Handfasting-by-Design            

Custom Supplies For Your Handfasting and Weddings and HERITAGE                                   
                                                                     Honey Pot

We will now symbolize the sweetness of your lives together from this
moment on
with this dish of Honey.

As together you now share this honey, so may you, in perfect love and
devotion to each other, share your lives together and thereby may you
find life's joys doubly
gladdening, its bitterness sweetened and all things hallowed by
time, companionship and love.

(Groom dips his little finger into the honey and touches bride's
tongue with it – bride does the same)

and


Sharing the Bread, Salt and Wine

At a Polish Wedding

The sharing of the bread, salt and wine is an old Polish tradition.
At the wedding reception, the parents of the bride and groom greet
the newly married couple with bread, which is lightly sprinkled with
salt and a goblet of wine.

With the bread, the parents are hoping that their children will never
hunger or be in need. With the salt, they are reminding the couple
that their life may be difficult at times, and they must learn to
cope with life's struggles. With the wine, they are hoping that the
couple will never thirst and wish that they have a life of good
health, and good cheer and share the company of many good friends.

The parents then kiss the newly married couple as a sign of welcome,
unity and love.
 
                        
Now for a unique way to make your banquet table cloths.  The best material to use is bed sheets. The flat ones.  Take the hem out of the top and put a small one in.  If you would like a family crest iron on use that.  If you would like a Celtic design we can do that.  The higher the thread count the more fire retardant the cloth is.  And you can use it over and over again.  I got my family crest iron ons at, Irishnation.   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
       Celtic Marriage Traditions
Weddings are often held under the marriage oak, or inside stone
circles within which the participants dance. Newly married couples
might circumambulate a stone while asking for fertility, or pass
naked through a large hole carved out of a stone (symbolic of
rebirth into their new life).

A bride was thought to be the earthly representative of spiritual
treasure, which must be fought for with determination and courage.
She symbolized the Otherworld and a previously unexplored region of
the groom's psyche. The groom embodies the assertive male energy
that must accomplish worldly deeds. Spiritually and physically, the
couple must overcome the obstacles to their union in order for each
to become whole.

For these reasons, displays of mock hostility, the blocking of
entrances and gates, and the creation of rope barriers to test the
couple's determination are often part of the rite. Hostile spirits
are dispelled by loud noises. A relative of the bride might carry
her off, with the groom and his party in hot pursuit. When everyone
tires of the game, the groom is "allowed" to claim the bride, and
the celebrations and feasting begin.

An alternative to the horseplay might be to challenge the groom to
solve a riddle. Or the bride's people and the groom's people can
challenge each other to a contest in verse. And old Welsh custom is
for the bride to disguise herself; one of the groom's men is
supposed to pick her out of the gathered crowd.

After the ceremony, an old woman meets the bride and presents her
with a bag of hazelnuts--symbolic of the wisdom and the creativity
she will enjoy in her new life's passage.


Traditional Marriage Herbs
Because they are an herb of protection, said to avert evil, the
Ancient Romans baked ANISE SEEDS into wedding cakes.


APPLES AND APPLE BLOSSOMS are symbolic of love, healing, and
immortality. Burn the blossoms as incense, wear the perfume, and
make them into herb candles.


BROOM FLOWERS bound with colored ribbons are carried at weddings.                                      
Couples may choose to "jump the broom" as they make their transition
to a new station in life.                  


CARAWAY SEEDS are often added to love potions to keep lovers
faithful. They are said to inspire passion when baked into cakes or
breads, so put some in the wedding cake, or throw it at the bride
and groom instead of rice (it's much better for the birds!)


ELDERFLOWERS are used to bring blessings and luck to married
couples.


LAVENDER is a classic ingredient of love charms. If worn, it helps
protect against spousal abuse.


LEMON VERBENA is worn to increase one's attractiveness to the
opposite sex.


LICORICE brings fidelity and passion to a sexual union.


MARJORAM brings joy and is a common ingredient in love spells.


ROSES are ancient symbols of love. Strew them before the bridal
pair, use them on the altar, wear them, and place them on the
marriage bed.


ROSEMARY, an herb of consecration and remembrance, is often added to
incense, placed in the chalice and distributed ti guests.                            





Guest Book Or NOt?                                                                          Here is a wonderful idea for a beautiful and creative alternative to the standard guest book: Purchase a silver serving tray to be placed on a table by the door at your reception. As guests arrive, have them 'sign' the tray using an engraving pen or engraving tool. These engraving products can be purchased at most hardware stores, usually for about $15 - $24. (Check the hardware department of your local Wal-Mart). In the end, you'll have a precious and beautiful keepsake serving tray, covered in the signatures of your wedding guests. Display it in your china cabinet and pull it out for use on those extra special occasions.         
                                                                                               To Honor Mother and Mother-in-Law Every bride is looking for unqiue ideas and special ways to make her wedding more meaningful. Here is a wonderful and very touching idea to honor the two mothers at the wedding ceremony. But be certain to have lots of hankies on hand because this is guaranteed to tear up the eyes of everyone present...
Ask your floral designer to design two detachable floral sprays into your bouquet. After your father walks you down the aisle, just before he turns to leave you and take his seat, remove one of the special flowers from your bouquet. Hand it to him and give him a kiss. Let him know in advance that this will take place and tell him that as he takes his seat in the pew with your mother, he is to present the flower to her on your behalf.
Then at the conclusion of the ceremony, as you begin to make your way back up the aisle as husband and wife, stop at the pew where your mother-in-law is seated. Remove the second special flower from your bouquet and present it to her, along with a kiss, before continuing up the aisle.
Don't tell the moms in advance that this will be taking place! It is the element of surprise which helps to make this so very sweet and special. There will not be a dry eye in the room...                                    
                                                           
Wedding Favors- Here's a fabulous and wonderfully unique wedding favor idea! Searching for something a little more interesting than tulle-wrapped candy or useless little do-dads? Make it really special. Give your guests an elegant, but extraordinary gift they can grow. We found beautiful cards of handmade paper which have flower seeds embedded right into the paper. Your guests can literally plant a memory of your wedding. Here's how: Purchase a card for every guest, and include a handwritten note in each, thanking them for sharing your special day. This in itself is a very warm and personal way to show your appreciation to your guests for attending - but this little favor is a gift that keeps on giving! After the wedding, your guests will be able to plant the paper and watch it grow into real, living - and very lovely flowers. They simply "plant" the entire card into the earth, and soon it will begin to grow. Each card comes with planting instructions. The flowers it produces will be yet a second very special gift to them, from you, which will help them to remember your wedding. You will be in their thoughts often as they enjoy the prettiness of the flowers growing in their garden. Rest assured that they will tell every passing neighbour, and every visitor who stops to admire their garden, the story of how they grew flowers from the amazing little card of thanks given to them by you, on your wedding day. A very special remembrance of a very special day and couple. These handmade seed cards can also be used for extra-special wedding invitations, bridal shower invites, or thank-you cards.