I absolutely love it when couples choose to have the handtying ritual as part of their wedding ceremony. It is such a beautiful and romantic way to share their love and commitment to one another with their family and friends.

What Is Handtying?

Handtying is an ancient ritual that dates from over a thousand years ago across Britain and Ireland. Handtying is sometimes called handfasting but that is very different ceremony of which handtying is one of the elements. More about that another day.

Stories about The Origins of Handtying

One story says that the act of tying a couple’s hands together was to signify them being engaged and then having to wait ‘a year and a day’ until the priest returned to see if they were still keen to marry. Another story says that the couple would have their hands bound and the cord would be tied in a ‘love knot’ and this ritual was used as part of a wedding ceremony.

Handtying continued up to the eighteenth century in England and Wales. This is whence the expression ‘tying the knot’ originates. How wonderful that we still use this term which is rooted in our past.

Choosing to have a handtying

Handtying has become a very popular ritual for bespoke wedding ceremonies. There are a myriad of ways that the tying can be done. I’ve focused here on wrapping the hands and tying with a bow and the infinity knot.

So Many Choices!

The Celebrant is usually the person who conducts the ritual and ties the cord. However, family members such as children, siblings, mums and dads etc. aswell as friends may place cords or ribbons, tie them or add additional ones as this is the beauty of the Celebrant-led ceremony – it’s your choice! In fact with a small intimate ceremony everyone could take part and tie one.

Vows And Ring Exchange

Some couples choose to say their vows or their ring promises to each other as part of the handtying. Thus sealing their love and commitment to each other.

Cords, ribbons and lace

What makes the handtying unique to each couple is their choice and use of materials. They may choose one chord, two or three; loose or bound together. One couple chose single boat cords because of a family link to sailing. There may be ribbons matching the colour theme of the wedding or chosen to underpin the meaning of the couple’s vows. Sometimes a couple choose to have one single ribbon or ribbons, other times they will have a set of 3, 4 or 5 ribbons bound together.

Couples create their own ribbons and cords adding charms Sometimes family members include other materials: one couple chose to include a piece of material from a beloved parent’s clothing. It’s these personal touches that make the handtying ritual unique to couples and makes special memories of their Wedding Day.

Do get in touch. I’d love to chat handtying with you both! It’s a magical part of the wedding ceremony!

‘May your love and marriage be everlasting and as tightly bound as your lovers’ knot.’

Photo Acknowledgement

Post Intro image http://www.kirstyrockett.com then 1, 8 http://www.andrewdukes photography.co.uk then 2,3 http://www.kirstyrockett.com, 4, http://www.veronikajoy.co.uk, 5, 14 http://www.isoelegant.co.uk/, 6, 11 http://www.sarahsalotti.co.uk, 7, 12 assassynation, 9, 15 http://www.aliceandgrace.com/, 10, 16 http://www.vickiclaysonphotography.com, 13 http://www.lloyddyer.com, Aylesbury

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