Imagine joining hands inside Stonehenge as the morning light reaches the stones, or exchanging promises as the evening sky turns gold.
For couples seeking a meaningful way to celebrate their love, a Handfasting within Wiltshire’s ancient stone circle makes that experience possible.
These symbolic ceremonies can celebrate a wedding, a commitment or a renewal of vows. They do not constitute a legal marriage; couples wishing to marry legally arrange that separately.
Handfastings can be arranged through an advance private booking with English Heritage, subject to availability and site conditions, with access outside normal opening hours.
For celebrant Glenda Procter, who has conducted ceremonies within the stones at dawn and dusk, the setting holds a lifelong significance.
“I first visited Stonehenge as a little girl,” she said. “To return as a celebrant and stand within the circle with two people making promises to one another is an extraordinary privilege.
“Sometimes the first light warms the stones. Sometimes mist softens everything around us. At sunset, the light can glow around their edges. Each visit brings something different.”
The monument’s relationship with the sun stretches back thousands of years: its great stones were carefully positioned to align with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset. Today, couples bring their own hopes and promises into that remarkable landscape.
Glenda’s speciality is Handfasting, where ribbons or cords are wrapped around joined hands to symbolise love and commitment.
“It might be the beginning of a life together, or a celebration of 20, 30, 40 or 50 years of marriage,” she said. “The ceremony reflects the couple—their story, their faith or beliefs, and what they want to say to one another.”
Her work has recently earned her the Association of Independent Celebrants’ award for Outstanding Services to Celebrancy, presented in Reading on Saturday, 17 October.
The honour adds to her professional awards, 20 years after she began her career as a marriage registrar. Now running Cloud9 Ceremonies from the Forest of Dean, she welcomes couples from Britain, the United States and Canada to celebrate at Stonehenge.
“This award is especially close to my heart because of my long connection with the association,” she said. “But the heart of my work is still helping people celebrate love—and creating memories they can carry with them for a lifetime.”
For information, visit www.cloud9ceremonies.co.uk or email glendaprocter@hotmail.com.
Photography: Black Magic Studios
