what does a pagan wedding involve?

Question

purely out of curiosity, what happens at a pagan wedding, who marries the couple?.

Answer 1

Pagan weddings are much like any other wedding. I have performed several weddings and handfastings...the difference in each may depend on the couples requests or personal traditions.

http://www.handfasting.info/

Answer 2

It is usually done in the open air. First the priest or the priestess sets up an altar with various items on it including candles. He or she prescribes a large circle by walking round it and at each point of the compass he or she will set a candle on the ground and say a pray. Now the "temple" has be set and the participants are invited into it. I cant remember all the words that are spoken but like a christian wedding the couple are promised to each other and at the one I went to they did actually jump over a broom stick.
When the ceremony is complete the priest or priestess dismantles the temple by walking round the circle and picking up each candle after saying a pray. I am not sure if they say a pray as they dismantle the altar as I was a maid at the reception and had to get back to the house to get the preparations finished off
I have got some pictures if you want them

Answer 3

Firstly, and most importantly, this is YOUR wedding, the guests are just going to have to accept that you are Pagan for this one day. If you want a Pagan style wedding, who are they to tell you you can't have it? Are they the ones paying for the wedding? Are they the ones doing all the work? Secondly, Weddings are expensive, your venue should pay the cost for the licenses they need to perform the ceremony. If they are unwilling to do so, find another venue. I am not aware of the marriage laws in the UK but I am guessing they are similar to the US. Thirdly, Write your own vows, but look up a general ceremony online, or ask around with the officiants, or, find a bridal planner who can help you with some ideas. You keep talking about having a humanist wedding as if it is the only option, find a non denominational officiant, who can give you the ceremony you truly want, not the one you are settling for.

Answer 4

A Pagan wedding is referred to as a 'handfasting'. It usually takes place outside and often the couple will choose to be married at sunset.

The ceremony is conducted by someone the couple has chosen .

Usually the guests will stand in a circle and bread is broken and wine shared.

A year and a day later the couple are invited to renew their vows to one another.

Answer 5

All weddings are very personal. People choose what appeals to them.

We choose a ceremony performed by a local priestess that was held in an outdoor shelter in a state park. It was autumn at peak leaf color. We had a fire in the fireplace. We invited our deities to witness the event then exchanged promises and rings beneath garlands of fresh mistletoe. The priestess tied our wrists together and we started our lives as a married couple. Our handfasting cord hangs on the wall around our marriage certificate.

Answer 6

Many pagan couples have a handfasting. This is where the couple's hands are bound together as they make their vows to one another and sometimes to the God and Goddess. But it is very different for each pagan as there are Druids, Wiccans, Hindus, Shamans, and many other types of pagans.

Answer 7

generally speaking they are held outside tho not always. a priest or priestess may marry them, or a justice of the peace or ordained minister they have hired. everyone celebrates with feasting and revelry. The couple gets tied together by their hands and this is called "handfasting" and they usually stay tied together throughout the day. that's a more traditional "wedding" but just like everyone else we sometimes just go to the courthouse...lol

Answer 8

Witches also get to choose how long they want to stay married
1 A year and a day 2 A life time or 3 For all time.

Answer 9

CAKE!
(surely)

Joy! Happiness! Love!

Answer 10

Gettin' some!

(too much coffee; sorry)