A Montana Wedding unplugged: special vows for special people - Handfesta!

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~ One Year ago today ~

(psst, click on the video - you be invited to a "back in time" virtual Wedding! )



Happy 1st Anniversary to Annabel & Chris!

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Youve heard of "tying the knot", 
and 
"giving their hand in marriage" 
before, 
right? 

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Well, those phrases actually come from the ancient tradition of 
"Hand-festa" ! 

It comes from the Old Norse Viking days -
 it means to "strike a pledge by joining hands" 

and we hear it translated today as
"handfast"
or 
"handfasting"

Since the Bride and Groom both have Nordic heritage,
its the perfect tradition!


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The ancient Celts then also added in the tradition of  "tying the knot" 
in which they used ribbons or cords to bind the Groom and Bride together. 

(btw we got some Celtic heritage going on there too...we be diverse!)


The Bride gets to chose how many ribbons to use and what color. 
The ribbon's colors have symbolic meaning, 
so Annabel chose

Green for prosperity, charity, health, and fertility
Gold for wealth, intelligence and longevity
and 
Brown for home, grounding, and communication

Excellent choices, dont you think?

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Not only do the Maid of Honor and Best man emotionally support the Bride and Groom, 
but in a traditional Handfesta, 
they also are the witnesses - the ones to bind them together...
"joining their hands in marriage"!

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   After the ceremony, when they again step forward,
they remove the ribbons from the Bride and Groom in a such a way
that a permanent knot is formed... 
"tying the knot"!


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Now its time for the Bride to say her pledge to the Groom...

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   with ribbons on!  

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And cant forget that newer American symbolic tradition, 
the wedding ring! 


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Now its the Groom's turn...

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Uh-oh, whats he thinking?

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He speaks words from his heart...


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Slips on her ring and makes us all Cry!


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Time to go in for the final, best tradition... 


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...

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YES! 
its a DONE DEAL!

(forever!)

so
Only 521 pictures left to go!

Before the next wedding! 
  
 ;)

~




Feel like you are missing out on a little wedding action?

Dont have a wedding to go to this June?


Here's past posts on a MONTANA WEDDING UNPLUGGED! so you dont miss a thing!

     











~



Comments

  1. awww. happy 1st anniversary to them both! a very cool tradition.

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  2. Happy very special 1st anniversary to them both!

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  3. Happy, happy anniversary to Annabel and Chris! Hard to believe it's been a year already! :)
    Gotta love those Viking and Celtic traditions, very straightforward and beautiful.

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  4. I really like the hand tying, "Tying the Knot" ceremony and the meaning of the chosen colors. Beautiful day, like the hand made altar too . . . Happy Anniversary, #1 . . .

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  5. Wow I finally made it to the ceremony Yeah!!!! Happy Anniversary Annabel and Chris. I love that tradition.... Viking/ Celtic are a very traditional wise people.
    This was beautiful and yes I cry at weddings it seems even virtual my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail but I finally seen it one year later ones:)
    Have a wonderful Anniversary. I cannot believe another wedding and still 521 left to go, someone better get move on.
    xo B

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  6. A year already?! I think it was about that time, that I began reading your blog. What a beautiful wedding...can't wait to see the next one! :)

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  7. Aww This is so completely beautiful ! Happy Anniversary to them !!

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  8. I'm sure not a single soul has told you that you are too much! A lot sure has happened during the past year...and now you can see green grass again. You and your family deserve so much happiness....

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  9. How wonderful! I went back through all of the posts/photos and they are just so good! Happy Anniversary to the lovely couple!

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  10. What a beautiful ceremony. Happy Anniversary to them

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  11. Oh my gosh I totally unexpectedly got choked up when the groom spoke his vows! I can't believe I did that. I think I must join you on the road...in your header....fighting menopause! Never knew where "tied the knot" came from...I learned something today.

    Cindy Bee

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  12. awww beautiful, happy pictures!! happy anniversary to the happy couple!!

    ps, that's a lot of happy's when i read it back BUT that's what i was thinkin'!!

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