What to Do With Your Handfasting Cord After the Wedding

The knot has been tied, the photographs taken and the guests are heading for the drinks reception. So what happens to the handfasting cord now? Unlike many wedding details, a handfasting cord is designed to be kept. It was there at the exact moment your promises were made, and with a little care it can become one of the most treasured mementoes of your day.

Here are some of our favourite ideas for using, displaying and looking after your handfasting cord after the ceremony.

On the wedding day itself

Untie it carefully – or not at all

Some couples like to slip their hands out of the cords while leaving the knot intact, so the cord stays exactly as it was tied. Others untie it after the ceremony. Either is fine; if you want to keep the knot, ask your celebrant to help you ease your hands out gently so the shape is preserved.

Wrap it around the bouquet

Tying the cord around the stems of a bouquet keeps it safe, looks beautiful and means it appears in all of the later photographs. It works especially well when the cord colours match the flowers.

Display it on the top table

Laying the cord across the top table, around a centrepiece or beside the wedding cake gives guests a chance to see it up close. A small card explaining the colours or charms is a lovely talking point.

Use it in your photographs

Ask your photographer for a few detail shots: the cord resting on your joined hands, draped over your rings or coiled beside your invitation. These images often become favourites in the wedding album.

Keepsake and display ideas at home

A shadow box frame

A deep shadow box frame is the most popular way to display a handfasting cord. Arrange the cord in a loose spiral, a heart or an infinity shape, perhaps alongside a printed photo of the handfasting, your invitation, a pressed flower from the bouquet or a copy of your vows. Use a few small stitches or clear dots of removable adhesive to hold it in place without damaging the ribbon.

Frame it with a photograph

Choose a favourite photo from your ceremony and wrap the cord around a simple frame, or let it rest along the bottom edge of a wide mount. It is an easy display that tells the whole story at a glance.

A glass dome or jar

Coiling the cord inside a glass cloche or decorative jar protects it from dust while keeping it on show on a shelf or mantelpiece.

Hang it in your home

Some couples hang the cord over the bed, across a mirror or from a hook beside the front door as a daily reminder of their promises. If you do this, keep it out of direct sunlight to stop the colours from fading.

A memory box

If you prefer to keep it private, store the cord in a memory box with your other wedding keepsakes – cards, the order of service, a garter or buttonhole – ready to be brought out and enjoyed on anniversaries.

Traditions to continue after the wedding

Anniversary rituals

Bring the cord out on each anniversary and hold it for a moment while you reflect on the year. Some couples tie the knot again, or add a new charm or ribbon for every year of marriage, building a cord that grows with them.

Vow renewals

Your original cord can play a starring role in a vow renewal, perhaps alongside a new cord to represent the next chapter. See our article on handfasting for vow renewals and anniversaries.

Hard days

Some couples keep their cord somewhere they can reach it during difficult times, as a physical reminder of the promises they made. Holding it together can be a quiet way of saying “we are still in this together”.

Family heirloom

A cord can be passed down to children or used by the next generation at their own handfasting, wrapped alongside a new cord. It is a beautiful way to link family weddings across the years.

Seasonal ideas

• Christmas tree decoration: drape the cord along a branch or around the top of the tree for a festive reminder of your wedding.
• Wreath: tie it into a seasonal wreath on your front door around your anniversary.
• Celebration table: lay it down the centre of the table at anniversary dinners.

How to store and care for your handfasting cord

• Keep it dry. Store the cord in a dry place; damp can mark ribbon and tarnish charms.
• Avoid direct sunlight. Strong light fades satin ribbon over time, so choose a shaded spot for display.
• Store it loosely. Coil the cord loosely rather than folding it tightly to avoid creases. A fabric or organza bag is ideal.
• Handle with clean, dry hands. Oils from lotions and perfumes can mark ribbon and dull charms.
• Remove creases gently. If needed, a cool iron through a cloth can ease creases in satin ribbon – always test a small hidden area first and keep heat away from charms.
• Clean charms carefully. A soft, dry cloth is usually enough; avoid harsh polishes.

Sharing the story

Whichever display you choose, consider writing a short note to keep with the cord: the date, the place, who wrapped the cords and what the colours mean. In years to come, that little card will turn a pretty object into a family story.

Planning ahead

If you already know how you want to display your cord, it can help guide your choices when ordering. A cord destined for a frame might suit charms that sit flat and colours that complement your home, while a cord for the bouquet might match your flowers. Our guide on how to choose a handfasting cord covers length, colours and charms in more detail.

However you choose to keep it, your handfasting cord will always hold the memory of the moment you tied the knot. If you are still searching for the perfect cord, take a look at our handmade handfasting cords – each one is made to order and arrives in an organza bag, ready for the big day and the years that follow.