Official Pagan Brides Thread!

RobNette Posted: Aug 10, 2004 01:28 PM

Official Pagan Brides Thread!

Just wondering what our non Judao-Christian-Islamic demographic is...

I am Pagan and we arehaving a handfasting encorporated into our Earth-Spirituality based ceremony.

Anyone else?

tourist Posted: Aug 10, 2004 02:32 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

Did you see that post yesterday about at tv show about bridesmaids. they were particularly looking for 'different wedings & mentioned handfasting ceremonies'

Would any of your bridesmaids be interested in being followed around?

PrincessRose Posted: Aug 10, 2004 02:34 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

I'm Jewish, but one of my BMs is Pagan. She had to incorporate a number of Pagan elements into her Christian wedding in Secret, but it was great! They had a handfasting, and We walked down the aisle in cloaks with candles. Someone commented that we looked like a bunch of witches, to which we all giggled under our breath, 'That was the point.'

Ahhh, what fun, the Jewish girl singing 'Amazing Grace' in a Christian-but-secretly-Pagan Wedding.

RobNette Posted: Aug 10, 2004 02:44 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

Posted by PrincessRose

Someone commented that we looked like a bunch of witches, to which we all giggled under our breath, 'That was the point.'

Ahhh, what fun, the Jewish girl singing 'Amazing Grace' in a Christian-but-secretly-Pagan Wedding.

That's awesome!
Yeah..it's interesting...I'm from a Catholic family, his family is Jewish by heratige but his parents are Zen Budhist. My mom is really open and earthy about religion so she's not a problem (thank the Gods). The rest of my family doesn't really know, so it's kind of 'secret but not so secret'. My dear friend, who is a minister and Kendoble Priest in training, will be officiating, and it's not in a church, it's in a garden. So my Grandmother is still trying to wrap her mind around that. She has reportadly asked my mother 'but, where is the church?' to which my mother replies ' Oh...what color is your dress?'

supportive moms are great.

RobNette Posted: Aug 10, 2004 03:19 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

tourist Posted: Aug 10, 2004 03:22 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

That's great that your mom is supportive! And I thought I was being controversial by getting married by a woman!

aimerliny Posted: Aug 10, 2004 03:36 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

We were both raised Catholic, but are having a spiritual romantic ceremony at the hall. We're incorporating the handfasting because it is also known as a celtic tradition and my FH is Irish. What are you using for the handfasting? I didn't like anything I saw online, so we decided to buy organza ribbon to use instead.

oakslady Posted: Aug 10, 2004 11:34 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

that sounds so much like us - noone in my family knows i am pagan but they all will soon - we are incorporating so many pagan elements - alot of my christian family doesnt want to come cause we arent getting married in a church - one great aunty even told me i am going to hell !!!
LMAO
wont they all be surprised when this all plays out - we are even using the elemental blessing - except we disguised it as readings we are having the readers stand in a cricle around the gazebo -
got to be a really creative gal - would love to know what else you are having and how you are incorporating it all

JPC1125 Posted: Aug 10, 2004 11:43 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

I dont know what i am anymore....the pastor marrying us (Lutheran- my FH is Lutheran) mentioned that I will be ex-communicated from the Catholic Church by marrying in his church.

My old priest toild my mom if i sign a paper saying that we will baptize and raise our children catholic they will overlook it.

I hate feeling like i will be left with no religion to support me...i mean i will go to a lutheran church with my fh but i will always consider myself Catholic

ravens_bride Posted: Aug 11, 2004 12:24 AM

Re: Pagan Brides?

My family wasn't too ok with the idea of no church but they also don't know that I haven't gone to church in three years. Both families are very Catholic... I went to catholic school through 6th grade and his grandfather went to latin masses... But we haven't gone since we had a baby and gave her up for adoption... I know it is 'ok' with the church now but I guess they raised us a little too catholic... Probably will have a priest though because I have a missionary priest in the family, but I will be honest with him and make sure he is ok with the why's and stuff.

Nora101004 Posted: Aug 11, 2004 12:32 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

I'm not Pagan, just wondering what some of the traditions are and what they symbolize. I heard a few people mention handfasting, what is that?

RobNette Posted: Aug 11, 2004 09:08 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

Posted by aimerliny

We were both raised Catholic, but are having a spiritual romantic ceremony at the hall. We're incorporating the handfasting because it is also known as a celtic tradition and my FH is Irish. What are you using for the handfasting? I didn't like anything I saw online, so we decided to buy organza ribbon to use instead.

Yeah...historically the handfasting is Celtic...it's just heavily associated with Pagan religions becuase of the Christian influence after the fact....but enough about history stuff
A friend of mine used an elaborate rope, and I'm planning to sew strips of fabric...I think it's completely up to you! I am choosing to sew because it is a passion of mine, so it is fitting. It's for a simbol..so I say whatever works.

oakslady Posted: Aug 12, 2004 02:03 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

i agree we are probably going to use various dyed pieces of roping cause my fh is a mariner so it seems to go better
i was to one where they used colored ribbon another where they used woven braids - i think it is all really personal

aimerliny Posted: Aug 12, 2004 02:09 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

We bought sheer organza ribbon -- about 1 inch thick. We bought white, silver and burgundy which are the colors of our wedding. What colors are you guys using?

oakslady Posted: Aug 12, 2004 02:11 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

we're sticking with blue green red and yellow since we are doing the elemental blessing

RobNette Posted: Aug 12, 2004 02:14 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

Posted by Nora101004

I'm not Pagan, just wondering what some of the traditions are and what they symbolize. I heard a few people mention handfasting, what is that?

Historically, a handfasting was a ceramonial ritual done in Ireland and Scottland. It was the marrital binding of two people for a year and a day...at the end of which they could part ways or become permanently married, spiritually and legally. It started so that the man could decide if the woman was a good wife...but It evolved into the more modern and romantic version...used as the simbolic joining of two people by the tying of thier left hands together with either cloth, rope or cord.
If you saw Braveheart, they had a handfasting...that's the later, more romantic style...for love.

Many pagans will perform a handfasting a year and a day before they plan to marry..as a trial marriage...but many, like me and FH, are using it for the simbolic reasons in the wedding ceremony.

Nuff info? (sorry, i read a lot on this stuff!)

Nora101004 Posted: Aug 12, 2004 02:27 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

Thanks, its just a foreign culture/religion to me, I've never been exposed to it. Sounds like a very symbolic service.

RobNette Posted: Aug 12, 2004 02:56 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

FYI, some other traditions:

Handfasting - Tying the B & G hands together in symbolic joining

Jumping the broom - also African tradition; became Wiccan specifically; where the B&G jump over the broom at the end (when the Jewish B&G would break the glass) to sybolize their jumping into their new lives together

Blessing the rings - same as any other I guess, just in the name of personal God or Goddess or multiple.

Anyone think of others?

Kriss2c Posted: Aug 12, 2004 03:08 PM

Re: Pagan Brides?

The rings themselves are symbols aren't they?

Not sure of it's origin, but the sand ceremony is also along the lines of jumping the broom, breaking the glass and the unity candle.