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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.
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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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Wedding traditions
Wedding traditions can be a part of your wedding ceremony. They can come from any culture or heritage. Different traditions can make your wedding quite unique. You can draw from your own culture or heritage. Or you can be inspired by other wedding traditions. Together we can craft them to suit you, who you are and what you want your wedding day to feel like.
A real wedding
Mateja and Jason approached me with a delightful and unique wedding tradition from her cultural background. Coming from Croatia, Mateja knew that there was some fun to be had. She wanted to gently integrate a Croatian family wedding tradition into her Australian wedding. We discussed how to help the guests feel included. She wanted to create some fun and acknowledge her cultural heritage at the same time.
The Bridal Switch
The Bride Switch is one of the most amusing customs in Croatia. Traditionally the groom arrives with his guests in front of the bride’s house and asks for his bride. A male family member from the bride’s family opens the door. However the family are not giving the bride away so easily. They want to make sure the groom really wants her.
The bride’s family try to “cheat” the groom and his best man by giving him a false bride. This can include all kinds of tricks. They offer a doll dressed in a veil, a baby clothed in white, a little girl with flowers. They try to give the groom a straw broom dressed in lace, a bloke in a frock, or the grandmother veiled and smiling, or even one of the young bridesmaids.
After being jokingly hoodwinked a few times, the groom finally gets to see his bride and then both parties unite and leave for the church.
How did it work
In honour of Mateja’s cultural background, on her wedding day at The Rocks by the Maroochy River, we embraced this Croatian Wedding tradition. I sent Jason away for a moment to explain it to the guests. They smiled as they detected some fun to be had. I enlisted their help to call out and object each time a false bride was offered. They were encouraged to shout hints, heckle and advise the groom not to accept someone less than his gorgeous bride.
Jason’s best man, John, helped us out on behalf of the bride’s family. As we waited for the bride, I asked John to go and see if she was ready. He returned with a doll dressed in a long white wedding veil.
There were wild calls of wrong choice and Jason blankly refused to be duped. He said he wanted a real person to marry.
So John tried again and returned with a sweet boy dressed in white.
Again the guests loudly objected on Jason’s behalf. And he just stood shaking his head… with a smile on his face. He said, no my bride is a beautiful woman.
John tried one more time, returning with the beautiful bridesmaid, Beatriz, escorting her down the aisle. Surely the groom would be happy with what he had asked for?
Jason told him firmly that he is very close, but insists that Mateja is his bride no other will be acceptable.
The music started and Mateja appeared at the top of the stairs, elegantly walking down the aisle on the arm of her Dad, Mladen.
And so the wedding began, honouring a fun and engaging Croation wedding tradition, and establishing the mood of the day… absolute fun.
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your wedding tradition with your guests. Here’s what Mateja and Jason had to say.
Thanks to brother Sam for the amazing photographs capturing the fun of the day, and to Michelle and the amazing team at The Rocks Yandina for the wonderful support, and sublime decor in yellow and white.
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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]
