Handfastings

Handfasting is a common element in pagan wedding ceremonies, and is gaining popularity elsewhere. It’s a lovely ritual element to include in your ceremony, or to make the central rite of your wedding! There is a lot of room for creativity and symbolism in your handfasting.

Lore

The practice comes from old Scottish traditional weddings—either because an officiant wasn’t readily available or simply because big, lavish weddings were very expensive and most folk couldn’t afford them. So to signify their commitment, a couple would be handfasted: their hands ritually bound together by cloth.

Also, handfasting could signify a trial period: if after a year of living together the couple found themselves incompatible they could dissolve the union and go their separate ways.