Often the ritual of 'Handfasting' is performed, whereby the couple's hands are bound by a natural woven thread, fibre or cloth, and just before the 'Giving of Rings' the binding is slipped off with the knot still intact, signifying the fact they will always be 'bound together in marriage'. (Many couples who have a civil ceremony today, just incorporate Handfasting into their ceremony without any of the other traditions)

Testimonial Penny & Angela's Handfasting Broadbeach Gold Coast Surf Life Saving Club
Marilyn, Thank you so much for making our commitment ceremony so memorable and filled with love, not only for us but for our 100+ guests. Your passion and belief for our future together was projected through every word. Your delivery and sound quality was perfect and hard to achieve on the beach, so well done! You were very warm and composed that we relaxed the instant you started speaking. Your continuous support and ideas throughout the planning process was priceless. You made us feel very comfortable and helped us combine traditional vows and practices with the Celtic tradition of hand fasting. You also incorporated our fathers with a ring blessing rather than the traditional giving away. Everyone who attended said they had never been to a ceremony like it and enjoyed every minute of it. We are two very happy brides and will recommend you to anyone we know who wants to get married. Thank you, thank you, thank you for making the start of our lives together unforgettable.
Love Penny and Angela

Testimonial Jude & Barb held their Commitment Bribie Island's legendary Pumicstone Passage Beach
Marilyn’s lovely, friendly approach made our commitment ceremony a very ’natural’ process for us; we were wanting something ‘elemental’ and she steered us to a place where we could articulate and make real, what we wanted to share with everyone joining us. We both felt ‘present’ on the day and that our day was unique, all due to Marilyn’s respectful and professional style as our Celebrant. Thank you Marilyn!!! The Girls xoxo

Green Handfasting Cord represents Cardinal Direction North and the Element Earth, provides sustenance fertility & security.

Testimonial Maria & Sally from Mackay had a Blessing of the Hands in their Commitment Ceremony at the Mt Ommaney Hotel Apartment's Gardens
Hi Marilyn, Well it’s hard to believe we are almost 3 weeks of married bliss.... we are both back at work now and it’s been tuff trying to get back into it. We just wanted to thank you so very much for making our day so wonderful and special. Everything was just as we pictured it and so many of our guests are still talking about what a wonderful ceremony it was. The Love Story was a huge hit as so many people did not really know where we began and they thought it was such a lovely touch.  Our day was emotional, loving, fun and very beautiful and that is all thanks to you Marilyn.  As I said to you from when we first met the ceremony for us had to be just right and to us was the most important part of our day.  Thank you so much for everything you did, and I have passed on your name to many of our friends both gay and straight who want to make that life commitment to soul mates.  Take care and we will talk soon. Kind regards Maria & Sally Fox - Photos Courtesy of John Bortolin Photography

Most couples choose to include in their ceremony a very special moment to share with their guests, making their ceremony truly unique and memorable.

Blue & Pink Handfasting Cord represents Cardinal Direction East and the Element Air, Pink unity, honour, truth, healing, romance, pure love & friendship.

Handfasting is conducted in a circle it has no beginning and no end, it is eternal.The circle is a universal emblem of wholeness and completion. It symbolises continuity, eternity, completion and speechlessness. As it represents what is complete and unbroken, it also stands for everlasting love. The circle is often aligned with the cardinal points of the compass - north, south, east and west.

Guatemalan Handfasting Cords used in Handfasting Ceremonies.

SOLSTICE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
Auspicious wedding dates to be married on or near
SUMMER SOLSTICE: The first day of the Season of Summer. On this day DECEMBER 22 the Sun is farthest south and the length of time between Sunrise and Sunset is the shortest of the year.
WINTER SOLSTICE: The first day of the Season of Winter. On this day JUNE 21 the Sun is farthest north and the length of time between Sunrise and Sunset is the longest of the year.
EQUINOX
Two times of the year when night and day are about the same length. The Sun is crossing the Equator (an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth) and it is an equal distance from the North Pole and the South Pole.
SPRING EQUINOX: The first day of the Season of Spring - and the beginning of a long period of sunlight at the Pole.In the southern hemisphere: SEPTEMBER 22 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving southward).
AUTUMN EQUINOX: The first day of the Season of Autumn - and the beginning of a long period of darkness at the Pole. In the southern hemisphere: MARCH 20 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving northward).