Page "Handfasting" Paragraph 11

From the 12th to the 17th century “ handfasting ” in England referred to a ceremony, usually about a month prior to a church wedding, at which the marrying couple formally declared that each accepted the other as spouse.

Accounts of English handfasting ceremonies suggest that though invariably each person held the other ’ s right hand while making their vow, cords or ribbons were not used.