MAD on Handfasting

A demonstration of 2 different handfasting methods for a modern wedding, commitment ceremony, or vow renewal.
Music from bedsound.com

[@Austin-dm5bp]

My wife and I were married with a handfasting a year and a half ago, and this video was such an inspiration for the approach we took. Just re-watching it brings me back to that day. Thank you for recording, sharing, and preserving!

[@martindrake81]

Yay! Thanks so much for sharing that with me Austin. It makes me very happy. May you have a long and fulfilling marriage! :)

[@RichardKlueg]

After 40+ years of performing weddings, today is my first one with a handfasting, and this video was a tremendous help. Thanks you!!

[@madandcad4413]

Yay! and you are so welcome :)

[@RichardKlueg]

It went very well!

[@madandcad4413]

@@RichardKlueg That's great Richard so pleased for you!

[@hipcuteguy]

The cleanest knot I've seen, brilliant methods I'll be using in my ceremony. Thank you for sharing.

[@madandcad4413]

So pleased this was useful for you! Good luck :) :)

[@sabrad496]

I am a celebrant, and use this video to refresh my memory every time a client asks for a handfasting. Then I send it to my clients to watch! Your video is amazing, and hopefully we'll see more :-)

[@martindrake81]

Thanks for sharing that Sabra! So glad it is useful! :)

[@JoseLuis-pe5sg]

Hello sabra! Are you an active celebrant in the UK? I'm interested in having a handfasting ceremony with my fiance thus february 2024.

[@sabrad496]

@@JoseLuis-pe5sg I am actually US based.

[@MiaogisTeas]

Probably the best video I've seen on this yet. All the other ones involved a bunch of extra tying and fiddling that just made a mess of the knot afterwards. Great stuff!

[@martindrake81]

Thanks William! Thinking I should make a part two with some more methods in! :)

[@peachbellini2615]

The first one was so beautiful.. brought tears to my eyes.. I'd wish to have this ceremony with my beloved

[@madandcad4413]

Thank you so much KC :)

[@paulbalogh4582]

Wonderfully done - I’m doing this tomorrow for a friend - I hope I don’t screw it up!

[@martindrake81]

Good luck Paul! Don't worry about screwing it up. Sometimes the mistakes are the best, most memorable and most meaningful bits in ceremonies (and in life!)

[@jaszminhughes3105]

Best video ive seen on this....thanks!

[@martindrake81]

Thanks so much Jaszmin! :)

[@hgaletti1]

Excelent! i love it

[@Liawinterwolf]

Love it! The first one is my favorite! Going to incorporate the first style in my Renewal of Vows, this coming month💜🙌🏼🙏🏻 Thank you!

[@madandcad4413]

You are so welcome! Good luck!

[@amaconmdemama]

A-MAZING! Thank you so much for posting this! The best handfasting video I have found. I am definitely doing this at my wedding

[@martindrake81]

Yay, you are so welcome Ama, I'm really pleased you were inspired! :)

[@azalia50]

I personally tried this and it worked thank you so much for this video.

[@madandcad4413]

You are most welcome! So happy it helped :D

[@doitynoid2790]

This is dope

[@iamKevinLee]

You did a simply beautiful job! well done! I will be sharing your videos with my couples going forward. Thank you for making the effort to create this beautiful video for us to learn and share. xox

[@danielcooke7911]

love this, I am celebrant for my cousin wedding soon and I am leading the hand fasting (kilts and all) I see the figure 8 being used with ropes (im a mountaineer so no issues there) but I am using ribbons so gonna have a play with the other method you have shown which is in effect a stopper knot for these who want to learning. very useful YT thank you

[@martindrake81]

You're welcome Daniel :) Good Look at your Cousin's wedding. My favourite all-time knot is a sheepshank, FYI like.

[@mommabear9587]

Bought the rings and ribbon!!! Picked out a perfect prayer and heading out to a place called Mount Charleston near Las Vegas that's really woodsy and picture perfect. Im 32 with a 3 yr old. It's time I allow real love to happen for us ♥ Not into the whole government paperwork stuff where you need to pay money to prove your love. Old school is where its at. Im excited. Took pictures last month and sent them out to a few. Now the countdown begins. Very neat video. Will be taking notes from this video. Happy for you 2 ♥♥

[@madandcad4413]

Wishing you every happiness in your union together!

