Modern Handfasting Ceremonies Explained

Modern handfasting ceremonies are more than just a pretty throwback to ancient Celtic traditions. They’re an exquisite expression of love, commitment, and unity, infused with rich symbolism and personalized rituals that speak deeply to non-religious couples seeking a meaningful and unique wedding experience.

Forget cookie-cutter vows recited under sterile chapel ceilings. Handfasting ceremonies unfold in vibrant tapestries woven with diverse elements. Imagine whispering promises as your hands are gently bound with ribbons representing shared dreams, or exchanging cords infused with blessings from loved ones far and near. Perhaps sand will be poured through intertwined fingers, symbolizing the merging of your individual journeys into a shared path.

How do modern handfasting ceremonies differ from traditional handfasting?

Modern handfasting ceremonies often don’t include the elements associated with a traditional Celtic or Pagan ceremony, like an altar, sacred Pagan location, calling in the elements etc

This isn’t a rigid rehash of an ancient ritual; it’s a creative playground. Modern handfasting ceremonies are technically “handtying” ceremonies that remove Pagan symbolism and can include symbolism from different traditions and cultures.

Modern celebrants collaborate with couples to design ceremonies that reflect their personalities, values, and cultural heritage. Whether it’s incorporating elements from your family’s ancestral traditions, invoking the wisdom of nature with symbolic objects, or composing personalized vows that echo the melody of your love story, the possibilities are boundless.

Read More: Handtying vs Handfasting

Why are modern handfasting ceremonies so popular?

Handfasting isn’t just about looking cool; it’s a way to add meaning to your wedding or vow renewal ceremony and create a ceremony that feels deeply personal and symbolic without needing to subscribe to a particular tradition or religion, and that’s what makes them such a popular choice for modern couples.

Handfasting ceremonies always see a surge in popularity when they’re featured on screen, they’ve been featured in Classic Hollywood films (remember Braveheart?) as well as the popular series Game of Thrones.

They’ve also become a popular feature of festival weddings like this Glastonbury festival wedding.

Want 3 more reasons to fall in love with a modern handfasting ceremony…?

• History: This tradition stretches back centuries, connecting you to your Celtic ancestors and injecting a touch of ancient magic into your modern vows.
• Symbolism: The act of binding your hands speaks volumes about your commitment and unity. It’s a physical reminder that you’re in this together, through thick and thin.
• Personalisation: Unlike some wedding traditions that feel stuffy and rigid, handfasting is all about making it your own. Choose meaningful and symbolic cord colours, write your vows, and make it a ceremony that truly reflects your love story.

How to add symbolism to a modern handfasting ceremony

The handfasting itself carries layers of powerful symbolism. The joining of hands signifies the intertwining of lives, destinies, and hearts.

You can layer symbolism through the materials you choose, a wrap made from an heirloom wedding dress, coloured ribbons that hold significance and meaning to you or a hand-embroidered handfasting ribbon with a symbolic reading, quote or your names woven onto it.

Another way to add symbolism is through the blessings, readings or words spoken as you carry out the handfasting ritual, or even the music that plays through your ceremony.

Remember that your Celebrant is a master at adding symbolism and meaning to your ceremony, so do enlist their help in bringing your vision to life.

Read More: The Art of Handfasting

Handfasting Cord Colour meanings

The colours you choose for your Handfasting ceremony can hold great significance but there’s no hard and fast rule as to what the different colours have to mean. Different colours can hold different meaning for different individuals and cultures.

That said, Colour psychology affects people universally and can evoke powerful feelings and associations. You can use universal colour meanings to add another layer of symbolism to your wedding ceremony. Ideally, you’d choose colours whose meanings resonate with you and your partner.

• White – Purity, innocence, new beginnings
• Pink – Romance, love, femininity
• Red – Passion, desire, true love
• Green – Fertility, harmony, new beginnings
• Navy blue – Loyalty, dignity
• Light blue – Understanding, openness, tranquility
• Turquoise – Calmness, healing
• Teal – Sophistication
• Royal purple – Royalty, nobility
• Lilac – Enchantment, new/young love
• Yellow – Joy, happiness, friendship
• Orange – Energy, warmth, fall season
• Gold – Prosperity, success
• Silver – Elegance, grace
• Bronze – Strength, permanence
• Brown – Reliability, durability
• Black – Sophistication, empowerment

Just be aware that different colours may have different cultural significance and meanings in different parts of the world, so if you’re marrying into a different culture or religious tradition, it’s worth doing your homework. 

