The ancient rite of handfasting is offered by Wildflower in Dorset and beyond to those of all faiths and none, and can be as spiritual as you would like to make it. Even if you are of no spiritual inclination at all, this meaningful ceremony, steeped in joyful tradition, is a stunning way to pledge your love, witnessed by your friends and family.
Long ago, on a day you may not even now remember, your heart opened, and released a call that sent ripples to the far reaches of the universe . . . where is the one I can call home?
A thousand or more times throughout your life you have made choices – a thousand times you have said ‘yes’, and a thousand or more times, ‘no’; each decision guiding you gently through time and space, to this very moment – the biggest choosing, the greatest ‘yes’. Yes, I choose you, to live in my days with, to make my home with, to learn the ways of love with. I choose you.
And now here you stand, ready to make your commitment to one another and move forward with all the blessings and learnings a handfasting union can bestow; I’m so deeply honoured to have you here on this page at this sacred time in your relationship – welcome!
Handfastings reach so far back in time and have been so widely spread we have no date for when they actually began.
We know it’s very likely the term to ‘tie the knot’ stems from the handfasting ceremony, and we know that in the British Isles, the ancient Celts used this rite of passage for joining couples in union until around the 17th Century, when common marriage laws were enforced across the UK.
In response, the beloved tradition of handfasting crept into many church marriage ceremonies – even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle received a ‘handfasting’ blessing from Archbishop of Canterbury – the wrapping of a couple’s hands together in a bishop’s stole to bless a couple’s wedding rings is a lovely example of how handfasting rituals were carried through into the Anglican traditions of the Church of England.
Today, we are seeing a great return to the joy of handfasting as to-be-weds begin to reclaim their cultural roots, their connections to nature, and their birth-right to celebrate their union in way that is meaningful for them.
We put our all into our handfasting ceremonies to ensure they are well-held and feel truly meaningful for what our couples desire.
Our handfasting packages range from £549 – £1249, and bespoke handfasting packages can be created.
Contact us to discover how unique your ceremony could be today.
I am honoured to have been trained in full, Celtic Handfasting by priestesses of the Goddess Temple in Glastonbury.
The Avalonian Celtic Handfasting is rooted in ancient pre-roman traditions, the knowledge for which has been developed and built upon in the sacred keeping of the Priestesses of Avalon at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple.
The sacred nature of this ceremony means it cannot be performed with a script – I have truly been put through my paces to become a worthy wisdom keeper for this profound ceremony, and it has been worth every second.
The Avalonian handfasting ceremony takes to-be-weds on a stunning journey around the elements of earth, air, fire and water – the building blocks of all life. The couple are handfasted by way of the ‘hoop and wand’ – which you may have seen before at alternative handfastings, but never quite like this, never before so enchanting, so deeply romantic, loving and warm.
Those who are already married will know what a journey of unknown depths a marriage can be. If you are celebrating or wish to solemnise a new chapter in your relationship, the Avalonian handfasting can also be performed as a breath-taking vow-renewal ceremony, a profound blessing for the bed-rock of your relationship, inviting regeneration and replenishment in readiness for the years to come.
If you are looking for a ceremony that will truly place you at the alchemic, beating heart of marriage, contact us today, we’d love to hear from you!
Ellie xx