Handfasting - An Old Wedding Ceremony Ritual Transformed
Weave This Tradition Into Your Ceremony
There’s something timeless about a handfasting ceremony. Long before rings became the symbol of unity, couples quite literally “tied the knot.” The phrase we use so casually today comes from this ancient Celtic tradition — a ritual of binding two hands (and two hearts) together as one in a unique Wedding Ceremony.
A Celtic Tradition with Deep Roots
Handfasting dates back hundreds of years in Celtic culture. It was once a legal form of betrothal, symbolizing a couple’s commitment to one another before witnesses and the elements — often performed outdoors, beneath the open sky. The couple’s hands were bound together with ribbons or cords, creating a physical representation of their promises and the weaving of two lives into one path.
The Colors of Connection
In traditional Celtic handfasting, the ribbons used to bind the wrists are made of thirteen colors — each carrying its own unique blessing for the marriage.
Red: passion, strength, lust, fertility
Orange: encouragement, attraction, kindness, plenty
Yellow: charm, confidence, joy, balance
Green: finances, fertility, charity, prosperity, health
Blue: tranquility, patience, devotion, sincerity
Purple: power, piety, sanctity, sentimentality
Black: strength, wisdom, vision, success
White: purity, concentration, meditation, peace
Gray: neutrality, canceling, balance
Pink: unity, honor, truth, romance, happiness
Brown: earth, grounding, talent, home
Silver: treasure, values, creativity, inspiration
Each color weaves a wish, and together they create a tapestry of intention — the blessings a couple carries into their marriage.
Old Words, New Meanings
The verb to handfast once meant “to formally promise” or “to make a contract,” and in Old English it referred specifically to marriage vows. Today, we see a beautiful resurgence of this practice — not as a contract of ownership, but as a sacred and symbolic gesture of unity and equality.
Many couples now choose to include handfasting in their modern ceremonies — whether it’s just the two of them beneath the redwoods or surrounded by loved ones by the sea — to honor ancient wisdom in a way that feels personal and heartfelt.
A Modern Twist on an Ancient Blessing
As the ribbons are tied in a celtic knot, the couple’s hands are joined together — a reminder that love, like the cords, has no beginning and no end. It’s a poetic, tangible way to say we are bound by love, by choice, by the life we create together.
Whether you choose one ribbon or all thirteen, the act of handfasting transforms a simple moment into something sacred — a ritual that bridges the old world and the new, carrying with it the beauty of promise, presence, and enduring love.
Celebrate love with the ancient Celtic ritual of handfasting — a beautiful “tie the knot” tradition that weaves color, symbolism, and timeless romance into your wedding or elopement ceremony.
Blessing of the Hands
Often, a "blessing of the hands" is included, which can involve the officiant saying words such as:
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
If you feel drawn to rituals that celebrate deep connection and meaning, handfasting is a beautiful way to bring intention into your vows. Whether you’re eloping in the redwoods, standing barefoot on the beach, or gathering loved ones for a full ceremony, this ancient Celtic blessing can be personalized to reflect your love story.
I’d be honored to help you “tie the knot” — in every sense of the phrase — with a handfasting ceremony that feels sacred, natural, and uniquely yours.
To learn more about how to include handfasting in your wedding or elopement, reach out to Donna Rose Gardner, Santa Cruz and Big Sur Wedding officiant through Honey in the Heart Ceremonies.