Handfasting Cord Colours: meaning and symbolism

Incorporating Handfasting into Different Wedding Styles

The beauty of handfasting lies in its adaptability. It seamlessly blends with the classic elegance of a traditional ceremony, adding a touch of ancient mysticism. Imagine vows exchanged beneath a canopy of wildflowers, the handfasting cord echoing the ivory of your gown and the emerald of the surrounding hills.

For themed weddings, handfasting offers an opportunity to weave cultural or historical threads into your narrative. Picture a Viking-inspired ceremony, the cord braided with leather and adorned with runes, echoing the strength and loyalty of your bond. Or perhaps a Celtic elopement, where the wind whispers blessings as you bind your hands amidst ancient stone circles.

Even intimate ceremonies gain depth with handfasting. Imagine exchanging vows by a crackling fire, the handfasting cord a beacon of warmth and promise as you face the world together, hand in hand.

Planning Your Modern Handfasting Ceremony

If you want to plan a modern handfasting ceremony there are a few things to sort out

1. Find a Handfasting Celebrant to lead and guide the ceremony
2. Decide on your Handfasting ribbon colours and fabrics
3. Write your vows
4. Choose any other unity rituals to incorporate into the ceremony

Choosing the right celebrant or officiant is crucial. Seek someone who resonates with your values, understands the spirit of handfasting, and can guide you in crafting a ceremony that reflects you.

Personalization is the lifeblood of a handfasting ceremony. Perhaps you whisper vows penned under a full moon, weave threads representing shared passions, or incorporate cherished family heirlooms as blessings. Remember, there are no set rules, just endless possibilities.

Use our directory to Find a Celebrant who specialises in Handfasting.

Modern Handfasting Script:

Modern handfasting ceremonies provide a blank page for couples. There are no hard and fast rules so your ceremony and script can say anything you want it to, but if you want a feel for how a modern handfasting script might sound… here’s an example:

Celebrant: (To Couple) You stand here today, drawn together not by ancient rituals but by the undeniable force of your love. This handfasting is not a relic of the past, but a vibrant expression of your present and a promise whispered to your future.

(Couple joins hands)

Celebrant: In your hands, you hold not just fingers, but dreams, hopes, and a lifetime of adventures to unfold. As I bind them together, may this symbolize the merging of your lives, a tapestry woven with shared threads of laughter, resilience, and unwavering support.

(Celebrant takes ribbons or cords chosen by the couple)

Celebrant: These ribbons, (describe colour or material), reflect the unique essence of your love. (Red) passion, (blue) loyalty, (green) growth, (gold) joy – choose what resonates with you. As I entwine them, may they become a tangible reminder of the love that brought you here and the promises you make to one another.

(Celebrant ties the ribbons around the couple’s hands)

Celebrant: This is not a binding but a celebration. A celebration of your unity, your vulnerability, and your unwavering commitment to love, cherish, and nurture one another through laughter and tears, triumphs and challenges. Remember, in the stillness of your hands clasped lies the quiet promise of a shared forever.

Modern Handfasting Blessings:

Perhaps you want to write your own handfasting blessings or have them written for you? Here are some blessings to inspire your ceremony…

• May your hands be forever a haven, a place of comfort and solace where joy finds a home and worries melt away.
• May your fingers be intertwined like roots, anchoring you in unwavering support and nourishing your love with strength and resilience.
• May the rhythm of your intertwined hands be the heartbeat of your home, a constant reminder of the love that binds you together.
• May the threads of your bond be woven with kindness, understanding, and laughter, creating a tapestry of a life well-lived, side by side.
• May the warmth of your handfast be a beacon, guiding you through darkness and leading you back to each other, always.

Find a Modern Handfasting Celebrant

So, if you crave a wedding that transcends the ordinary, a ceremony that whispers your unique story through vibrant symbols and personalized rituals, then modern handfasting might be for you. Embrace its timeless magic and find a Celebrant who can help you bring your ceremony to life.

If you want to incorporate a modern handfasting ritual into your ceremony, search today and find your perfect Celebrant for your Handfasting ceremony by browsing our Celebrant Directory.