Here is another example of a way to add a Handfasting into your ceremony
Greeting:
Officiant:
We are honored and grateful to be present here today to witness the sacred vows of marriage between ____ and _____, who were brought together by love’s divine appointment and we rejoice with them as they take their first step in their new life together as husband and wife (as a married couple)
Opening blessing:
Officiant:
_____ and ___, May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say 'I love you' and take no notice of small faults. May you enthusiastically enter into the mystery that is the awareness of one another's presence --- a bond that is as warm and near when you are side by side as when you are separated by time and circumstances. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.
Charge:
Officiant:
_____ and ___, The contract of marriage is most solemn and is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than those you are about to pledge.
With this in mind I now ask you:
Pledge:
Officiant:
Do you, _____, take ___ to be your wife? To love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?"
Do you, ___, take _____ to be your husband? To love him, comfort and keep him, and forsaking all others remain true to him as long as you both shall live?"
Vows:
Officiant:
Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.
_____ repeat to ___, after me, these words:
I _____ take you ___,
to be my wedded wife.
To have and to hold from this day forward
For better, for worse
For richer, for poorer
In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish
‘til death do us part.
___ repeat to _____, after me, these words:
I ___ take you _____
to be my wedded husband.
To have and to hold from this day forward
For better, for worse
For richer, for poorer
In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish
‘til death do us part.
I would like to invite you to share your own heart felt personal vows that you have written to each other
_____ reads/says his/her personal vows to ___
___reads/says her/his personal vows to _____
Officiant:
We are honored and grateful to be present here today to witness the sacred vows of marriage between ____ and _____, who were brought together by love’s divine appointment and we rejoice with them as they take their first step in their new life together as husband and wife (as a married couple)
Opening blessing:
Officiant:
_____ and ___, May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say 'I love you' and take no notice of small faults. May you enthusiastically enter into the mystery that is the awareness of one another's presence --- a bond that is as warm and near when you are side by side as when you are separated by time and circumstances. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.
Charge:
Officiant:
_____ and ___, The contract of marriage is most solemn and is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than those you are about to pledge.
With this in mind I now ask you:
Pledge:
Officiant:
Do you, _____, take ___ to be your wife? To love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?"
Do you, ___, take _____ to be your husband? To love him, comfort and keep him, and forsaking all others remain true to him as long as you both shall live?"
Vows:
Officiant:
Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.
_____ repeat to ___, after me, these words:
I _____ take you ___,
to be my wedded wife.
To have and to hold from this day forward
For better, for worse
For richer, for poorer
In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish
‘til death do us part.
___ repeat to _____, after me, these words:
I ___ take you _____
to be my wedded husband.
To have and to hold from this day forward
For better, for worse
For richer, for poorer
In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish
‘til death do us part.
I would like to invite you to share your own heart felt personal vows that you have written to each other
_____ reads/says his/her personal vows to ___
___reads/says her/his personal vows to _____
Ring Exchange:
Officiant:
May we please have the rings (Designated person hands rings to Officiant-or Officiant can already be holding them)
May these rings be blessed with; Air for hopes and dreams; Fire for the spark of love; Water for harmony and healing; And Earth for strength.
The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. It is the symbol of peace. Let this ring be the symbol of unity and peace in which your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, return unto one another and to your togetherness
_____ will you take this ring and place it upon ___’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words:
I give you this ring.
As I give you myself,
With love and affection
Wear it in peace always
___ will you take this ring and place it upon _____’s finger, and as you do, repeat to him, after me, these words:
I give you this ring,
As I give you myself
With love and affection
Wear it in peace always
Officiant:
May we please have the rings (Designated person hands rings to Officiant-or Officiant can already be holding them)
May these rings be blessed with; Air for hopes and dreams; Fire for the spark of love; Water for harmony and healing; And Earth for strength.
The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. It is the symbol of peace. Let this ring be the symbol of unity and peace in which your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, return unto one another and to your togetherness
_____ will you take this ring and place it upon ___’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words:
I give you this ring.
As I give you myself,
With love and affection
Wear it in peace always
___ will you take this ring and place it upon _____’s finger, and as you do, repeat to him, after me, these words:
I give you this ring,
As I give you myself
With love and affection
Wear it in peace always
Handfasting:
Officiant:
I now ask you now to cross your hands over each other and take one another's hands.
