Our Handfasting

the ring shot

I mentioned in a previous post that we had a full Wiccan Handfasting. I thought I'd elaborate on that!

It was both elaborate and formal, but the feeling (I thought) was also very intimate.

At the time, I was a belly dance teacher and had a troupe. They are all friends, and I asked them to be my attendants. I planned a themed wedding, "historical" bellydance. I bought fabric for all of them and made their costumes, and a friend made poufy shirts for the guys.

the altar from one side

My coven and a few additional folks were the circle participants. The HPS cast the circle in advance, after they set up the altar, kept it on the down low, though it was not hidden. The only folks IN the circle were coven, close family and circle participants.

We had couples at the quarters, for blessings from the elements, we had cups and a unity cup, we had the cord, we had the broom but I also added a sword with the broom as my own little touch, perfectly suited to my hubby and I.

HP and HPS with us

Funny story:  We had brought our own video camera, and my husband set it up to record during the ceremony, and a friend was asked to hit the button at the right time.  My dad also brought his video camera and had it set up to record at a different angle. A friend of ours also brought his video camera and held it while recording.

Not a single camera managed to record the ceremony.

Our Attendants

Our camera somehow shut itself off... it has like 5 minutes of just the very beginning before anything actually happened. My dad's camera recorded 45 minutes of static.  My friend's camera had no picture, and the sound when in and out so you can't even really listen to what was said.  True story. We'd always joked in the coven that there was no point bringing electronics into a circle, and this ceremony proved exactly why!

Coven and Circle Participants, even the kids had a part.

Our wedding was a blast! Almost everyone, even those who hadn't a clue, said it was one of the most moving and beautiful weddings they'd been to. And of course we had the BEST reception!  My belly dance instructor gave me a good rate to hire her to dance at my wedding, and she was fabulous. :)  After the performance, my troupe and I danced, then everyone danced but it was mostly belly dancing, with friends just boogieing along for fun. :)  Best wedding ever! lol

mom's corsage, a cd case/egyptian sarcophogus gift, the garter, my dance teacher