The ancient Celtic tradition of handfasting is enjoying a major revival at Gretna Green, one of Scotland's most iconic wedding venues. More than 3,000 couples have taken part in the ritual this year alone, a significant rise from fewer than 100 annually fifteen years ago.
What is handfasting?
Handfasting is an ancient Celtic tradition in which a couple's hands are bound together with ribbons or cords as a symbol of their union and commitment. It is one of the oldest forms of a commitment ceremony and is widely believed to have coined the phrase "tying the knot."
Gretna Green, a historic village in Dumfries and Galloway near the Scottish-English border, is considered a world-famous wedding destination. Historically, many young lovers crossed from England to legally marry under more lenient Scottish laws at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop, as older English laws required parental consent for couples under 21.
Popular culture drives revival
John Holliday, Executive Chairman of Gretna Green Ltd, said the rise in handfasting requests is largely due to the cultural impact of historical film and TV series such as Outlander and Hamnet.
Holliday told the Record: "The Hamnet film adaptation and series such as Outlander have helped introduce handfasting to audiences who might never otherwise have encountered it. We've had handfastings at Gretna Green for a long time, but there's been a significant rise in recent years. Popular culture sparks interest, while social media helps spread awareness as couples share their own experiences. Together, they've helped bring an ancient tradition into the mainstream."
He added: "Couples today are looking for ceremonies that feel personal, authentic and meaningful; they want to tell their own story rather than simply follow a template. Society evolves and we're using social media more, so people are also looking for memorable, visual experiences. Handfasting offers exactly that. It's symbolic, personal and creates a powerful moment within a ceremony. As a result, it has become an increasingly popular part of the Gretna Green experience. Fifteen years ago, fewer than 100 ceremonies a year included handfasting. Today, that figure exceeds 3,000."
Couples embrace the tradition
Gill and Richard Porteous chose to have a handfasting ceremony at Gretna Green to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. They told the Record: "We chose a handfasting ceremony for our 20th wedding anniversary because we wanted to express our love for each other in a less conventional way. We didn't really know what to expect, but the whole experience was even better than we imagined. Everything felt so atmospheric because of the building and its history of love, and it was a truly special way to celebrate 20 years together."
Handfasting is not exclusive to Gretna Green. Rory and Claudia Barraclough tied the knot at Caprington Castle in Kilmarnock in September 2025 and decided to include handfasting on their big day, inspired by their celebrant, Simon Houston.
Claudia told the Record: "We were kind of looking to have something quite special and we knew we wanted something unique that was Scottish. It was really important to both of us that we had a traditional Scottish wedding. It was our celebrant Simon who introduced us to handfasting and both of us were a bit unsure but he showed us how it worked. It was really lovely and meaningful and added a Scottish touch to the wedding."
She added: "It was a completely optional thing, I'd seen some people online that had made custom hand fasting ties and I know that a lot of Scottish Americans are into that thing. We used the Muted Galloway tartan from my husband's kilt and the material from my wedding dress. It meant a lot to both of us."
Claudia said: "It was such a hit with everyone who came to our ceremony. Everyone said it was their favourite part and it's become a special memory of the day. It's nice to implement as much of your culture as possible."
