A Handfasting Celebrant Ceremony- at The Hospitium, York
A Beautiful North Yorkshire Wedding
In September 2024-surrounded by their closest friends and family- the lovely Dea and Joe exchanged their personal wedding vows at The Hospitium in York, North Yorkshire. As the celebrant officiating their wedding ceremony, I had the important role of ensuring their wedding started off in the most authentic, memorable and symbolic way. During their celebrant ceremony, they had their wrists bound in an intimate handfasting ceremony and their wedding rings warmed by their nearest and dearest. Together, we crafted a ceremony which would evoke memories to last a lifetime.
“Thank you so much for all the time, effort and care you put into making our wedding ceremony so special...Our guests said they’d never been a wedding like it.”
The Hospitium: A North Yorkshire Wedding Venue Steeped in History
The Hospitium is a 14th century, two-story listed building based in York, North Yorkshire.
As a celebrant, this was my first time officiating a celebrant wedding ceremony at this epic venue space but I very much hope to be back!
As a wedding venue, it boasts many alluring attributes including: an enviable city-centre location (located within the beautiful museum gardens and a 5 minute dash from a nearby carpark); medieval heritage (overlooked by the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey) and impressive interiors (stone pillars which can be adorned with fairy lights, medieval windows and beautiful stone and wood flooring throughout). The acoustics are also rather fabulous too. Oh, and, if you do decide to hold your wedding at The Hospitium- you’ll also find a lovely bunch of wedding coordinators who’ll make your wedding day run smoothly. A big 10/10 from me!
Picture-my own! (Hastily snapped on my iphone before the ceremony).
A Celebrant Ceremony Filled with Meaning
For Dea and Joe, a personal and meaningful ceremony was a priority for them both and they knew a celebrant ceremony was the right way to achieve this.
We first connected -just 6 months prior- over zoom, after they discovered me through my Instagram account.
We hit it off straight away. I loved the vision Dea and Joe both shared for their big day - a heartfelt, relaxed and modern celebrant ceremony enriched with many traditional and poignant elements. They wanted every second to be intentional, honouring not only their love but also their unique journey that led them to this day.
It was such a treat getting to know them. From the beginning, Dea and Joe approached the planning process with warmth and openness, eagerly embracing my ideas and contributing their own (very welcomed) thoughtful touches too.
Before I started work on Dea and Joe’s wedding script, I asked them both to complete a separate ‘questionnaire’ which detailed their journey together as a couple, right from their very first date-through to today.
In the questionnaire, I asked them to take an introspective look back through their journey so far. I wanted to know what it was that had drawn them first together, how they connected on a deeper level and what influential milestones had shaped the couple they were today.
I laughed and cried through their answers. It was clear from the outset that this was a couple who had the utmost respect for one another and shared the same outlook on life.
Everything they do, they do as a team. I couldn’t wait to celebrate this on their wedding day and curate a ceremony script that honoured their shared goals and values and their aspirations for their future together as husband and wife.
What a gorgeous pair!
Through further in-person meetings, ceremony checklists and a couple more zoom chats, together we crafted a wedding ceremony which was bursting with personality and sentiment.
Here’s what we included:
An emotional and symbolic Ring Warming at the start of the ceremony.
The sharing of Dea and Joe’s personal Love Story.
4 Poems - chosen by Dea and Joe and also by their loved ones.
Personal Wedding Vows.
An intimate Ring Exchange and First Kiss!
Handtying Ceremony.
(not necessarily in that order!).
Sharing Dea and Joe’s Love Story
One of my favourite parts of the ceremony was sharing Dea and Joe’s love story.
Dea and Joe share a passion for travel and adventure. In the early days of their relationship, they travelled across Asia, creating memories and building the strong foundation they now share. I shared many amusing anecdotes from their time travelling and stories of their adventures, highlighting the moments that shaped their relationship.
Their story also touched on the life they’ve built together—through house extensions, memorable date nights, and dreams for the future. Guests laughed, and many wiped away tears as we celebrated all that they had experienced together and all that was yet to come.
“We absolutely loved our wedding the wedding script, and so did our guests...there were definitely a few tears (and of course laughs!) and someone even asked if I’d actually written the script myself as it was so us!”
Personal Touches in a Celebrant Ceremony
Early on in the planning process, Dea and Joe expressed a desire to incorporate a hand-tying ritual which they saw as a beautiful way to symbolise their union but also celebrate their Celtic heritage.
Hand-Tying Ceremony: A Symbol of Unity
Handfasting is a symbolic ritual which is commonly linked with Celtic roots. Centuries ago, a couple living in the Scottish Hebrides would have their hands bound together for a year, prior to their marriage. This was known as a ‘trial marriage.’ A couple that could survive all the obstacles that this would entail would be considered capable of surviving a lifetime together and it’s where the familiar term: ‘tying the knot’ was first derived.
Over the years this deeply symbolic and meaningful ritual has become commonplace in many modern celebrant-led wedding ceremonies.
If you’d like to know more about the origins and symbolism of handfasting then please jump on over to my blog -published last year- which uncovers the joy behind handfasting and handtying.
Dea and Joe chose handfasting cords made from their respective family tartan.
The cords chosen by Dea and Joe were to honour the blending of both their families. Specifically, they reflected the invaluable support, care and guidance provided from both sets of parents; a chance to express their gratitude for everything they’d done for them over the years.
Across their clasped wrists, I draped the cords and made two knots underneath, symbolising their unbreakable bonds and eternal love for one another.
I then shared the following poem:
Blessing of the Hands
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
With their hands still clasped, Dea and Joe then shared their personal wedding vows and promises with each other, in front of their loved ones. This intimacy evoked so much emotion which resonated deeply within the hearts and minds of all their loved ones in attendance.
Personal Touches from Friends
Dea and Joe invited two close friends to share poems which felt meaningful to them. These personal readings added yet another layer of depth and emotion to the day, connecting everyone present to the unwavering love and friendship that constantly surrounds Dea and Joe.
The first poem shared was dedicated to Dea and Joe’s dog who sadly passed away earlier in the year: Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog by Taylor Mali.
The second was an extract from The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien:
The greatest adventure is there if you’re bold,
Let go of the moment that life makes you hold,
To measure the meaning can make you delay;
It’s time you stop thinkin’ and wasting the day.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead,
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said,
The chances, the changes are all yours to make,
The mould of your life is in your hands to break.
To explore more readings and poems, do get in touch with me for a list of some of my favourites. It’s also worth following me on Instagram where I regularly share poems of all different themes and genres.
A Day to Remember
Dea and Joe’s wedding at The Hospitium was truly unforgettable. The historical charm of the venue, the heartfelt touches throughout the ceremony and the genuine love between them made it a day that none of us will soon forget. I feel so privileged to have played a part in crafting this beautiful celebration and witnessing the love that filled every corner of that incredible medieval hall. Here’s to Dea and Joe and their bright, beautiful future together!
“You are amazing and I’m so happy we found you, you were a key part in us having a day we will never forget. Best celebrant ever!”
To find out how I can curate your unforgettable wedding ceremony, please do get in touch. I am based in between Leeds and Bradford in West Yorkshire, England but I’m happy to travel far and wide for love.
I offer an initial no-obligation discovery chat over zoom.
Michelle x
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