[@fairyduckling]

I intend to do a handfasting with a few aspects of traditional weddings whenever I get married ❤️

[@madandcad4413]

Embrace traditions that mean something to you and forget those that don't. That's what I say. Get creative! Thank you for sharing :)

[@libbymcarthur5657]

Mad that was awfully helpful! :0}

[@deborahpohl2033]

Love the first one to involve family. We're thinking of doing this instead of exchanging rings as my HTB can't wear a ring in his job.

[@martindrake81]

That sounds like a lovely idea:) Good luck! XX

[@lize1848]

Thanks for the simple explanation! 😊Which family members are usually involved in method 1? The parents of the couple or even more people?

[@cannibalchats]

I loved this soo much, this was super helpful, also using it for my handfasting ceremony. Would it be possible to know the width of the cords in the second method? thanks (:

[@martindrake81]

Sorry for the slow reply! These are climbing ropes and are actually a few different diameters - somewhere between about 5mm - 10mm. It demonstrates that lots of different thicknesses can work :) Hope that helps :)

[@melaniegrooms6556]

Doing this for my wedding 🥰 not sure not which method we are going to do though.

[@martindrake81]

Experiment and have fun!

[@melaniegrooms6556]

@@martindrake81 Will do. Also surprising my fiancee on the wedding day with a handmade cord I'm planning out and making myself

[@martindrake81]

@@melaniegrooms6556 Oh that is beautiful!

[@Kelsamundo]

thank you! can method #2 be done with more than 3 cords?

[@madandcad4413]

Depends on the thickness and flexibility of the cords really. Thin ones maybe. You'd have to do a test :) For more than 3, ribbons may work better. Hope that helps!

[@FunkyKitty19]

Love pagan traditions. I'm doing this when I get married.

[@nicoleschnakenberg4057]

With method number 2, would 4 strands work?

[@martindrake81]

Hi Nicole! Yes! Would work no problem :)

[@marinamartini2402]

Could you tell me the colors of the ribbons and their meanings ,please. Thanks

[@madandcad4413]

So sorry, I missed this comment. Not sure where they originate but you can find colour meaning through a google search. I rarely use them, but a few couples have asked and I have quoted the symbolism as they have been tied.

[@maryyoung1347]

Can you just do a handfasting ceremony as your wedding?

[@fairyduckling]

Yes! Just remember to do the separate paperwork if you want it to be legally binding

[@andrewbrunson8413]

Can it be done with one ribbon?

[@ghostshatters]

are you supposed to have a certain amount of ribbons?

[@martindrake81]

Hi :) I'm using an old tradition but within a modern and humanistic context. So for me, there aren't any specific rules. It's just about finding something that works for you. Experiment and have fun! Hope that helps :)

[@ShaneNightmare1]

How many cords could you use for method 2?

[@martindrake81]

Hi Peter, it's really a case of trial and error, and experimentation. It kind of depends on the cords - texture, size etc. I have done it with lots of ribbons though, about 8! Have fun!

[@FormalElements]

Hey! This looks familiar too! lol

[@martindrake81]

Oh yes! Just seen yours, almost the same :) :)

[@FormalElements]

@@martindrake81 Wink wink......

[@dudemanofalcatraz]

Does the 1st method make the infinity knot? Can the 2nd method be done with 6 ropes?

[@madandcad4413]

Hi! It's the second method that gives you what is typically called the infinity knot. The first method gives you the "slightly messy and wild" knot.

[@madandcad4413]

6 ropes... Would probably depends on the thickness of ropes, it would be tricky but might be possible if they were thinner cords. It would be easier with 6 thinner ribbons . I'd recommend getting hold of some and giving it a try.! Good luck :)

[@Em280483]

I notice you have ropes for the infinity knot. Can ribbons be used for the infinity knot? We’re planning a hand fasting for our wedding in 8 weeks & we have 2 ribbons of our separate family tartans, but I wanted the infinity knot & the only demos I see are with cords instead - help!

[@martindrake81]

Hi! Sure, should work no problem. Ropes/chords tend to give a more defined/readable knot. But the meaning and significance behind the tartans is so beautiful, you should definitely use those! :) Have an amazing day!

[@Em280483]

@@martindrake81 thank you. I was starting to think maybe it’s just not suitable for that knot. We will have some practice runs for sure. I was just wondering if I’ve got the traditions muddled.

[@sickeditsss]

Okay okay I just searched this up cause my crush is pagan

[@sickeditsss]

😂