The participants decide beforehand how long they will agree to be committed. Some people renew the vow every year. Other couples simply part and go separate ways in life. Still others have a ritual to mark the ending of the Handfasting commitment. It has also become popular to follow a Handfasting a year and a day later with a legal wedding.
Some couples opt to jump over a broom, balefire, sword or cord.
Frequently, the couples are symbolically tied together. Couples may drink out of the same cup to indicate the joining of their lives and destinies. Rings are often exchanged. Many of these rites, such as rice-throwing, started out as fertility charms, so keep this in mind when you are planning your magickal rite. The long white lacy dress is a remnant from the Edwardian era, when white wedding dresses first came into use.