Plan A Pagan Handfasting Ritual

What is a Handfasting?

The Handfasting ritual came from the ancient Celts whose pagan custom was to bind a couple together (some believe) for a year and a day as a trial marriage. Once the year and the day were finished, the couple decided if their marriage could succeed. If they separated, the couple's time together was not considered a marriage.

Pagans now use the Handfasting ceremony with a legal Handfasting officiant to marry legally, recommit to a marriage or let the ceremony act as a reflection of the couple's commitment to one another. To learn more go to handfastings.org.

Could I use a Priestess or Pagan consultant to organize the Handfasting?

Yes. A pagan Handfasting consultant or Wiccan Priestess can assist a couple during all phases of a Handfasting. The pagan consultant works with a couple's budget and organizes every detail of the ceremony, including where the event is held. These creative, intelligent, and multi-talented individuals can take the guesswork and time out of planning a large Handfasting.

When the couple are too busy to create the ceremony of their dreams, a consultant or Priestess can use the couple's personal tastes to orchestrate a magickal event. Planning the actual ritual takes a bit of time, work with the Priestess or a Pagan officiant to get the words just right.

Plan Early for the best Handfasting

Look for assistance at least a few months before the Handfasting. The pagan consultant service generally includes assistance to find the best location for the coming ceremony. So set a date and time for the Handfasting so that reserving a beach or outdoor location is easier. Consider a backyard Handfasting for privacy to dance and feast the night away. Don't forget to hire a videographer and photographer to record the Handfasting ceremony.

Get Help with Hard-to-find Pagan Items

Expect a pagan consultant or Priestess to offer assistance with choosing flowers, pagan decorations and invitations. A consultant works with many vendors and knows what each can offer for a Handfasting. Ask for assistance about pagan rings, then try claddaghrings.com to see if any are just right for the ritual. Many Celtic knots, an Irish Claddagh ring or the symbol of the Goddess are quite beautiful and meaningful. A bridal consultant can assist the bride when choosing an appropriate pagan gown, shoes and crown of flowers.

A Practice Recital

Expect a great deal of experience from the Handfasting officiant or Priestess during the Handfasting recital. There are many roles to play and the officiant can instruct the maidens, a ring bearer and the whole Handfasting party with specific guidelines. Have an after-recital feast in the Goddess' honor, then hand out presents to the group as a thank you.

Food and Entertainment

Whether the guests for the Handfasting are many or few, a consultant can assist the couple to choose an appropriate menu to feed the guests. A wedding cake can be a difficult decision, so work with the bakery to taste each cake before making a choice. Bring pictures, then ask the bakery to add pagan symbols on the cake. A consultant or the Priestess may know of an appropriate pagan band that plays music from the Irish or Celts.

Transportation, Hotels and Decorating

No need to worry about shuttling guests to and from the airport, or finding rooms at the local hotel. Leave the transportation and hotel issues for the out-of-town family to a good pagan wedding planner. With an outdoor venue, keep decorations and seating simple with ribbons and flags that can be made at a local print shop with pagan symbol and the couple's pagan names.

After the Wedding

When the feasting is over, a pagan planner can oversee a cleanup crew, and get the deposit back on the place the reception is held. If negotiated, a pagan consultant will open presents while the couple is on their honeymoon, then send out thank you notes to family and friends.