Handfasting Ceremonies

A handfasting can be included as part of a legal wedding ceremony, commitment or renewal of vows.
(A commitment ceremony is similar to a wedding without the legals.)

Handfasting, or tying the knot, involves the draping of one cord, many cords woven together, or one or multiple ribbons, across a couple's joined hands. You can involve family, friends or children in the draping of coloured cords or ribbons across your hands. 

The knot can be tied in a variety of ways. We discuss this as we create your ceremony together.

With a handfasting commitment, couples promise themselves for a year and a day (or for however long they choose).  This might be followed by a legal wedding ceremony at a later date (but doesn't have to).  

Get in contact with me through the Contact Me button below and we can have a chat. I can give you a personalised quote depending on whether you want a legal wedding ceremony or a commitment ceremony.

• access to an online folder of ideas for you to look through, vow templates and unique ways of getting hitched
• guiding you with choices around how your ceremony will flow on the day
• if a legal ceremony, all legal paperwork and registering your marriage afterwards
• a PA system so your guests can hear your ceremony
• a questionnaire to help me get to know you, your style and how you'd like your wedding to be
• meetings with you, in person or by Zoom
• travel up to 100km and attending on the day
• personal attention to detail 
• a touch of fun!

Optional extras include: 

• a rehearsal
• applying on your behalf for your certified marriage certificate, if a legal wedding ceremony
• a signing table and chairs
• information on how to change your name, if a legal ceremony

Let me know if you need me to build any of these items into your quote.

We loved you including Juan’s daughter in the ceremony, the ting-sha bell and handfasting. You were fantastic! Warm, welcoming, knowledgeable and made everyone feel comfortable. You really made our wedding so easy. Thank you!

Katchia and Juan 

You did a great job Marlee it was perfect! We felt so  comfortable with you from the very start. You were so welcoming and  friendly. You helped us so much with the information pack and with extra  help with the vows. Thank you so much for helping to make the ceremony  the best time of our lives!
Peta and Micah 

Dear Marlee. Thank  you for bringing your love and care to our wedding. Since Australia is very much  foreign country for us, it was such a great help that you could make both  paperwork and preparations pass by so effortlessly. Immediately when you  showed up in Kuranda we felt how much you wanted to make sure you knew us and  what we wanted. You really made us feel special, and we will always take pride  in knowing that it was you who tied our knot.
Laura and Fredrick

For us, the handfasting ritual was a great alternative to exchanging rings. Everything was well organised and people commented on the lovely ceremony. Thank you so much for everything you did to help us create a ceremony that was reflective of "us". You made it very easy for us to put everything together. You have put together a great lot of information and resources from which to build a ceremony. We feel so grateful that we were able to find such a great celebrant, given that we were searching from so far away.

Jenn and Dan (from Canada)

Dear Marlee, thank you for the wonderful ceremony you performed for us. All our guests complimented our unique approach. Many of them had never seen a handfasting and were impressed with the beauty and simplicity. Thank you for helping us celebrate our marriage. We had a wonderful day. With great appreciation and all our love.

Robert and Megan

What is used in handfasting?

Generally couples use cords or ribbons, either plaited together or loose. For example, you can have a chakra handfasting with all the colours of the chakras, accompanied by blessings relating to each. Some couples order beautiful handfasting cords from a supplier of handfasting ribbons. 

How will I know what to do when you handfast us?

I'll take you through the various options before your ceremony so that you can relax and enjoy tying the knot!

Is a handfasting legal?

It is if you also complete the legal paperwork for a wedding - the Notice of Intended Marriage. You don't have to have a legal wedding if you are just after a handfasting. Fun fact: Handfastings were legal in Scotland until 1939.

I'm worried my guests won't know what we are doing.

Don't worry, I'll explain the process to them so that they understand the significance and why you chose a handfasting.