Meaning and symbolism of white and neutral colours in handfasting cords
“White has it all. Its beauty is absolute. It’s the perfect harmony.”
“White is the most wonderful color because within it you can see all the colors of the rainbow.”
The ivory of this Celtic 'Nine Knots' Design is offset by bold metallic and green accents
Colours are a great way to imbue your handfasting cord with meaning and contribute to telling the story of your love through your handfasting cord. This post will talk about the different meanings the colour blue is used to express.
GENERAL NOTES ON COLOURS - A ‘DISCLAIMER’
As I always do in this series of posts, I’d like to start with some general thoughts on the use of colours in handfasting cords. Some people claim that particular colours are traditional or authentic for handfasting cords. However, this can be misleading. Handfasting as a tradition is very old – so old in fact that we don’t know exactly when it originated or where it came from. What we DO know is that there are traces of it all over the world. What this means is that there is no linear handfasting tradition with strict ‘dos’ and ‘donts’ to adhere to and this goes for colour just as anything else. Different colours have had different meanings in different cultures and at different times, so there is no right or wrong set of colours to choose from.
The cords I make are all inspired by the aesthetics and meaning of Celtic knots. One of the things I love most about Celtic culture is that the way meaning is created is never black and white but fluid and contextual. And this is exactly what I believe the most important rule is when it comes to choosing the colour of your handfasting cord: What matters most is what your chosen colour means to YOU and the story of your relationship. Handfasting cords allow us to create a ritual of love that is special and unique to our relationship. If you are not sure about whether to include a certain colour or not, just listen to your heart. It’s your ceremony and your handfasting cord, after all. With that in mind, here are some ways in which whites and neutrals are interpreted in handfastings:
Thistle charms and silver accents adorn this Ivory cord from the Bloom design range
White wedding
White is such a classic wedding colour that you may not have thought of it as a colour, but it's worth considering its symbolism when incorporating it into your cord. White is so popular because it was popularised by Queen Victoria, who broke with tradition to wear a white dress for her wedding to Prince Albert. It has been used since to signify purity and fidelity. It is also strongly associated with cleanliness and simplicity, and in some parts of the world with heaven, angels and the divine. You might include it in a design to evoke these traditional meanings, or, by contrast, for a clean, modern, minimalist touch.
In this striking Hearts Entwined cord, ivory is combined with warm gold and cool blue
Although we often think of the classic wedding as white, it’s common for dresses to be off-white or ivory. Ivory, like white, signifies innocence, purity and fidelity, but it is warmer than white and as such pairs well with other colours. It has connotations of elegance, luxury and nostalgia. It is also reminiscent of horn, shell and pearl, giving it a more organic quality than stark white, and would be a perfect fit for a cord for a natural, earthy themed wedding.
Misty shades of grey and white combine to give this Hearts Entwined cord a soft, calm elegance
Shades of grey
Grey could be considered a true neutral. It is a calming colour that on the one hand can be modern, minimalist and elegant. On the other hand, it is suggestive of slate, stone, metal and rugged materials - as well as the romantic, moody atmosphere of Scottish mountains! While there is a masculine quality to these associations, grey’s air of ambiguity also means it is often used to signify gender neutral and nonbinary identities - a great choice for a modern, understatedly elegant cord.
The ivory and taupe of this Infinity Treasure Knot foreground the delicacy of the lace accent
Homespun: this Natural Triple Celtic Love Knot is a beautiful token of authentic love
Only natural
Shades such as taupe, beige, and natural cord are suggestive of wheat and honey, eggshells and oats. They do not draw attention to themselves but foreground the knotwork and other colours used in a cord, often to dazzling effect. They contrast especially well with luxurious metallics, as well as deep and strongly pigmented shades. Because they are also homespun and rustic, they evoke qualities of authenticity, warmth and sincerity. Use them in a cord to signify your sincere love with an intricate handmade object.
This luxe Celtic 'Nine Knots' Design blends taupe and bronze with natural cord
I hope you have found this post helpful. If you would like to work with me on designing your own custom handfasting cord, please don’t hesitate to get in touch :)
Love,
Ceo