Tag Archives: handfasting

A Forest Witch Elopement with a Black Wedding Dress

in Wedding. Written by Photos by

Originally budgeting $5,000 for their June wedding, as they had to change their plans due to the pandemic, Sayer and Philip actually only ended up spending $2,000! They were inspired by nature and the most important part for them was the ceremony. It was held at Big Bear National Forest in California and they hired their friend of seven years, Priestess Shannon Farley-Schonland, to officiate.

“We bonded over witchcraft, the Haunted Mansion and the Night Circus”, Sayer told us. “I decided long ago, well before I ever knew I would meet Philip, that Shannon would be the person to perform my handfasting and marriage ceremony.”

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A Forest Witch Elopement with a Black Wedding Dress

👰

Originally budgeting $5,000 for their June wedding, as they had to change their plans due to the pandemic, Sayer and Philip actually only ended up spending $2,000! They were inspired by nature and the most important part for them was the ceremony. It was held at Big Bear National Forest in California and they hired their friend of seven years, Priestess Shannon Farley-Schonland, to officiate.

Continue reading...

February 10, 2021

A Handfasting Glastonbury Tor Wedding with a Lord of the Rings Twist

in Wedding. Written by Photos by

Sarah and Robbie chose Glastonbury Tor as the location for the intimate handfasting. Due to Covid, they scrapped their plans for a big party, instead focusing on the ceremony with just a few loved ones in attendance followed by photos at Glastonbury Abbey. Overall, they were inspired by the colour green and Tolkien but as Sarah is a Priestess and herbalist, this played a huge role in their choice of ceremony, too.

It all kicked off at 6pm, “It was such an amazing day”, the bride began. “The sun shone, there was a cool breeze and we had loads of onlookers but we didn’t care everyone was so respectful and kind it made it feel more magical. Our ceremony was tailor made for us by Goddess Temple Weddings.”

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A Handfasting Glastonbury Tor Wedding with a Lord of the Rings Twist

👰

Sarah and Robbie chose Glastonbury Tor as the location for the intimate handfasting. Due to Covid, they scrapped their plans for a big party, instead focusing on the ceremony with just a few loved ones in attendance followed by photos at Glastonbury Abbey. Overall, they were inspired by the colour green and Tolkien but as Sarah is a Priestess and herbalist, this played a huge role in their choice of ceremony, too.

Continue reading...

December 10, 2020

Gothic, Pagan, DIY Farm Wedding

in British Brides, Wedding. Written by Photos by

Hannah and AJ had a specific mission for their wedding day – for all their guests to be able to celebrate their individuality with them, as they both celebrated their individuality and their love for one another. There was no dress code, their ceremony was held in a spiritual circle which included everyone attending, and they didn’t stick to what people consider to be traditional norms.

With a budget of £7,000, they hired a farm where they could not only have their ceremony and reception, but their guests were free to camp for the weekend – it was important to them that their guests had as few barriers to attending as possible. Their ceremony was held in a cowshed (!) which they decorated themselves with help from family and friends. In fact, a lot of their nearest and dearest dug deep and helped out wherever they could – AJ’s friends provided the catering, DJing and photography and Hannah’s friends did her make up and wedding cake as gifts, and her mum altered her wedding dress. It turned the prep, and day, into a really personal affair, with plenty of community spirit.

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Gothic, Pagan, DIY Farm Wedding

👰

nnah and AJ had a specific mission for their wedding day - for all their guests to be able to celebrate their individuality with them, as they both celebrated their individuality and their love for one another. There was no dress code, their ceremony was held in a spiritual circle which included everyone attending, and they didn’t stick to what people consider to be traditional norms.

Continue reading...

March 17, 2020

A Dark Medieval Fairytale Inspired Elopement

in Styled Photo Shoots, Wedding. Written by Photos by

On October 6th at The Lost Village of Dode in Kent, Natalie and Maxx acted as models for a Snow White and dark fairytale themed wedding shoot. What started as just a pretend handfasting ceremony ended up being really moving and emotional for the couple, so they decided to actually make the commitment for real!

