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Woodford Festival wedding celebrant
Considering getting married at the Woodford Folk Festival? Many couples do. They all need a wedding celebrant.
Imagine having an extraordinary, and I mean….Extra Ordinary, array of options for wedding ceremony location, restaurant reception options AND even entertainment options for your celebration afterwards.
The festival is a place of ritual and celebration. It is the energetic home of these things. A more unique place to marry, exists not on this earth![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
A Marriage Celebrant at the Woodford Folk Festival
Every wedding needs a marriage celebrant. Kari has years of experience, both in weddings AND at the festival. Having conducted numerous weddings at Woodfordia, both at festival time and otherwise, she knows the Woodfordia site like a second home.
Whats more …… Kari will be at the festival. No need to pay for entry or travel or even accommodation.
However you will need to lodge paperwork with your celebrant at least one month prior to your wedding date.
Contact Kari for more information.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Woodfordia – A place to marry
There are many pathways to your wedding. Spiritual pathways, emotional journeys, long roads, short stays…..
There are many places to marry. Festival streets, hilltop grassy glades, shady trees, cosy corners, outrageous outdoors.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
The Sacred Labyrinth
The Sacred Labyrinth is a magical space where anyone can walk a path to the heart and connect more deeply with themselves. It can also be a place for your own wedding.
The Labyrinth is especially designed for couples to celebrate their connection through a marriage ceremony, a hand fasting or a special ritual of honouring. There are also other ceremonies that take place in the Labyrinth. In any of these rituals the woman enters on the left and the man on the right. The couple meets at the top after making their solo journey and setting whatever intention is appropriate. They can then walk together into the centre for the ceremony. Ceremony engages some moments in deep connection or exchange. At the completion of the rituals they leave through the archways together and out into the world to celebrate with friends and family.
Woodford Festival Installations
Installations of art and lighting abound in the festival streets, creating wonderlands of locations to have your festival wedding.
Music and fun
The choice of music is endless. Simply approach your favourite band for the perfect music at your wedding.
Or here’s some ideas for your festival wedding…..
Find a ritual dancer.
Have your hands decorated with henna.
Order a wreath of flowers for your hair.
Find an original steam punk costume or festive hat.
Go Woodfordian.
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Handfasting Wedding Rituals
A handfasting wedding ceremony is just one way to say I do.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”38311″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow”][vc_column_text]
Handfasting rituals
Since ancient times couples have stood together in the ceremony of marriage. There are many rituals that have lasted centuries, that symbolise a couple’s love and commitment. The handfasting ceremony dates back to the time of the ancient Celts. It was often used to acknowledge the beginning of a trial period of a year and a day during which time a couple were literally bound together – hand fasted. It was, however, a temporary agreement, which could be made permanent after the trial period if both parties agreed. It is from this wedding tradition that we know of the expression to “tie the knot”, or to “get hitched”.
Nowadays, the handfasting ceremony is used symbolically, as part of the declaration and wedding vows. It is a way of asking your intentions.
Would you like to Tie the Knot?
Today a couple can embrace an age-old marriage tradition, making it your own in a modern day ceremony. In a handfasting wedding ritual, a cord is tied about your hands as you take your vows.
In this handfasting ritual, the couple answer a series of questions. For each question a binding, for each binding a promise.
Once you are all tied up, as your marriage celebrant I can release the cords. For in fact, it is your promises that bind you not the cords! But you get to keep the cord … for fun![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Thanks to the wonderful Luke Going for the beautiful images of this touching moment. His work is unique.
Cate and Dave were married by the lake. They wanted a relaxed wedding, something a little different, not churchy, but laid back like themselves. They embraced a Handfasting to express their vows.
How does it work?
Here are some ways to approach a handfasting ceremony. Of course I am here with many examples at my fingertips, a whole list of vows for you to choose from, and a wealth of creative spirit to write for you. Let’s mix it up, modernise the sentiments and reference the traditions that you want to hold onto.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]
Traditional Handfasting vows
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”38288″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”38289″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”38301″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]The traditional handfasting promises are a series of questions. They acknowledge that life is not always easy, that relationships sometimes have unintentional outcomes. But a good intent underlies the love.The classic questions begin like so:
Celebrant to groom: Will you cause her pain?
