How to have a legal handfasting marriage?

puppypants

My daughter and her wife had a civil ceremony when they were in New Zealand earlier this year and are having a handfasting at the end of August. x

Kildare

A friend of mine had a handfasting ceremony in England a few years ago as part of a humanist ceremony.

They 'officially' married in the registry office first thing in the morning and then had their ceremony in the early afternoon at a beautiful barn venue

chelseablue

Sorry but I've never heard of handfasting

Im curious as to what it is??

Faith177

chelseablue wrote: »

Sorry but I've never heard of handfasting

Im curious as to what it is??

http://www.handfastings.co.uk/

It is a old ceremony going back to Pagan times and is where the saying tieing the knot comes from.

Your hands are bind together by two seperate pieces of material

arbroath_lass

TonyMMM wrote: »

Handfasting has never been a legal way of marrying in England Wales or Scotland. The phrase originates from a 17th century term meaning betrothal which got confused with certain forms of irregular marriage that were historically recognised in Scotland.

Handfasting itself would not constitute a legal marriage, no, but you can have handfasting as part of the ceremony.

TonyMMM

arbroath_lass wrote: »

Handfasting itself would not constitute a legal marriage, no, but you can have handfasting as part of the ceremony.

Which is exactly what I said.

arbroath_lass

TonyMMM wrote: »

Which is exactly what I said.

You did indeed, somehow, I missed the first part of your post :eek:

It doesn't have to be a civil ceremony though.

beautiful_ravens

Thanks all!
For the record, I know what handfasting is, I just don't know anything about weddings/registras etc