“On the day, a joke turned into a look, which turned into a ‘Shall we?'”, explained Charlotte, who organised and styled the day. “And before we knew it an all kinds of beautiful actual handfasting took place. It was really special and very intimate, no planning just a big fat ‘Lets do this!’ After this, the whole shoot took on a party feel a proper celebration of these amazing people – It was like it was meant to be with every aspect of the styling suiting them perfectly.”

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A Dark Medieval Fairytale Inspired Elopement

📸 👰

On October 6th at The Lost Village of Dode in Kent, Natalie and Maxx acted as models for a Snow White and dark fairytale themed wedding shoot. What started as just a pretend handfasting ceremony ended up being really moving and emotional for the couple, so they decided to actually make the commitment for real!

Continue reading...

February 5, 2020

Gothic, Pagan Handfasting in the Woods

in Wedding. Written by Photos by

Amelia and Tess were married in 2016, before Tess’ transition. Since their wedding, Tess has come out as bi-gender, sometimes having days when they identify as male, but others when they’re female. The couple wanted to celebrate Tess joining their family, so with the help of daughter Ivy they had a gothic styled, handfasting vow renewal in the same place they were originally married, Whistlewood Common in Derbyshire.

“Tess falls under the trans umbrella and is bi-gender – switching between two different genders, can be binary and/or non-binary genders”, they explained. “They switch between the two binary genders of male and female. Tess found the term to explain how they feel and has since been ‘out’ for a year and a half.”

The day had a gothic, pagan vibe and the woodland location set the tone for a lot of their stylistic choices. The day felt very ‘them’ but also complimented the surroundings perfectly. “We wanted to update our vows and wedding photos to include Tess”, they continued, “to have a visual representation of how our family is now. Amelia is Pagan and wanted to keep some of our original woodsy themes but with a darker, older feel. Amelia performed the ceremony herself, incorporating parts of our original wedding. Ivy played a bigger role with her being old enough to want to join in with the handfasting this time around.”

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Gothic, Pagan Handfasting in the Woods

👰

Amelia and Tess were married in 2016, before Tess' transition. Since their wedding, Tess has come out as bi-gender, sometimes having days when they identify as male, but others when they're female. The couple wanted to celebrate Tess joining their family, so with the help of daughter Ivy they had a gothic styled, handfasting vow renewal in the same place they were originally married, Whistlewood Common in Derbyshire.

Continue reading...

July 12, 2019

A Druid Handfasting meets Glastonbury Wedding Full of Colour, Sequins & Morris Dancers

in British Brides, Wedding. Written by Photos by

James and Bex go to Glastonbury every single year, but as there was no festival in 2018, they decided they would get married on the same weekend and host their own! The day was held at The Pheasantry Brewery, near their home in Nottinghamshire. As well as making their day feel perfect for them, their family and in particular their children were a really important part of the day. Between them they have five kids, two each from previous relationships and the youngest, Frank, together. They even painted Frank’s buggy with the pyramid stage and portraits of Michael Eavis and Dave Grohl on it!

“Our wedding was a Midsummer Night’s Dream meets Glastonbury festival meets English village fete meets The Wicker Man!” said the bride.  “As a family we usually go to Glastonbury Festival, its where James proposed in fact, and on hearing 2018 would be a fallow year and there would be no festival we decided to have our own, that way we get to celebrate our anniversaries there!”

The druid handfasting ceremony was a really special moment (they did the legal ceremony a few days prior). Instead of an aisle, their guests were gathered in a circle around them, their children were also really involved.

Being a festival wedding, the entertainment was obviously a big consideration… Their children are all quite musical so they held an open mic session at the reception where anyone could stand up and perform! All the kids sang, as did Bex and her bridesmaids.

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A Druid Handfasting meets Glastonbury Wedding Full of Colour, Sequins & Morris Dancers

👰

James and Bex go to Glastonbury every single year, but as there was no festival in 2018, they decided they would get married on the same weekend and host their own! The day was held at The Pheasantry Brewery, near their home in Nottinghamshire. As well as making their day feel perfect for them, their family and in particular their children ,were a really important part of the day. Between them they have five kids, two each from previous relationships and the youngest, Frank, together. They even painted Frank's buggy with the pyramid stage and portraits of Michael Eavis and Dave Grohl on it!

Continue reading...

May 7, 2019