# **What Is a Handfasting Ceremony? A Simple, Beautiful Ritual for Modern Weddings**
In a world full of Pinterest-perfect weddings, more and more couples are looking for something different — something personal, rooted, and real.
That’s where **handfasting** comes in.
Once a traditional Celtic betrothal practice, handfasting is now being embraced by modern couples as a beautiful way to symbolise unity. It’s simple, meaningful, and entirely your own.
### 🪢 What Is Handfasting?
Handfasting is an ancient ritual where a couple's hands are gently bound together with a cord or ribbon during their ceremony — often as they speak their vows or make a promise to one another.
The binding symbolises the joining of lives: two paths becoming one, woven together in love, trust, and intention. You might have heard the phrase *“tying the knot”* — this is where it comes from!
### 🌿 Why Choose Handfasting?
Couples choose handfasting for all sorts of reasons:
* You want a spiritual or symbolic ritual without religious wording.
* You love Celtic traditions or have Irish ancestry.
* You want a tactile, heartfelt moment you’ll remember forever.
* You’re having a nature-based, outdoor, or non-traditional wedding.
* You want something **you can keep** — a reminder of the promises you made.
And you don’t need to follow any strict rules. Some people include family members in the tying, others use multiple cords, or weave their vows right into the ritual. It’s yours to shape.
### ✨ Choosing a Handfasting Cord
You can use anything from a ribbon to a silk scarf — but many couples choose a handmade handfasting cord, braided specifically for the ceremony.
At **The Artful Weaver**, I make each cord by hand using natural fibres like linen or cotton. You can:
* Choose the **natural, rustic look** of unadorned linen
* Or create a **custom colour palette** that reflects your story
Each cord is braided with **seven strands**, symbolising the elements of a strong union: love, trust, joy, connection, patience, protection, and commitment.
Your cord becomes a part of the ceremony — but also something you can **keep forever**. Hang it in your home, wrap it around your bouquet, or bring it out on your anniversary.
### 💛 Make It Yours
Whether your wedding is big or small, traditional or free-spirited, handfasting is a quiet, powerful way to honour the moment you're stepping into together.
And if you're looking for a cord that feels as grounded and thoughtful as the promises you're making — I’d be honoured to braid it for you. Check out my range of hand fasting cords here
