I think that it is a beautiful thing, when a community comes together to celebrate the love between two people. I mean who does want to celebrate love.
There are also many different ways, in which it can be done. It's up to those who are being celebrated, to choose what is best for them.
Last year I attended my sisters wedding in Ireland and it was a wonderful day
perfect for her and her husband. They both put so much time and effort into the day and it really showed.
It was a grand affair, with my sister looking stunning in white as she walked up the Isle to her soon to be husband and he was equally dashing. They have such a deep love for one another and they expressed it beautifully on the day.
My sister asked me to be her maid of honour and I certainly felt honoured. This was my sisters Big Day after all.
I've never been married and marraige is not something I have ever wanted. I am certainly not opposed to celebrating my love with someone, when the right person comes along, but it will not be through marraige.
I would choose a more nature based celebration/ ceremony.
One that ties in with our relationship with the natural world. That celebrates our connection to it as well as to each other.
I have performed 4 handfasting ceremonies in the past and perhaps one day, I will get to have my own.
I am not religious, so religious ceremonies are not for me. I prefer to be outside, because it is nature that I have faith in. So of I were to have a hand fasting ceremony, it would be outdoors. I would be barefoot snd surrounded by my loved ones and nature.
I really love the simple things in life. The sound of the wind, the feeling of the earth beneath my feet. Yes I might wear something special, I may even buy something for the day.
But I am not one for glitz or glam. I want to feel comfortable, to feel empowered and I achieve that by being myself.
So no wedding for me, instead I would choose a traditional hand fasting. Performed by someone I know.
A hand fasting, is an old Celtic ceremony, that joins two people together, for a year and a day. After that time, they can make a longer commitment to one another or part ways. That to me, seems more organic.
Choice is a wonderful thing. If two people are meant to be together or want to be together then I believe they can make it work, if not they can each walk away, with no legal bindings involved.
I also don't believe in spending a lot of money. We can celebrate in a way that involves the whole community. Where each person, can contribute towards the day if they wish to.
At the most recent Hand Fasting I performed, as well as being a wonderful celebration of love, it was also such a wonderful celebration of community.
It began with the ceremony, then there was folk dancing, games kids activities, followed by a feast. Later there was a big fire with a jam session, a fire show and then a DJ. All possible because of the communitiy members getting involved.
That to me, was a pretty perfect day.
I don't know if I would have it the same, but I certainly would like my community to be involved.
This is my response to the latest Ladies Of Hive contest. Which included the following question.....
To ladies yet to be married, do you have a dream wedding?
Do share how it is like.
All images used are my own (some taken by friends) and are from the last Handfasting I performed.
