding theme. You will face each other holding your right hands and say:

“I give you my hand and I give you my heart.”

Your celebrant will say some words:

“Hand in hand you will enter marriage. The hand you freely give to each other is both the strongest and the most tender part of your body. In the years ahead you will need both strength and tenderness.  Both of you come to this day with the deep realisation that the contract of marriage is sacred as are all of its obligations and responsibilities.

Name A, do you take Name B to be your wife/husband? Do you promise to love her/him, honour her/him, comfort her/him, and protect her/him and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her/him as long as you both shall live?”

Name A: I do

Two people that you have chosen will then come to tie the first knot.

“Name B, do you take Name A to be your husband/wife? Do you promise to love him/her, honour him/her, comfort him/her and protect him/her and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him/her for as long as you both shall live?

Name B: I do

Tying the knot with a hand fasting ceremony

Two more people that you have chosen will then come to tie the second knot.

You will then say your vows to each other.

Two more people will continue binding and tie a third knot.

Hand fasting ceremonies include up to 8 people

A final person (or 2) that you have chosen, will then remove the ribbons and tie the final knot which links you both together. The celebrant will say some words as the knot is being tied, for example:

“As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound together. Woven into these ribbons, into their very fibres, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for a new life together.”

Showing your commitment with a hand fasting ceremony

“Name A and Name B, would you now please take hold of the ribbons.”

“With this cord we bind you to the vows that you have made.  Be firm in your commitment. Don't let your grip become weak. And yet, be flexible with the passage of change. Don't let your hold become intolerable. Strength and tenderness, firm commitment and flexibility: of such is a marriage made, hand in hand.”

The end of the hand fasting ceremony

The ceremony is now over and you will pass the ribbons to a member of your wedding party or a parent for safe keeping.

For more ways on making your ceremony even more personal, take a look at our blog post making your ceremony that extra bit special.