Handfastening is a very ancient wedding tradition that has its roots in Celtic Traditions. The phrase ‘tying’ the knot comes from this ceremony.
Today couples choose to honour their Celtic heritage by incorporating the Hand Fastening Ritual in their ceremony.
You will need a rope/twine. You can purchase the rope at a craft supply shop. It can be one colour or you can coordinate using your wedding colours. Make sure the length will wrap 3 times around your hands with rope left to hang down.
Handfastening Wording:
Woven into this cord, imbued into its very fibers, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for your new life together. With the fashioning of this knot do I tie all the desires, dreams, love, and happiness wished here in this place to your lives for as long as love shall last. In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another. By this cord you are thus bound to your vow. May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last. May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths. As this cord binds your hands, so is your partnership held by the symbol of this knot. May it be granted that what is done before the gods be not undone by humans. Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad, and watch as your strength grows.
Officiant: Please join hands. As your hands are joined, so your lives, Wrap once Holding each other, Wrap twice Caressing each other, Wrap again Supporting each other, Loving each other will always be bound.
The officiant then carefully holds the fastened ropes and allows the couple to remove their hands. The rope can then be placed in a special spot for the remainder of the ceremony. I suggest the front of the table being used for signing the register.