Medionemeton Pagan Sanctuary

HANDFASTING

This page will not tell you everything you need to know to conduct a Handfasting, but we will give you the resources to find out for yourself what will work for you.

Books There are some very good books on the market, some of which are well worth buying (especially if you live in Perth, as I have them out of the library almost permanently!). Most of the books generally available are multi-religion, alternative wedding guides rather than specifically Pagan, though there are plenty of specifically Pagan books available through various online booksellers. All of these books pre-date the introduction of legally recognised Pagan marriages (see The Pagan Federation (Scotland) under organisations).

  • Gordon, Kate - "Alternative Weddings: a practical guide", (Robinson, 2002). This is a great book, which both explores why we need ceremonies to mark significant points in our lives, and also explores some elements of different belief systems, giving examples of marriage ceremonies from each. It is a useful resource for readings and music to make the ceremony just that bit more special.

  • Jordan, Michael - "Ceremonies for Life", (Collins & Brown Ltd, 2001). This is useful for many different types of ceremony, and explores the different elements that are useful, if not essential, for a successful rite of passage. This book is much more Pagan-oriented than most, and has a range of ideas for things which can be included in a marriage ceremony. It is also beautifully illustrated, which will give the reader a better idea of how various ritual elements will work.

  • Lockhart, G. W. - "The Scottish Wedding Book", (Luath Press Ltd, 2002). This is a lovely little book, and although it has a strong Christian slant, it does cover the origins of Handfasting in a section on "the roots of today's [wedding] ceremony". It's particularly good for some of the more unusual Scottish wedding customs, and also for advice on finding the perfect venue.

  • Ross-Macdonald, Jane - "Alternative Weddings: the essential guide for those who want something different", (Thorsons, 1996). This is a useful book for details of what is legal, what is not, and the steps you have to go through for your marriage to be legally recognised, though of course it pre-dates the new Approved Pagan marriage celebrants in Scotland. It also gives full-length examples of ceremonies from a range of religions, and also of interfaith ceremonies. The resources section at the back is full of suggestions for different elements that could be included in a ceremony, such as alternative clothing, transport and fireworks. Unfortunately this book is slightly out of date (pre-civil partnership legislation), but it makes up for it in so many other ways.

    Organisations

    There are very few organisations out there that deal specifically with Handfastings. However, The Pagan Federation (Scotland) may be a good place to start (please note the change of address - the website www.paganfed.vscotland.org.uk is now defunct). The Pagan Federation (Scotland) celebrants register now includes eleven celebrants who are Approved to conduct legal Pagan marriages - in Scotland you no longer need have a Registry Office ceremony before your handfasting to make it legal. If you are looking for a celebrant for your ceremony in Scotland (and visitors to the country are very welcome to wed here too), your enquiry will be passed to the Celebrants Database Co-ordinator who can be contacted directly at medionemeton@blueyonder.co.uk. Other enquiries will be passed to the regional co-ordinator for your area.

    General Register Office for Scotland ensures the smooth running of the marriage system (as well as recording other major events) in Scotland. They can give you advice on the requirements for a legally recognised marriage, including what documentation you need to provide, and legal requirements for non-residents marrying in Scotland. They can advise on where your nearest registrar's office is, and are useful for confirming the legal status of a celebrant if you have concerns.

    Websites There are hundreds of websites out there that might give you some inspiration. I can't recommend any particularly, but try doing a search for "Handfasting" on any of your favourite search engines, and take a lucky dip. If you find any that are really good, please let us know by emailing medionemeton@blueyonder.co.uk. Please try to avoid any advertising celebrants who charge a fortune. Think about what you'd consider a reasonable charge for the sort of service offered, taking into account the distance you're asking the celebrant to travel.

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    Site last modified: 14th April 2008
    This page last modified: 14th April 2008
    Links last checked: 14th April 2008

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