Handfasting wedding ceremonies

Handfasting ceremonies are a popular element in many wedding ceremonies and have seen a revival in recent years – perhaps thanks to the hit TV series Outlander.

Although the ritual itself is not legally binding, it’s frequently used in Humanist ceremonies because the knots are the perfect way to symbolically illustrate that a couple are joined to one another.

In fact, as it’s not a legal part of your ceremony, anyone can perform the handfasting, making it a lovely way to include a special family member or friend!

Laura Widdop from Fuze Ceremonies explains:

‘Every celebrant has their own unique way of handfasting, but essentially the couple hold right hands so that their pulse points are touching. Two lengths of ribbon are then looped and tied around their joined hands, each ribbon representing the bride/groom. The couple then release their right hands whilst pulling the ends of the ribbons with their left hands, leaving a perfect Celtic knot to be cherished forevermore as a symbol of their marriage.’