The Purse of Gold

The Sporran of Gold

This page is dual-purpose:

Tick the checkboxes to see details/ choose

to view or choose Handfasting

A handfastingA full wedding or renewal ceremony written personally with and for you. This applies to Betrothal, Renewal or Naming Ceremonies

Handfasting Ceremony The ceremony written and performed.
Note: If you are requesting a Handfasting ceremony, please ensure that you have fully read the Handfasting page and understand what we do.
If you are having a legal wedding, read the page on Civil and Handfasting combined (new window). Questions are welcome via email or phone.
£270
Two celebrants Both myself and Samantha as Celebrants, male and female, in balance, if Samantha is available. gratis

Choice of Bann to tie the hands:

Plaid Bann A simple Bann of clann plaid, finished by me. Your choice of plaid and variation (Forbes hunting, ancient, dress etc).
If you prefer, I have a small stock of non-clan tartans e.g. Scottish National (dark with red and white stripes), Scotland Forever, Spririt of Scotland (both purple), Home (mid blue).
What tartan would you like?
£10
Custom Bann Bann made from bespoke materials e.g leather and two plaids
Give a brief description of Ban' materials:
£15-40
Own Bann Use your own Ban'. It needs to be about 5 feet long and about 2 inches wide. Something special to you. gratis
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Large Bride's Cross. Can be used as part of the ceremony or as a gift. Made by me. (Click the boxed link to the left to learn more.)
As part of the ceremony
As gift
£19

Want to jump the besom in the ceremony? That choice is below

Master of Ceremonies / Fear an Taigh

Sharing the Cuach The Master of Ceremonies role assists venue staff with the smooth running of the event and provides entertainment for guests . This can be in addition to the Handfasting ceremony, or as a stand-alone service. (MC known in England as a Toast Master)

The exchange varies with guest numbers at the reception/wedding-breakfast (not evening guests). A second MC, Samantha, is required for 81+ guests. (Guest numbers based on your current estimate.)

Master of Ceremonies Guiding and entertaining guests at the reception in the Highland tradition. For up to about 6 hours. Includes your choice of traditions ticked below. Can also include storytelling.
Note on availablity: In the High season (June-Sept), Weekends (Friday-Sunday) are reserved for engagements that include Hand Fasting ceremonies.
Generally, MC-only events are kept to mid week in High Season, but please enquire.
Up to 40 guests£195
41-80 guests 230
81-120 guests280
120+ guests 320
Master of Ceremonies In addition to the Handfasting Ceremony. Guiding and entertaining guests at the reception in the Highland traditional (known in England as a Toast Master). For up to about 6 hours. Includes your choice of traditions ticked below plus storytelling, if you wish.
Up to 40 guests£150
41-80 guests 190
81-120 guests240
120+ guests 280
No MOC 0

Choose your optional MC wedding traditions below

Sharing of the Cuach Sharing the communcal drinking cup and blessings with guests, normally around the speeches. Using my own cuach.
You can request your own Cuach as a gift in the Cuach section below.
gratis
Fling the Ring Yes, the wedding ring! Fling it into a big tin bath of soapy water. All the women scrabble for it, in their nice dresses. Very illuminating... Requires loan of tin bath gratis
Plaid demonstration Dressing a guest or two in the Fèileadh Mòr. Highly entertaining gratis
1715 Muster Role Singing the 1715 Muster Role to gather Guests to Dinner. gratis
Wee Bride's Crosses Making wee Brides crosses with the guests as part of the entertainment. They are DIY favours!
(no more than 70 pounds charged)
£20 per 15 people

Want to jump the besom in the reception? See below


Besom and Cuach
Besom and Cuach Besom and Cuach
Jumping the Besom Ceremony The Sguab or Besom made by me, especially for its own wee ceremony, from traditional materials. Kept in the marriage home to bring protection and luck.
If you have your own suitable besom, there is no charge for this ceremony. Tick this box and make a note in the "Anything else" box at the foot of the form.
Jump the besom in the handfasting
Jump the besom in the reception
£50
A traditional handmade wooden cuach to be used at your wedding and kept in the family home thereafer
Small Cuach ~ With triple knot design
No triple knot design / plain
£43
Medium Cuach No triple knots £52
Large Cuach ~ With triple knot design
No triple knot / plain
£58
Storytelling

Storytelling    Traditional Highland Storytelling for the reception, akin to a Clan Bard of times past, to regale the company with wedding Tales, history and perhaps even family stories.

