AMERICAN WEDDINGS BLOG
Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers.
Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers.
Published Tuesday, Mar. 29th, 2022
If you’ve been asked to perform a handfasting ritual as part of a wedding ceremony -- congratulations!
Handfasting ceremonies are one of the most romantic and meaningful unity rituals around, which is why they’ve remained a popular part of the marriage rite for thousands of years.
There are lots of ways to tie a handfasting cord, and no wrong way… But some methods are definitely easier than others!
If you’re planning a short ceremony, don’t have time to learn a complicated new ritual, or are new to handfasting or officiating in general, the knots below offer a great no-stress introduction.
What is handfasting? Handfasting is a unique wedding custom with origins in traditional Celtic and Pagan rituals. An officiant or spiritual elder wraps a cord or ribbon around a couples’ hands during a wedding ceremony to symbolize commitment and spiritual union.
This simple method is used to symbolize the blessings and gifts of marriage and looks fantastic in wedding photos. In this option, a handfasting cord or ribbon is wrapped and knotted around a couple’s clasped hands in the same way you’d tie a ribbon around a gift box.
Illustrations by Jessica Levey
This approach works best when couples clasp both of their hands together, or stack them, one on top of each other.
To complete the knot and bow: Drape the cord horizontally across the tops of the couple’s hands, cross the ends underneath and bring both back up to the top, tuck one end under the other, pull until they are snug, and then loop and knot to complete the bow. Quick and easy!
The ‘wrap around’ is a no-hassle option that works well for new (and nervous) officiants and short ceremonies. In this option, the handfasting cord is wrapped – not tied – around the couple’s clasped hands, with the cord’s decorative ends draped over their wrists. Couples can use a single hand each, or both hands.
Illustrations by Jessica Levey
This method works well for short wedding ceremonies because the cord can be slipped on and off quickly. And officiants who are nervous about performing a handfasting in front of a crowd will love this option, because there are no complicated steps to remember!
Although there’s technically no knot in this approach, we’ve included it here because it remains one of the most popular options with couples.
This simple knot is so popular that we wrote an entire article about how to do it! The infinity knot (sometimes called an endless knot) is an ancient knot used for centuries in marriage rituals, to symbolize unending love and a deep spiritual connection.
The infinity knot
Follow the link above for step-by-step illustrated instructions on how to tie this timeless unity knot.
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See all Handfasting scripts in our Script Library
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For more inspiration on how to add handfasting to your non denominational, secular, humanist, or Pagan wedding ceremony – or to an engagement or vow renewal ceremony – visit these previous articles from our blog!
See all Articles about Handfasting
Say yes to magic and romance with one of the most exciting ceremony trends – the handfasting ceremony!
This comprehensive handfasting kit is easy to use and comes with everything you'll need, including a copy of Handfasting, From Ancient Rituals to Modern Ceremonies, a copy of Navigating Your Wedding Ceremony, a hand-woven handfasting cord, a guide to tying an infinity knot, and more!
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