Couple renew pagan vows

FAMILY and friends attend weddings, but rarely do earth, fire, water and air!

For Darren Ainsworth and Donna Gregory the four elements were guests of honour at their pagan ceremony to renew their vows

Darren (44) and Donna (33) took to a moorland camp site off Buckstones Road in Shaw where dozens gathered for a traditional “handfasting ceremony” - from which “tying the knot” originates.

As guests stood in a circle the celebrant undertook the pagan proceedings.

The couple — who wed in a handfasting ceremony in Fort William, Scotland, two years ago but aren’t legally married — then read out their self-written vows before coloured ribbons representing various emotions were used to fasten their hands together.

“Traditionally in paganism you renew your vows a year and a day after the marriage and every year after that,” explained Darren, from Shaw. “Last year we renewed them on our own, this year we wanted family and friends to be there.

“It’s not legally binding but I think with religious and civil weddings, once that piece of paper is signed it puts pressure on people.”