Storytelling Sessions over about 3 hours, usually after the ceremony, till the Wedding Breakfast, perhaps afterwards. Themed on Highland weddings past.
Note on availablity: In the High season (June-Sept), Weekends (Friday-Sunday) are reserved for engagements that include Hand Fasting ceremonies.
Generally, storytelling-only events are kept to mid week in High Season.
Longer distance engagements (South England and Europe) are generally kept to low season (Oct-May), but please enquire.
£170
Storytelling In addition to Handfasting. Usually after the ceremony, till the Wedding Breakfast, perhaps afterwards. Themed on Highland weddings past. £120
Storytelling As part of Master of Ceremonies. Usually after the ceremony, till the Wedding Breakfast, perhaps afterwards. Themed on Highland weddings past. gratis
No Storytelling No storytelling 0
Family Tales Specific Scottish Clann Tales research in addition to names I already carry. Clann names:
You can check the names that I carry Tales for at the Genealogy Website. Existing repertoire carries no additonal exchange.
£30-60
Sporan agus Breacan - Sporan and Plaid A sporan

All sporans made in Perthshire, Scotland

N.B. Sporans are created to order and thus require a lead time of at least 3 weeks

Medium Sporan Old Style, Highland sporan to your needs and colours (made by me). I will contact you about colours etc before I make it
Belt loop
Rings, for your own standard Chain-Strap belt (not supplied)
£65
Large or Two-Tone Sporan As above but with a third more capacity OR a two-tone sack (pic above).
I will talk with you about colours etc after your form submission.
Belt loop
Rings, for a standard Chain-Strap belt
£80
Lasses Sporan Sporan for the ladies, medium size, complete with adjustable plaited strap. £85


Your Own Plaid
A great
plaid
I can source most plaids and tartans and give full lessons and pictorial instruction before the wedding in the donning of them. Ladies require about 3 yards/meters for an Arasaid, men require about 5.
Note: you will require a brooch (or two) with a thick pin to stow the plaid over the shoulder or wear it as an arasaid. See below for brooches.
Clann/sept name and hunting/weathered etc variant:
£120-200
Brooches
pins and brooches
Penannular brooch suitable for the rigours of Arasaid and Great Plaid
Large brooch    See Dress page for pins and brooches
Small brooch.

    I would like TWO of my chosen brooch, for an Arasaid.

£22
£17
Kilt Pins
pins and
brooches
Kilt pins, in pewter. Two types, Spear-Knot and Kells (with stone)
Spear-Knot kilt pin (central in the left image).
Kells Pin with semiprecious stone (Agate,Malachite, Lapis and Moonstone shown).
Pin comment:

£13
£16
Travel and Payment
Travel and distance
Travel by car from Perthshire is charged at 20p/m.
PDs (Per Diems): For engagements more than 4 hours each way from home (i.e.England, Ireland and Europe), an additional amount is charged to cover lost engagment days (and small expenses due to travel such as taxi, parking, tolls).
PDs rate = 50GBP per day.
Long Distance engagements are gladly undertaken in Low Season (Oct-May), always by surface transport. It may not be possible to accept long distance engagements in High Season (June-Sept). Please enquire.
Accomodation
Accommodation may be required, depending on distance and times I am required during the day. Also sometimes, for Handfastings or larger weddings, I require the assistance of my partner, Samantha MacKenzie. I will clarify that with you upon receipt of this form.
Booking and Deposits
To book, complete this web-form and submit. I convert this to paperwork and send two copies to you for checking and signing. This covers the basic details. Return one copy. A deposit of £190 or 50% of total (whichever greater) will be required in order to hold the date.
Summer Solstice (June 20-22) is treated as a special case as demand for these days is very high. Engagements for the Solstice require the whole exchanged (non-refundable) to be paid at the time of booking.
Payment methods
Our preferred payment types are: Cheque, Cash or BACS transfer made in British Pounds.
We accept Credit Card payments via Paypal, for which there is a charge. We pay half the fee; you pay 1.75% (domestic) or 2% (international clients)
Payments over about 600 USD may be cheaper by a bankers draft (check) or electronic transfer, than by Paypal.
I would like to pay the Deposit by Paypal
I would also like to pay the Balance by Paypal, prior to the wedding.
Cancellations and date changes
When you return your agreement and deposit to us, we hold that date for you. It is important to understand this. There are only so many Saturdays in a year so we get multiple requests for the same days. We can only accept one request. Most weddings are booked with us about a year in advance and we have very few late bookings. If you cancel your event, or move it's date, close to the time, then we are unlikely to be able to fill it with another engagement. This is why we have our deposit terms:
~ Up to 8 months before the date, you may cancel / move a date and your deposit is returned (less admin of £30);
~ If you cancel / move the date inside 8 months of the event, the full balance is still due (less any non-incurred expenses, like travel).
Non-cash Trades
Being Highlanders, we appreciate the exchange of goods and services, in lieu of cash exchanges. If you would like to offer a barter, have a look at this list of things we would consider. Something to offer? . All barter details must be settled before the agreement is drawn up.
Personal Information

Required to post your paperwork; not req. for a general enquiry
Event Details

Note: early start or late finish may require accommodation expense
(Not including "Evening Guests")
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