Commitment/handfasting ceremony

[Cantaloupeisland]

Hi all
Wondering if anybody here knows anything about commitment ceremonies as we're in a bit of a horrible situation. Dp and I are engaged and are planning to legally marry within the next year or two. I've recently been told that my mum, who has been unwell with cancer, has a few months to live- obviously hard to know an exact timeframe. I'm an only child and feel desperately sad that mum won't be around for my actual wedding so we're wondering if there's anything we can do while she's still with us. Has anyone had a non legal ceremony type thing? It would only be for my parents really, no other guests or party or anything. Any advice much appreciated!

You can legally get married as soon as you have the license - which I think is a 2 or 3 week wait from when you apply for it.
Why are you waiting a "year or two"?
Just get married if you want to be married and let your mum enjoy being part of it.
Sorry about your mum 💐

Well, we were waiting for various reasons, not even living together at present due to ongoing house buying faff. Mum isn't well enough to leave her house so whatever we did would have to be there and I don't think you can do that with a legal wedding. We figured a different ceremony might be quicker and easier and that way she's still part of it

If the religious aspect matters to you, you may be able to get the local vicar to do a blessing for you at your mums home.

Alternatively hand fastings tend to be very hippy, so maybe see if there are any local groups to you on Facebook? And ask there. I don't know of any national groups

A hand fasting would work. They don’t have to. E ‘hippy’. I was a celebrant and would gauge the tone of the ceremony to the couple , sometimes hippy, sometimes modern, even corporate!

Google for a celebrant in your area. They will be able to assist with this and do a ceremony at home.
So sorry about your mum

Find a humanist celebrant local to you on humanists.uk

They will tailor it to your circumstances

So sorry about your Mum

I was also going to say look for a humanist celebrant, we had one for our ceremony as we're in Scotland and it's legal, had a hand fasting as part of the ceremony too

Thanks all, will get googling. I live about 4 hours away from mum so am not in tune with the local area but will have a search. Would definitely be secular rather than religious and probably fairly short and simple

On the humanist uk website you search by post code for nearest ones to you

Hi
Sorry Im a bit late to yo the party with this but it may be helpful as Im a celebrant. The couples that have a celebrant wedding generally regard their ceremony as their 'wedding'. I usually advise to go off and do the legal bit as cheaply as possible, very low key, get the paperwork done then the wedding is a day or 2 later. If you did that, you could have your wedding at your mum's house and she could be part of the ceremony, even say a few words herself so feel really involved. Most celebrants will travel. So I'd say go for what you want and make it happen! Wishing you lots of luck!