In Which We Attempt to DIY: The Handfasting Cord

I don't know when I first learned about the tradition of handfasting in wedding ceremonies. It's a very old tradition that can be seen across many centuries and cultures all around the world. It involves literally "tying the knot," by binding the couples hands together during the wedding ceremony as an outward demonstration of commitment.I love this tradition, and for history buffs like Don and I, it will be a fun part of our wedding ceremony that incorporates some of our interests and who we are.

The question, of course, was what to use for the handfasting itself.

Photo from BBC via Cherish Ceremonies

Will and Kate used some satiny looking something for their handfasting, and it involved the priest merely folding it over their clasped hands. I have seen several handfasting cords and ribbons for sale, too, but nothing really spoke to me. 

Via Darby Smart

From InfinitielyEntwined via Etsy.com

Handfasting with a tartan looks beautiful, and would be a fun tie-in to my family's Scottish heritage, but as far as I know, the nearest ancestors who had their own tartan would be my maternal grandmother's family, and that seemed like a stretch. 

From Little Legs Baby Kilts via Etsy.com

Eventually, my mother-in-law and I decided to make the handfasting cord ourselves. Mr. Blue Moon and I picked spools of ribbon in the wedding colors, and I sat down at his parents house to work. This is the result of maybe an hour of testing different braids, knots, and twists.

Personal Photos

There's not a real science to my method.We ended up making two basic ribbon braids, and then intertwining those two braids together. The finished product, which is maybe a foot long, will be wrapped around our hands on the big day. The next decision will be to figure out what kind of vows we want to say, or what we would like to be read, immediately before  and during our handfasting.

Will your wedding ceremony include handfasting, or another interesting tradition?

We Search for the Church

Mr. Blue Moon and I have always known that we preferred a church ceremony. I was raised in a very religious Christian household, although my family has grown more relaxed over the years, and as a little girl, I always dreamed of walking down the aisle in my family's church.

Here's the current congregation in front of the church. Mom and Dad are standing in the back! // Via Franklin Church of Christ

However, the church is not what I had in mind on the outside, and the inside probably seats around 200 or 250 people. Since we are keeping our wedding to about 85 people, my family church would swallow us. I pictured a small, intimate, historic chapel.

Most gorgeous church of all time! // via Wikimedia Commons

That's Mr. Blue Moon's family's church near our town's square. His family has attended for a couple of generations. For several years before we got engaged, we talked about getting married in this church, but the inside is very grand and a little more formal than I envisioned for our small affair. Even though it really appealed to me because of the sentimental value attached, it just didn't feel exactly right. I had a vision in my head, and I needed to find it!

This Methodist church was another strong consideration. // via Wikipedia

We had briefly considered using this little white church just down the street from my parents. I have always wanted to get married in a white church, and I love that this one is maybe two or three minutes from the house where I grew up. However, I know a ton of brides that have gotten married there, so it was messing with my vision of what our wedding would look like. It's hard to plan when you're constantly comparing your wedding to everyone else's, and wondering which of your ideas are really yours!

Fantastic chapel in Brentwood, Tennessee // via All Things Marriage

The strongest contender before we found our church was Owen Chapel. It was built in the early 1800s, and I love that historic aspect. It is also a functioning church of Christ, which is the brand of Christianity I was raised in, and I knew I would be comfortable planning there and that it would make my family happy. The inside is completely beautiful. I love all the white and the light, airy feel of it. 

Photo by Evin Photography

I love the high ceilings, the pretty white pews, the light fixtures. And the lady who manages the weddings is a sweetheart and would be so fun to work with. However, my cousin had a beautiful wedding here in 2014, and as much as I loved everything about it, I wanted to give my family a change of scenery! I also really didn't like the idea of moving the wedding outside of our hometown of Franklin, Tennessee.

Via the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee

 TA-DA! :)

My maid of honor and I noticed this church while we were driving around in the country one day. It's another historic chapel, and has my white siding that I've always envisioned. We parked the car, got out to peek in the windows, and noticed that it had a center aisle. I was sold! Mr. Blue Moon got in touch with the pastor, and they put us down in their book. When we went to look around inside, we both knew that this would be the one. It felt right, and we could see ourselves getting married there. Seating 85, it's perfect for the size of our wedding! 

Doesn't Mr. Blue Moon look great walking around in here? // Personal Photos

 The ceilings have exposed wood beams throughout, really old chandeliers, and there are white clapboard walls. It also features heavy double doors into the sanctuary space, so I am already picturing how lovely it will be to swing them open for my entrance. Hey, a girl only gets to be a bride once! 

Sometimes we find the perfect things randomly, but I'm so happy my maid of honor noticed this building. It will make a beautiful wedding, and I can't wait to meet Mr. Blue Moon in here in just a few short months to say "I Do!"

How did you choose the perfect ceremony venue?



A Bridesmaid Bowed Out, and It Was Not a Catastrophe

We finally nailed down the wedding reception location, which I'll talk about soon in another post (yay!), so I posted it on the Facebook group I have set up for our wedding party. A few minutes after posting the updates about our wedding, one of my dearest friends messaged me and told me that she can't make it to the wedding because she has recently landed an amazing internship in South Africa. My heart dropped for just a second because I seriously love this girl, ya'll. I met her through my college debate team, as we were the only two women from my university to travel and compete nationally on a team full of men. We were always hotel roomies on our trips around the country, and we shared so many laughs and great times together.

Jaz would have made my wedding day so much more awesome than it will already be!

 

As disappointed as I am that I won't get to share the day with one of my best friends, I would never expect someone to give up an internship for one day, or even to purchase a ticket for an international flight for one wedding weekend. I'm so proud of my friend for landing an awesome internship!

 

Of course, we are now in a place where Don has five groomsmen and I am only at three bridesmaids, one of them a junior bridesmaid. I don't know if we'll leave the numbers like they are, or ask one more person to join us on our special day.

 

Love,

Linds