Why You Absolutely Shouldn’t Have a Handfasting Cord (Unless You Fancy Something Meaningful, Beautiful, and Timeless)

Look, let’s be honest right out of the gate: you really shouldn’t have a handfasting cord.

No, really—don’t do it. It’s risky. Emotionally risky. Aesthetically risky. Spiritually risky. These things are absolute trouble, and if you’re considering one, well... brace yourself. You're dangerously close to doing something unforgettable.

Allow me to explain.

1. It Might Actually Mean Something

In a world full of quick decisions and easy symbolism (throw a confetti cannon, post a selfie, job done), a handfasting cord is the exact opposite.

It’s handmade. Thoughtful. Often customised with colours, charms, and materials that reflect your love story or personal journey. It takes intention.

Who needs that kind of emotional resonance in a ceremony? It’s far easier to settle for something off-the-shelf, mass-produced, and entirely forgettable. If you’re not looking to connect deeply with your partner and your guests, steer well clear.

2. It Could Make People Cry (Yes, Even Uncle Dave)

There’s always that one moment in a ceremony where emotions rise. Maybe it's the vows. Maybe it's the music. But toss in a beautifully braided cord, rich with symbolic meaning, and boom: tears. Everywhere.

And no one wants to be that wedding—the one that makes even the toughest guests dab at their eyes with suspiciously moist napkins.

If you were planning a strictly stiff-upper-lip sort of affair, a handfasting cord is far too risky. Next thing you know, people will be feeling things.

3. It’s Far Too Personal

You know what’s safe? A standard ring exchange. No one asks too many questions. No one wonders what it means. It’s just tradition, and it looks nice in photos.

But a handfasting cord? That opens the door to questions.Why did you choose those colours? What does that knot mean? Is that charm a family heirloom? Did your nan actually weave that bit?

And then you have to explain. You have to tell your story. And people will listen—intently. They’ll feel like they’re part of something ancient, something meaningful. Dangerous territory indeed.

4. It Might Become an Heirloom

You want to be careful with things that last. Not just physically, but emotionally. A handfasting cord, especially one that’s lovingly handmade, tends to have staying power.

Before you know it, it’s tucked away safely in a memory box or displayed proudly in a frame. It might even be passed down—used again by a sibling, a child, or a grandchild. Can you imagine?

You were hoping for a one-day wonder. A fleeting Instagram story. Not a piece of family history. Right?

5. You Might Actually Use It Again

You may think a handfasting cord is just for a wedding. That’s your first mistake.

While I won’t spoil the future blog post (trust me, you’ll want to read it), let’s just say a cord can be involved in more than vows.

Renewals, anniversaries, baby blessings, commitment ceremonies, seasonal rituals—the list goes on.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, just know that this beautiful, meaningful item might stick around. Like a loyal puppy. Or a particularly wise grandmother.

6. It’s a Slippery Slope to Being “That Couple”

You know the ones. They have a story behind everything. The first date playlist is framed. Their house smells like sandalwood and purpose. They use terms like “intentional living” and “sacred space” without irony.

It starts with one handfasting cord, and the next thing you know, you’re both learning to tie Celtic knots by candlelight and whispering affirmations at full moon.

Avoid the cord, avoid the lifestyle. Unless that sounds kind of nice…

7. It Makes for Terrible Wedding Photos

Actually—scratch that. Handfasting cords look amazing in photos.

They add a burst of texture, colour, and symbolism. They give your photographer something deeply poetic to capture. The moment hands are bound is emotional gold. The slow tying of a knot, the shared gaze, the hands gently held—it’s cinematic.

So yes. If you’re hoping for dull, standard-issue photos, a handfasting cord is your worst enemy.

8. It Might Be Too... Magical

There’s something annoyingly enchanting about handfasting. It taps into something ancient. Pagan, Celtic, Druidic, Norse—choose your path. There’s a whisper of old magic woven through the strands.

It’s a way to declare love not just in words, but in action, symbol, and sacred geometry. All terribly inconvenient if you’re trying to keep your wedding practical and spreadsheet-friendly.

Avoid anything that feels like spellcraft or soul-binding. Far too effective.

Final Warning: You May End Up Loving It

All sarcasm aside, here’s the truth: handfasting cords are special.

They invite you to think about your ceremony as something more than logistics. They ask you to slow down, reflect, and choose with care. They are tactile symbols of commitment—beautifully bound, just like the life you’re building together.

Whether you choose silk, ribbon, hemp, wool, or lace... whether your colours reflect nature, chakras, Hogwarts houses, or national flags... each cord becomes a small monument to a much bigger moment.

And yes, I do make them. By hand. With love. With the care I’d give to my own sacred moments. Because I think these things matter—and I suspect you might think so too.

If you’re ready to risk having something meaningful, beautiful, and lasting... well, let’s talk cords.

P.S. Keep an eye out for the next blog post where I’ll share all the surprising ways handfasting cords can be used beyond weddings. You might just discover a new tradition.