A handfasting ceremony in Italy is a symbolic ritual: a celebrant ties your hands together with a ribbon or cord while you make your promises. It has no legal value on its own, so couples who want a legal marriage hold a civil ceremony separately, at home or at an Italian town hall. Kiss Me Italy packages that include the red ribbon handfasting cost from €2,200 to €8,900 for a symbolic ceremony, and from €1,700 for a proposal.
Packages That Include a Handfasting
These live Kiss Me Italy packages list the handfasting, or red ribbon ritual, among what is included. Prices are in euros, for two people.
| Package | Location and what is included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake · Lago di Carezza | Symbolic ceremony by Lago di Carezza, Dolomites: celebrant, handfasting, Alpine Bell Ritual, photographer, toast | €2,200 |
| Our Secret · Seceda | Symbolic ceremony on the Seceda ridge, Dolomites: celebrant, handfasting, Alpine Bell Ritual, photographer | €2,200 |
| Positano Dream | Symbolic ceremony at the Basilica of Sant’Eustachio, Praiano: celebrant, handfasting, toast over the sea, photographer | €2,900 |
| The Barolo Wedding | Symbolic ceremony in a Barolo wine cellar, Langhe: celebrant, handfasting, Barolo Ritual, tasting, photographer | €3,600 |
| Stradivari In Love · Paneveggio | Paneveggio Forest, Dolomites: celebrant, handfasting, Tree Ritual, live violinist, picnic | €3,600 |
| Forever Alpine · Alpe di Siusi | Alpe di Siusi, Dolomites: celebrant, handfasting, Alpine Bell Ritual, lunch in a mountain hut | €4,500 |
| Barolo Infinity | Barolo wine cellar, Langhe: celebrant, handfasting, Barolo Ritual, tasting, Piedmontese dinner | €5,200 |
| White Dolomites · Rifugio Fuciade | Winter ceremony at Rifugio Fuciade, arrival by horse-drawn sleigh, handfasting, dinner at the refuge | €6,200 |
| Dolomites Infinity · Col Pradat | Col Pradat at 2,030 meters, handfasting, Alpine Bell Ritual, dinner, night in a mountain lodge | €8,900 |
Several proposal packages also end with a red ribbon handfasting after the yes, sealed in a Promise Box: Heaven Love (€1,700), Crystal Lake (€1,700), Sky Dreams (€1,700), Amalfi Promise (€1,900), The Barolo Promise (€2,900), Endless Mountains (€2,900) and Barolo Overnight (€4,200).
For a handfasting in another place, a celebrant for a symbolic ceremony costs about €800 to €2,500, depending on the length, languages and travel.
What Is a Handfasting?
Handfasting is a ritual in which the couple’s hands are bound together with ribbons or cords, as a sign of their union. Humanists UK notes that it is thought to come from ancient Celtic traditions.
The word comes from the Old Norse “handfesta”, meaning to strike a bargain by joining hands. Historically it was used as a form of betrothal or a temporary marriage; today it is often part of the wedding ceremony itself.
According to a second Humanists UK guide, handfasting was popular in the Middle Ages as an engagement, came back into fashion in the late 18th century, and is linked with the phrase “tying the knot”.
It is not tied to one religion. It is used in humanist, pagan, spiritual and simply personal ceremonies, which is why it fits so well in a symbolic wedding.
How to Perform a Handfasting
There is no single official script. A typical order in a symbolic ceremony is:
- Introduction: the celebrant explains what the handfasting means
- Joining hands: one hand each, or both hands crossed in a figure eight
- Wrapping: the ribbons or cords are looped around your hands, while or before you say your vows
- The knot: the cords are tied, and in some versions you pull your hands back to leave a knot
- Closing words: the celebrant notes that the physical ties come off, but the bond remains
The celebrant usually ties the cords, but parents, children or friends can bring a ribbon and place it around your hands. This is a simple way to involve family in the ceremony.
Choosing the Cords
Ribbons are light and come in many colors; cords look stronger. Some couples use something with personal meaning, such as a tartan, vintage lace or a family fabric.
- One ribbon: simple and quick, good for a short ceremony
- Three strands: braided together to show strength and unity
- Several colors: each one for a value you want to name, for example red for passion or green for growth
- Length: enough to wrap both hands a few times and tie a knot
In our packages the handfasting uses a red ribbon. In the proposal packages, the ribbon then goes into the Promise Box with the ring box, sealed with red wax.
