Handfasting Ceremony
Reading from”The Prophet”
” Love one another, but make not a bond of that love. Let it rather be like a moving sea between the shores of your souls. And stand together, and yet not too near together. For even the pillars of the temple must stand apart; and the oak tree and the cypress will not grow in each other’s shadow. Remember that love gives nothing but from itself. Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love. And think not that you can direct the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, will direct your course.”
Bride and Groom have chosen to express their love through very ancient traditions practiced by lovers of centuries past. Many such traditions originate out of ancient Celtic and Scandinavian cultures and were later adopted by peoples of other faiths. Handfasting is one of those.
Handfasting is literally “Tying the knot.” In this ceremony cords of four colors will be used, Yellow, Red, Blue and Green.
Yellow symbolizes friendship and communication which are crucial to any successful joining between a man and woman.
Red symbolizes the passion Bride and Groom feel for each other and warmth they will share through the future years.
Blue symbolizes fidelity, trust, compassion and the ability to adapt to the changes that will doubtless occur during their life together.
Green symbolizes the prosperity, growth and happiness we all wish for them.
Just as you often see the presence of those four colors in a rainbow joining heaven and earth so too may you see these qualities in the life of a marriage.
I ask you now join your left hands. The hands that are nearest to your hearts. The hands on which you wear your wedding rings.
The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.
Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?
Yes, we seek to enter.
I bid you look into each others eyes.
Will you communicate openly and honestly with each other?
We will.
Will you share the laughter and the tears, the pleasure and the pain, the joy and heartache that comes from married life?
We will. [The Yellow cord is draped over the couples' hands]
And so the binding is made.
When anger and hurt occur in your marriage, will you take the passion of anger and use it to heal the hurt and temper the strength of this union ? We will.
Will you seek to make your home a haven, to share the warmth of your hearth and your hearts with each other, family and friends?
We will. [The Red cord is draped over the couples' hands]
And so the binding is made.
Will you honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?
We will.
Will you trust in the changes that occur in your relationship and use those changes to build a stronger bond?
We will. [The Blue cord is draped over the couples' hands]
And so the binding is made.
Will you share your dreams one with another and dream together to create new realities and hopes?
We will.
We will.
Will you build a foundation for your marriage that is grounded in love, seeing to one another’s needs and happiness and work to grow your relationship in that love for as long as you shall remain on this Earth?
We will. [The Green cord is draped over the couples' hands]
And so the binding is made.
Bride & Groom, as your hands are bound together now,
so your lives and spirits are 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.
As your hands are removed a knot will be formed reminding you always of the words spoken here today. This represents the bond you have made.
(Once cords are tied together they are removed and placed on table.)
Groom, Bride these cords symbolize so much. It is your life, your love, and the eternal connection that the two of you have found with one another. The ties of this handfasting are not formed by these cords, or even by the knot connecting them. They are formed instead by your vows, by your pledge, your souls, and your two hearts, now bound together as one.
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, each direction representing a Essential Element ; East for Wind, South for Fire, West for Water and North for Earth. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.
Great Spirit, I ask you to bless this couple, their love, and their marriage as long as they shall live in love together.
Bless them with communication, intellectual growth, and wisdom.
Bless them with harmony, vitality, creativity, and passion.
Bless them with friendship, intuition, caring, understanding, and love.
Bless them with tenderness, happiness, compassion, and sensuality.
May they be forever as one in the passion and fire of their union.
Leave now as husband and wife
You may edit wording, change colors, whatever moves you. Add a special poem or prayer if you like.Couples can craft the cords instruction found on Google. Be sure officiant has whatever version you select.
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Another version couples like is shorter without cords.
Alternate Short Ceremony About Hands
I asked you to join hands as a symbol of the union that you are making here today.
I’d like you to think about the hands that you are holding.
These are the hands of your best friend
Holding your hands on your wedding day
Promising to love you and to work together as you build your future together.
These are the hands that will give you Strength when you need strength
Tenderness when you need tenderness
And love when you need love.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes
Tears of sorrow
But also tears of joy.
These are the hands that will hold all those whom you love.
These are the hands that years from now will still be searching for your hands,
Still seeking the love, encouragement and support that each of you seeks from the other.
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Hands of Best Friend Ceremony Sample
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.
These are the hands that will work along side yours as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes your way.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
