Nigel & Eva's Handfasting - Faze 4

Sunday May 18th 2025

HandFasting

Please join us to celebrate Nigel & Eva's 4th Annual Handfasting !

Date : Sunday 18 May 2025

All Day Bar & BBQ

Venue : Nine Ladies Stone Circle, Matlock, Derbyshire on Google Maps

Time : From midday until late

For those arriving from overseas the Handfasting site is 60km South of Manchester Airport (MAN) and 100km north of Birmingham Airport (BHX). NB: From April 2nd you will need to apply for an ETA unless you have a UK passport (costs GBP16)…

If you are arriving on Saturday then travel to Belper Railway Station and book a room for GBP75 at the George & Dragon a short walk from the train station and we will meet you there for dinner at about 7pm.

If you are arriving on Sunday then travel to Matlock Railway Station and catch a cab to the Druid Inn Birchfield where the Tribe will be gathering from midday onwards.

Even better hire a car as it will probably cost less and be more reliable than the broken down UK rail system !

The Nine Ladies Stones is in the Peak District a popular tourist area and there are lots of little pubs and cottages in the area starting from EUR70/night.

For detailed directions to the stones watch the video “Path to a Pagan Place” below with your guide Molly !

From Matlock DE4 2LS to Nine Ladies Stone Circle, Lees Rd, Stanton in Peak, Matlock DE4 2LS.

11 min (0.5 mi)

1. Walk south-east
2. Turn right
3. Arrive at location: Nine Ladies Stone Circle, Lees Rd, Stanton in Peak, Matlock DE4 2LS
To see this route visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/8RjEzfznrEeBEiQf6

WTF is Handfasting ?

A Pagan ceremony performed every year where the guests tie together the couple’s hands with ribbons, followed by an oath to renew their vows for another year before jumping over a broom and then making Mediaeval Merrie !

This year’s Handfasting will have a strong Balinese element linking the Nine Ladies Stones to the principal 9 Balinese gods.Our local Mangku (priest)is preparing 9 different offerings dedicated to each of the Gods. Balinese Gods like cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, so make sure to bring some to place in the offerings!

Handfasting the Fourth

Midday at the Druid

The Tribes will gather at midday at the appropriately named Druid Inn, Birchfield for final preparations and nomination of volunteers to carry the sound system and brooms

3pm The Procession

After a healthy lunch the well-oiled guests will proceed to the Handfasting site

4pm The Ceremony

Assuming you manage to locate the hidden site in the middle of the forest and the password “MuMu23” is provided to our resident Wizard Leon, then the Ceremony May Commence !

The Wizard Sorcerer

The lovely couple will then renew their vows for yet another year and jump the broom !

5pm to late

Following the ceremony DJ Gritz will entertain us with his eclectic Jungle/Pagan beats accompanied by Dr Dangerous’ Amazing Fireshow as the sun sets over the Peaks !

The Story so Far

Handfasting the First

Our First beautiful ceremony took place at St.Anthony’s Well in the Forest of Dean on May 18th 2022 in front of a small and very wet group of 15 close friends. All of our friends were sworn to an oath of secrecy to ensure that Eva thought we were simply having a Pagan Party before I dropped to my knee and popped the question ! The next morning we were entertained by the sight of naked hippies bathing in the Holy Spring !

Handfasting the Second

No 2 took place in Ubud, Bali with representatives from over 20 Nationalities performing a fusion pagan/shaman ceremony to the bemusement of our Balinese friends !

Handfasting the Third

Our 3rd Annual Handfasting was a torchlit ceremony on a remote beach in Bali around a bonfire to the soothing sounds of waves and the KLF Chill Out Album