Handfasting Ceremonies...

The expression "tying the knot" refers to the early Celtic and later Scots and Welsh marriage ritual of handfasting. Though clearly pagan in origin, the symbolism of this ritual was so visually expressive and appealing that it even found its way into the liturgy of some factions of Catholicism practiced in Britain after the rise of Christianity.

The first ceremony below is a particularly elaborate, beautiful and historically accurate "six-chorded" handfasting. There are many other simpler and shorter variations of the ceremony, using fewer chords (the old spelling of "cords") or even a single chord or a family clan tartan. Below the six-chorded ceremony is one such simpler four-chorded ceremony.

CLICK HERE and watch a YouTube video of E. J. Campfield performing a
Four-Chorded Handfasting Ceremony that was webcast live over the Internet.
The bride and groom found each other online and courted from half a world
apart before finally meeting in person and deciding to marry.

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Six-Chorded Handfasting Ceremony...

Officiant: Know now that since your lives have crossed, you have formed ties between each other. The promises you make today and the ties that are bound here will cross the years and will greatly strengthen your union. With full awareness, know that you declare your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?

Bride & Groom: Yes, we seek to enter.

I bid you look into each others eyes.

[Bride's Name], will you honor him?

I will.

[Groom's Name], will you honor her?

I will.

[To Both] Will you seek never to give cause to break that honor?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. Join your hands. (First chord is draped across the bride and groom's hands.)

[Bride's Name], will you share his dreams?

I will .

[Groom's Name], will you share her dreams?

I will .

[To Both] Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Second chord is draped across the couple's hands.)

[Bride's Name], will you share his laughter?

I will .

[Groom's Name], will you share her laughter?

I will .

[To Both] Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Drape third chord across the couple's hands.)

[Bride's Name], might you ever burden him?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[Groom's Name], might you ever burden her?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[To Both] Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Drape fourth chord across the couple's hands.)

[Bride's Name], might you ever cause him pain?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[Groom's Name], might you ever cause her pain?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[To Both] Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Drape fifth chord across the couple's hands.)

[Bride's Name], might you ever cause him anger?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[Groom's Name], might you ever cause her anger?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[To Both] Will you together take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Drape sixth chord across the couple's hands. Tie chords together while saying:)

The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords, but rather by your vows. For as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union. (Once chords are tied together they are removed and held for a keepsake.)

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Four-Chorded Handfasting Ceremony...

Know now that since your lives have crossed, you have formed ties between each other. The promises you make today and the ties that are bound here will cross the years and will greatly strengthen your union. With full awareness, know that you declare your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?

Bride & Groom: Yes.

Will you share yourselves freely and generously with each other, making time to be together?

(unison) We will.

The first binding is thus made with blue, symbolic of Water, that your love may flow and fill you to your depths. [The blue chord is draped over the couple's hands.]

Will you each seek to ease the other's pain and suffering, sharing laughter and joy?

We will.

The second binding is thus made with green, symbolic of Earth, that your love may be wise and nurturing, and your happiness abundant. [The green chord is draped over the couple's hands.]

Will you strive to keep your romance alive through daily actions and words of encouragement?

We will.

The third binding is thus made with red, symbolic of Fire, that your love may be bright and passionate. [The red chord is draped over the couple's hands.]

Will you both help each other to grow in spirit and wisdom?

We will.

The fourth binding is thus made with white, symbolic of Air, that your love may be as limitless as the sky, and filled with spirit. [The white cord is draped over the couple's hands. All four cords are tied together.]

You are now bound together, your two lives joined by love and trust into one life. The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords, but rather by your vows. For as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union.

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