Rituals That Pair Well With It
A handfasting can stand alone, or sit next to other symbolic acts. Our packages already combine it with local rituals:
- Alpine Bell Ritual in the Dolomites
- Barolo Ritual, the mingling of two wines, in the Langhe
- Tree Ritual among the old spruces of the Paneveggio Forest
- Candle, sand, wine or ring warming rituals, on request
Is a Handfasting Ceremony in Italy Legal?
No. A handfasting is a symbolic act and does not create a legal marriage in Italy. Our package pages say the same: the ceremony is symbolic, and many couples complete the legal formalities at home.
A civil marriage in Italy is a separate act. Under article 106 of the Italian Civil Code, it is celebrated publicly in the town hall, or in a venue the Comune has designated for weddings, as the Comune di Chiavari explains in its public notice on wedding venues.
This is why the handfasting can take place almost anywhere: in a wine cellar, on a mountain ridge, by a lake or in a garden. A civil ceremony has a fixed legal form and set venues, so any extra ritual depends on the town and the officiant.
- Legal at home, symbolic in Italy: the simplest option, and the one our packages are built for
- Civil in Italy, handfasting after: a short civil ceremony, then the handfasting at the venue
- Handfasting at the reception: a few minutes before dinner, with guests around you
For the documents needed for a legal wedding, see how to get married in Italy as a foreigner and getting married in Italy as a US citizen.
Handfasting and Religious Ceremonies
A Catholic wedding follows its own rite, set by the Church. Adding a handfasting inside it is up to the priest and the diocese, so ask before you plan it.
The easier solution is to keep the two apart: the Catholic ceremony in church, and a short handfasting later, at the reception or in a garden. See our guide to the Catholic wedding in Italy.
For non-religious options, a humanist wedding in Italy or a pagan wedding in Italy often includes a handfasting. Our overview of wedding ceremony types in Italy compares them.
Where to Hold a Handfasting in Italy
Because the ceremony is symbolic, the place is your choice. These are the settings where our handfasting packages take place:
- Dolomites: Lago di Carezza, Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, Paneveggio Forest, Rifugio Fuciade and Col Pradat. See Dolomites wedding.
- Langhe, Piedmont: a Barolo wine cellar among the barrels
- Amalfi Coast: the Basilica of Sant’Eustachio in Praiano, above the sea
We can also plan one on Lake Como, on Lake Garda, in a Tuscany wedding or in a Venice wedding. Outdoor settings need a plan B for rain.
The Celebrant
A handfasting needs someone to lead it. In our symbolic packages, a professional celebrant is included.
If you plan your own ceremony, a celebrant costs about €800 to €2,500. Ask about languages, whether they write a personal script with you, and how they run the handfasting. Our guide to the wedding officiant in Italy explains the options.
- Share your story and values, so the words feel personal
- Decide who ties the cords: the celebrant, parents or friends
- Choose the cords in advance, or use the red ribbon in the package
- Rehearse the hand position once before the ceremony
For a very small ceremony, see eloping in Italy or an intimate wedding in Italy. For a vow renewal with the same ritual, see renew your wedding vows in Tuscany. To plan dates and details, contact Kiss Me Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a handfasting ceremony?
It is a ritual in which the couple’s hands are bound with ribbons or cords while they make their promises. It is thought to come from Celtic traditions and was once a form of betrothal. Today it is part of many symbolic, humanist and pagan weddings, including those in Italy.
Can you have a handfasting instead of a legal wedding?
You can have a handfasting as your ceremony, but it does not make you legally married in Italy. For legal effect you need a civil marriage, either at home or at an Italian town hall. Our package pages suggest completing the legal formalities at home and keeping the handfasting for the celebration in Italy.
How do you perform a handfasting?
The celebrant explains the ritual, you join hands, and the ribbons or cords are wrapped around them while or before you say your vows. The cords are then tied in a knot. Family or friends can place a ribbon each. At the end the cords come off and can be kept as a keepsake.
Can handfasting be part of a Catholic ceremony?
A Catholic wedding follows the Church’s own rite, so any addition depends on the priest and the diocese. Ask early. The simplest option is to hold the Catholic ceremony in church and a short handfasting later, at the reception or in a garden, led by a celebrant.
