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girlfriend Murron. Handfasting has since grown in popularity among Cowans (non-Pagans) -particularly
those whose distant ancestors lived in ancient Celtic lands.
What is the legal status of a handfasting?
They certainly can result in a legally-recognized, permanent marriage or
(after 2000-JUL-1 in Vermont) a civil union. However, certain legal standards have to be met, as
specified by the applicable state and province. A common set of requirements is:
The officiating person must hold a valid license issued by the government to perform marriages.
Obtaining such a license is a simple procedure for clergy who are affiliated with an established
denomination. Some jurisdictions require a faith group to have been registered for an minimum number
of years before their clergy are eligable for licensing. In many cases, the regulations
assume that a traditional church structure is in place, with a defined laity and clergy; Wiccans, other
Neopagans, Aboriginal spirituality, etc. sometimes
have difficulty adapting to these requirements.
A marriage license has to be purchased in advance. Various jurisdictions have regulations which prohibit
the issuance of a license if the couple do not meet certain gender, age, medical, and consanguine criteria.
A license may expire after some period of time. If a spouse has been married before, proof of divorce or
annulment is normally required.
A minimum interval of time may be required between the purchase of the license and the ceremony.
There must be witnesses at the ceremony, other than the officiating person and the couple, who will sign
the license. A minimum of two is typical.
The couple must be aware that they are engaging in a ceremony that will be cause them to be
permanently married according to state/federal law. You might wish to check in advance with the local
office that issues licenses.
Various states and provinces have their own special regulations. Alternately, a handfasting can be simply
a declaration by a couple that they wish to form a temporary or permanent "common-law" relationship.
The couple would not be married after the ritual.
Couples who wish to have their handfasting recognized as a legal marriage may
have difficulty obtaining a person who is willing to officiate. Most Christian
and Jewish clergy would not be willing to conduct a Pagan ritual. Some ways of
finding a cooperative presider are:
Ministers from congregations affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association will frequently
perform ceremonies that are written by the couple;
some even require it. 4 Since the UUA recognizes Neopaganism as one of the
sources of its religious and spiritual traditions, many of its clergy should
not object to conducting a Pagan ritual. Some Neopagan priests and priestesses have been able to obtain a
license to marry by presenting various legal documents which show that they have been selected by their
coven as their clergyperson. This process sometimes takes persistence.
Some Neopagan priestesses and priests register as clergy with Universal Life Church, and are
subsequently able to obtain a state or provincial license to officiate at marriages. 5 The Universal Life
Church has minimal requirements for ordination.
What happens at a Neopagan handfasting?
In some ways, a handfasting is much like a typical marriage. The couple, a presider, friends and family
are present. The couple exchange vows and (usually) rings. The couple usually has some attendants to
assist in the ceremony. The presider, and the handfasting party sign the wedding license. Pictures are
taken. Everybody smiles and hugs.
But in some ways a handfasting is quite different from the typical marriage
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