Officiant wraps the cord around the bride and grooms’ wrists, binding them together loosely and tying a knot.
Today, we ask that the infinite light of the divine shine upon this union.
In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine.
It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North.
It is in this tradition that I offer this blessing upon your marriage
Blessed be this marriage with the gifts from the east -- new beginnings that come each day with the rising sun, communication of the heart, mind, body and soul.
Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the south -- the light of the heart, the heat of passion, and the warmth of a loving home.
Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the west -- the rushing excitement of a raging river, the soft and pure cleansing of a rainstorm, and a commitment as deep as the ocean itself.
Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the north -- a solid foundation on which to build your lives, abundance and growth of your home, and the stability to be found by holding one another at the end of the day.
_____ and ___ these four simple blessings will help you on your journey that begins today. However, they are only tools. They are tools which you must use together to create the light, the strength, the infinite energy now and forever of a love you both so richly deserve.
Just as your hands are bound together so now are your lives and spirits joined in a union of love and trust.
Above you are the stars and below you is the earth.
Like the earth should your love be a firm foundation from which to grow stronger through the seasons.
Like a star should your love be a constant source of light.
Like a flame should your union be warm and glowing with love in your hearts.
Like the wind may you sail through life safe and calm.
Like water should your relationship remain clean and soothing, that it may never thirst for love.
May your lives blend together in harmony and joy and may your days be good and long upon the earth.
By the Winds that bring change, by the Fire of love, by the Seas of fortune and the strength of the Earth do I bless this union.
Officiant:
I now ask you now to cross your hands over each other and take one another's hands.
Officiant wraps the cord around the bride and grooms’ wrists, binding them together loosely and tying a knot.
Today, we ask that the infinite light of the divine shine upon this union.
In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine.
It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North.
It is in this tradition that I offer this blessing upon your marriage
Blessed be this marriage with the gifts from the east -- new beginnings that come each day with the rising sun, communication of the heart, mind, body and soul.
Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the south -- the light of the heart, the heat of passion, and the warmth of a loving home.
Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the west -- the rushing excitement of a raging river, the soft and pure cleansing of a rainstorm, and a commitment as deep as the ocean itself.
Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the north -- a solid foundation on which to build your lives, abundance and growth of your home, and the stability to be found by holding one another at the end of the day.
_____ and ___ these four simple blessings will help you on your journey that begins today. However, they are only tools. They are tools which you must use together to create the light, the strength, the infinite energy now and forever of a love you both so richly deserve.
Just as your hands are bound together so now are your lives and spirits joined in a union of love and trust.
Above you are the stars and below you is the earth.
Like the earth should your love be a firm foundation from which to grow stronger through the seasons.
Like a star should your love be a constant source of light.
Like a flame should your union be warm and glowing with love in your hearts.
Like the wind may you sail through life safe and calm.
Like water should your relationship remain clean and soothing, that it may never thirst for love.
May your lives blend together in harmony and joy and may your days be good and long upon the earth.
By the Winds that bring change, by the Fire of love, by the Seas of fortune and the strength of the Earth do I bless this union.
Officiant will remove the cord while saying:
_____ and ___ this cord symbolizes so much. It is your life, your love, and the eternal connection that the two of you have found with one another. Yet the knots of this binding are not formed by these chords- but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union.
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
Your two hearts now beating as one, your two souls now deeply joined anew - walk forward together, forever hand in hand. Now that the rituals are complete, you have made your promises, and exchanged your rings. By the power vested in me as an Officiant and the laws of this state, I now pronounce you husband and wife!
You may kiss the Bride!
_____ and ___ this cord symbolizes so much. It is your life, your love, and the eternal connection that the two of you have found with one another. Yet the knots of this binding are not formed by these chords- but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union.
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
Your two hearts now beating as one, your two souls now deeply joined anew - walk forward together, forever hand in hand. Now that the rituals are complete, you have made your promises, and exchanged your rings. By the power vested in me as an Officiant and the laws of this state, I now pronounce you husband and wife!
You may kiss the Bride!
