If it was to be my funeral, I think I would create two seperate ceremonies. I would like to be buried in my own way, I can't think of anything worse than being sent into eternity through someone else's ritual, but because funerals are really less about the dead person's wishes and more about the feelings of the survivors, I wouldn't be offended if they had a seperate ritual in their own religion wishing me well on my journey, just as long as it wasn't the main one.

As far as handfastings and weddings go though, the likelihood is that you will want your family there and you'd also like to get on with your family afterwards. There is a beautiful stone circle on top of the mountain where I live and I have my heart set on handfasting there. My parents know that I want to get married there, but I haven't broached the handfasting thing with them yet. It's also very hard to get married legally outside in this country if the place hasn't been licensed for it.

In that case, I think that, as much as I wouldn't like to have a registry office thing, I would have to have a legal marriage in the morning, and then have the handfasting in the circle later on that day. I suppose that if bride and groom (or groom/groom, bride/bride) didn't mind that their handfasting wasn't sealed in the eyes of the law, but was sealed in the eyes of the Gods the vows are just as valid. If you truly are committed in your soul, it doesn't matter how legal your ceremony is in law, it will be very binding for you.

 There are members of my family who would be very hurt if they found out that I'm not Christian and I feel that out of respect for them, I distance myself from talk of religions when I am around them. When it comes to my wedding, however, I don't think I should have to hide my beliefs. I will be getting married for me and my beloved, not my family, so as much as I want them to be there, if they are unhappy with the content of the service, they don't have to come. It would be just the same if I was marrying a Jew or a Muslim. The ceremony would most likely be in a Synagogue or Mosque and my family would have to deal with that.

I would only be hurt if they decided not to come based on some ridiculous superstition like devil worship. If they decided not to come because they are unsure of whether they would feel comfortable at the ceremony then that is fair enough, but I would not tolerate being called a devil worshipper by my own family and have them boycott my handfasting day because of it.