Hand-fasting For Your Wedding Ceremony

                   Add Handfasting to your Wedding Ceremony

Guests always 'perk up' when my couple and I start doing hand-fasting during the wedding ceremony. 

Handfasting in progress

I explain that this tradition is as old as the written language and is practiced in many cultures. 

Hand-fasting ceremony in progress.

Hand fasting ceremony in progress.

Handfasting ceremony in progress.

The term hand-fasting comes from an old custom of formally uniting a couple by binding their hands together with ribbon or rope.  This is where the terms ‘giving ones hand in marriage’ and ‘tying the knot’ comes from.

Tying the knot.

Handfasting

With this cord, I will now bind the Bride and Groom to the promises they make to each other.

Handfasting ceremony in progress.

Tying the knot.

The knots of this binding are not formed by this cord, but by your vows.               

Here is what each ribbon color means.

• Blue represents a sense of sincerity between the couple, as well as peace, honest and open communication, the ability to express oneself, loyalty to the relationship, and patience between the couple.


• Green represents financial health between the couple as well as physical health, signs of affection, compassionate feelings between the couple, and a sense of caring.


• Orange represents the attraction between the couple, a sense of kindness, support and encouragement, keeping your heart open, fostering understanding, and being sensitive to each other's needs.


• Gold represents intelligence, a sense of unity, plenty of energy, and religious blessings for the couple.


• Red represents passion between the couple, healthy fertility, a sense of strength, bravery, and a long life for the marriage.


• Yellow represents equality between the couple, confidence for each partner, a sense of balance, joy and charm, a sense of spontaneity, and plenty of enthusiasm for the marriage.


• Purple represents harmony and tranquility in the marriage, power between the couple, a sense of sentimentality, and intelligence and wisdom.

Love Letter Wine Box - A Special Ceremony for your Wedding

 Love Letter and Wine Box Ceremony 

Before their wedding day the couple writes a letter to each other.  The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, for choosing to marry as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. 

The letters are sealed in individual envelopes and neither has seen what the other has written.  

Couple placing their love letters and wine bottle in their box.

Couple is 'nailing their box shut to be opened on their 10 year anniversary.

This couple chose a lock & key to seal their box.

Couple asked their guests to sign their wine bottle before the ceremony began.  The signed bottle was placed in their box.  It was their 'guest book'. 

Vows and Love Letters written in little books which my bride and groom placed in their box.

The box contains a bottle of wine, 2 special wine glasses and a love letter from each to the other.

Wine Boxes Sealed and ready to take home to be opened on their anniversary! 

Unity Love Knot / True Lover's Knot In Your Wedding Ceremony

“Tying the Knot” in your wedding ceremony is another way 

 to symbolize your coming together as one.

The “true lovers knot” which is the strongest there is will 

not break, and will only become stronger when under 

pressure.

The rope itself will break before the knot comes undone.

The two separate cords represent your past and lives 

before today.

As you intertwine your pieces, you are joining your two lives into one, representing the present.

The finished knot symbolizes your future.....

 Your two lives are now bound together as one....

For more ideas on optional ceremonies for your wedding, 

please visit my website, the options & info tab here 

WeddingWoman.net

Paint Pouring Ritual During Your Wedding Ceremony - WeddingWoman.net

One of the newest wedding ceremony traditions to symbolize the blending of your lives is Paint Pouring!  Every painting and every marriage begins with a blank canvas…

Paint Pouring set up at marriage ceremony site as guests are escorted to their seats.

Bride and groom add their two different colors to the canvas to symbolize their lives blending together.  (I recommend you purchase 11X14 or 16X20)

Brittany and Joseph applying their paint to the canvas 12/13/14 at Chattooga Belle Farm.

Bride and groom applying their paint to the canvas to create their unique painting.

Pouring their paint :)

Their completed painting.

Torri and Zachary Pour their paint onto the canvass at
The Red Horse Inn 4-24-21

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angelica and Brandon 8-3-15 - Poinsett Hotel -Greenville, SC

Torri and Zac's completed art!

Lovely!

Angelica and Brandon - Poinsette Hotel - Greenville, SC

Angelica and Brandon applying their paint.

Finished Painting

Completed artwork for their home. A reminder of their wedding day.

Megan and Joshua  9-20-15 - Zen Greenville, SC

Megan and Josh applying their paint - Zen Greenville, SC

Their finished painting - good job!!  :)

 Kayla and Paul 4/23/16 - Chattooga Belle Farm

Wine Ceremony during your Wedding - http://WeddingWoman.net

Including an 'optional ceremony or tradition' into your wedding ceremony is a great way symbolize the joining of your lives in marriage. They add a 'visual effect'.  Your guests are more likely remember what they see.  One of my personal favorites is the wine ceremony..

Long ago, wine was revered as the blood of the earth.
When a bride and groom pledged themselves to each other, they drank wine from a single cup, signifying that they were becoming one blood, one family and one kin.
Cup-raising was an invitation to witness their oath and hold the persons to their words.

Wine is a symbol of abundance, joy and life. 

Your officiant can describe the properties in the wine that are symbolic of 'Life's Journey'.

Those who drink deeply from the "Cup of Life" with an open heart and willing spirit, invite the full range of challenges and experiences into their being.

 

May you find life’s joys heightened, it’s bitterness sweetened and all of life enriched.

A venue with a vineyard is the perfect place to include this ceremony.  Contact me for details.

+Brenda M. Owen Wedding Officiant, Minister  http://WeddingWoman.net

#WeddingCeremony, #WeddingOfficiant, #WeddingMinister, #JusticeofthePeace, #Celebrant, #WeddingChaplin, #Elope, #Elopement