Who would you call to preside over a handfast?
I am an initiated priestess of Wicca. I am also a marriage commissioner, which gives me the legal right to perform marriages that are recognized by the government. I have performed both “simple” handfastings (no legal paperwork) and handfasting-plus-marriages (including the paperwork). I’m not sure how it works down in the States, but up here in Canada anyone with a background in public service and sufficiently good references can become a marriage commissioner, regardless of their religion (or lack thereof). If it works similarly south of the border, you should be able to call the government office concerned with marriages and they can refer you to a list of MCs in your area who are members of Wicca and/or another Pagan religion, if that’s what you want. But to approach your question from another angle… since all trained Wiccans are considered to be priest/esses, any Wiccan could theoretically preside over a handfasting should they choose to do so. You can find local clergy at
