What is a handfasting, exactly?
It's an ancient ceremony where the couple's hands are bound with cord or ribbon as they speak their promises. It's where the phrase "tying the knot" comes from. It can be Celtic, pagan, secular, spiritual — whatever feels right for you. I work with couples of every background and belief.
Is a handfasting legally binding?
On its own, no — not in England and Wales. To be legally married here, you'll need to sign the paperwork at a register office. Most couples do this quietly a few days before or after, and treat the handfasting as the real wedding. I'll guide you through it.
Do we have to be religious or pagan?
Not at all. Handfastings have old pagan roots, but today they're embraced by couples of every belief. I'll write your ceremony to reflect whatever's meaningful to you — spiritual, secular, humanist, or somewhere in between.
How long is a typical ceremony?
An elopement usually runs 15–25 minutes. A full wedding ceremony tends to be 25–40 minutes, depending on the readings, rituals and personal touches you'd like to include.
Where can the ceremony take place?
Anywhere you'd like — gardens, parks, woodlands, your living room, a venue, a beach. Handfastings are wonderfully portable. I cover all of London as standard and travel further across the UK at cost.
What does the handfasting cord look like?
Whatever you want it to. The traditional version uses one or more cords in colours that represent qualities you're choosing for your marriage — green for growth, blue for calm, gold for warmth. I provide handmade cords as standard, but I love it when couples bring fabric of their own: a piece of someone's wedding dress, a ribbon from a meaningful place, a thread spun by someone you love.
How far in advance should we book?
The earlier the better, especially for spring and summer weekends. That said, I do take elopement bookings on shorter timelines — just ask.
Can we see what a ceremony looks like before booking?
Absolutely. When we have our first chat I'll talk you through the structure of a typical ceremony, share examples of past scripts (anonymised), and answer anything you're wondering about.