Groom: I may
Celebrant to groom: Is that your intention?
Groom: No
Celebrant to bride: Will you cause him pain?
Bride: I may
Celebrant to bride: Is that your intention?
Bride: No
Celebrant to both: Will you share each other’s pain and seek to ease it?
Both: Yes
Celebrant to both: Please join your hands.
The first cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands.
Celebrant to bride: Will you share his laughter?
Bride: Yes
Celebrant to groom: Will you share her laughter?
Groom: Yes
Celebrant to both: Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?
Both: Yes
Celebrant: And so the binding is made
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Modern handfasting questions
But you can devise modern handfasting promises instead. Something along the lines of:
Do you vow in your married life together to continually break through your pre-conceived views of each other and see clearly.
Couple: We do
Do you vow to act wisely and compassionately with one another and with all beings.
Couple: We do
In my role as a writer, I can chat with you and then devise a series of questions that suit your very own values and ideals for approaching your relationship.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”38311″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]
Romantic Handfastings
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”38309″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Or perhaps you’d prefer something rather romantic.
Will you promise your deepest love, your fullest devotion, your tenderest care, and your faithfulness through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future?
Bruce & Emma: We pledge
Do you promise to be an equal loving partner, in a loving, honest relationship, standing by each other’s side, making a shelter of your heart, a home of your arms, encouraging your partner’s daily endeavours?
Bruce & Emma: We pledge
As you face the future together will you pledge to grow in your love for each other, to nurture the love that already is, honour and cherish each other, being there always?
Bruce & Emma: We pledge [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]
Handfasting ribbons
You can get quite creative with the handfasting wedding vow format. Imagine having a different coloured ribbon for each promise. And each wedding promise sculpted around the meanings of those colours.
Red for passion and love
For example the handfasting could become a statement instead of a question:
I promise to love passionately and unwaveringly with my heart, my body and my soul.
A pink ribbon could symbolise unity, honour, truth, romance, and happiness, with the statement:
I promise you my undying love, honesty and commitment in creating and nourishing our loving equal partnership.
A yellow ribbon would mean charm, confidence, joy, balance
Black could equal strength, wisdom, vision and or success
Green stands for prosperity, health, abundance and fertility
Blue often represents tranquillity, patience, understanding and a safe journey
Of course purple is for power, healing, sanctity and sentimentality.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”38287″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”38322″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”38301″ img_size=”Large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Contact me now to chat about your handfasting ceremony.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A marriage celebrant well might ask, “What does one do with a naughty wedding veil during a wedding ceremony?” Hmmmm….
Congratulations to Gayle and Keith who were married on top of the hill at Ruffles Lodge on the Gold Coast Hinterland.
But my story gets ahead of itself. Let’s back track a little….
With spectacular views down to the coast, the exclusive mountain retreat is simply gorgeous. Gayle and Keith chose this place so their family and friends could all join the retreat and have some time away from the hum of life in a relaxed and luxurious location.
So the groom and his blokes are waiting on the lawn, the guests are assembled.
Beautiful Gayle arrives on the arm of her Dad, her long bridal veil trailing behind.
The ceremony begins, and the breeze picks up a little. Not looking too naughty yet!
Slowly the naughty wedding veil starts to make an entrance.
The wedding veil wafts romantically around, then starts to assert itself more strongly until a moment is made
behind which a bride and groom could steal a kiss!
We laugh, and finally a Bridesmaid catches the cheeky veil and tames it a little for the rest of the ceremony.
the first wedding kiss
That’s what bridesmaids are for! Just one of the many jobs a bridesmaid takes in her stride on her friend’s wedding day!
Thanks girls.
Check out the amazing purple and lilac. What glorious colours!!!
And thank you to Justin from Bush Turkey Studio for the photos.
“Kari, Thank you for your help for our ceremony in October, it was everything we were looking for. You were fantastic!” Gayle & Keith[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”36076″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
