Under the Bandstand: A Handfasting to Remember

Every now and then, a couple comes along whose story touches your heart before you've even met them.

I remember clearly receiving the email from Dawn and Andrew. At the time, I was in Scotland, standing beside the freezing waters of the North Sea, wrapped up against the wind and cold. Their message arrived asking if I would be available to create and conduct their wedding ceremony.

The answer was immediate.

My heart warmed despite the Scottish chill and I jumped at the chance.

From that first conversation, I knew this would be something special.

And special it most certainly was.

We affectionately nicknamed the ceremony "Under the Bandstand", and I have no doubt it will be remembered by all who attended for many years to come.

Nestled within the beautiful grounds of Calon Taf and Ynysangharad War Memorial Park in Pontypridd, the bandstand provided the perfect sacred space for this unique handfasting ceremony. Behind us stood graceful willow trees, their branches swaying gently as if offering their own blessing upon the proceedings. Before us stretched a glorious avenue through the park, lined with late spring trees bursting into bloom, appearing almost as though they were welcoming us and applauding our arrival.

The day carried all the magic of Calan Mai, the ancient Welsh festival of Beltane. One of the most important celebrations in the Welsh tradition, Beltane is a time of union, fertility, growth and joyful connection. It was the perfect moment for Dawn and Andrew to declare their love before family, friends, community and ancestors.

As guests gathered, the couple and their entourage were drummed into the sacred circle beneath the bandstand. Together we created a living circle from gifts gathered from the park itself, connecting the ceremony to the land beneath our feet.

We honoured the spirits of Journey, Time, Ancestors, Tribe and Place.

We called upon the four sacred elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

We paused to take three mindful breaths for the ancient realms of Land, Sea and Sky.

Nearby, the waters of the River Rhondda and River Taff continued their eternal meeting. Their convergence provided a powerful symbol for Dawn and Andrew's union: two distinct lives retaining their own character while choosing to flow forward together as one shared current.

One of the most moving moments of the ceremony came as the couple exchanged their vows. Accompanying them was the beautiful and haunting music of Bethan Nia on harp. Her music drifted through the trees and around the bandstand, creating an atmosphere of peace, tenderness and timelessness.

There were tears.

There was laughter.

There was profound silence.

And there was love.

The guests held the space beautifully. Family and friends gathered not simply as witnesses but as active participants in the weaving of the day. It was particularly moving to see members of the Between the Trees Festival family standing alongside loved ones from every chapter of Dawn and Andrew's lives.

What unfolded was not simply a wedding.

It was a gathering of tribe.

A gathering of hearts.

A gathering of stories.

It was one of those rare occasions where truth, integrity and authenticity were present in every moment.

The ancestors felt close that day.

The land felt alive.

And everyone knew they were part of something meaningful.

The handfasting itself drew upon ancient Welsh and Celtic traditions. As the cord was wrapped around Dawn and Andrew's joined hands, we honoured the old custom of "tying the knot." Each turn of the cord represented promises freely given: love, trust, friendship, resilience and shared purpose. The knot itself symbolised not restriction, but the conscious choice to walk life's path together.

Then came one of the most joyful moments of the entire celebration.

Jumping the broom.

Now, those who know Andrew will know that he occasionally has a talent for finding unexpected ways to trip over things. This fact alone had many of us quietly wondering what might happen when the moment arrived.

Thankfully, after much laughter and encouragement, Dawn and Andrew successfully leapt the broom together, stepping symbolically from their old lives into their new future as husband and wife.

The cheering was tremendous.

The laughter was infectious.

And then something wonderful happened.

The guests wanted a turn too.

One after another, family members, friends and festival folk lined up to jump the broom themselves. It became a spontaneous celebration of joy, community and shared blessing.

Even members of the public who had been wandering through the park stopped to watch.

Some stayed.

Some joined in.

Some became part of the circle.

Children danced.

Dogs investigated.

Passers-by smiled and applauded.

What began as a wedding became a community event in the truest sense of the word.

There was no barrier between ceremony and life.

No separation between sacred and ordinary.

There was simply a gathering of human beings sharing in a moment of love.

As the late spring sky shone overhead and the willows whispered their blessings, it felt as though everyone present was being reminded of something important:

That love is strongest when it is shared.

That community matters.

That our stories become richer when woven together.

And that the old ways still have the power to bring people together in wonder.

Dawn and Andrew's handfasting beneath the bandstand was a day filled with music, laughter, tears, ancestors, friendship, community and deep connection to place.

A day where rivers met.

A day where families met.

A day where old traditions came alive.

A day that reminded us all that the sacred can still be found in the heart of a public park, beneath a bandstand, surrounded by blooming trees and open hearts.

It was an honour beyond words to stand with Dawn and Andrew on that day.

And whenever I think of them, I will remember the willows, the harp music, the laughter, the ancestors, the gathering of tribe and the joyous sight of an entire wedding party lining up to jump a broom beneath a Welsh spring sky.

A truly magical day.

A truly beautiful union.

A day forever remembered as Under the Bandstand.