This was our personal Handfast Ceremony. Feel free to use it as your own or change it as you like.
Handfast Ceremony
“Friends, family, loved ones. We are here today to see two people, [Bride] and [Groom], join hands and be bound together by their love, now and forever.
Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Groom and Bride have come here today to be joined as one in marriage.”
[To the Bride.]
“[Bride], have you come here of your own free will and accord, without coercion or false pretense? “
[Bride]: “I have.”
[To the Groom.]
“[Groom], have you come here of your own free will and accord, without coercion or false pretense? “
[Groom]: “I have.”
“Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body. Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. Warmth of hearth and home. The heat of the heart’s passion. The light created by both to illuminate the darkest of times.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake; the swift excitement of the river. The refreshing cleansing of the rain. The all encompassing passion of the sea.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North. Firm foundation on which to build. Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives. A stable home to which you may always return.
Each of these blessings emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet they are only tools. Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union.”
[To the Groom.]
“Do you, [Groom], take [Bride] to be your wife, To be her constant friend, her partner in life, and her true love? To love her without reservation, honor and respect her, protect her from harm, comfort her in times of distress, and to grow with her in mind and spirit?”
[Groom]: “Yes, I do.”
[To the Bride.]
“Do you, [Bride], take [Groom] to be your husband, To be his constant friend, his partner in life, and his true love? To love him without reservation, honor and respect him, protect him from harm, comfort him in times of distress, and to grow with him in mind and spirit?”
Asher: “Yes, I do. “
[Ring Bearer Comes forward with rings.]
“These rings, a token of your love for one another, serve as a reminder that all in life is a cycle; all comes to pass and passes away and comes to pass again. “
[Exchange Rings]
“The Circle is a perfect figure, without beginning, without end, with no area of weakness. It is a symbol of the Cycle of Life, of birth, death, and rebirth. This shall serve as a physical reminder of your vow, and that all things begin and end and begin again. These rings shall serve to remind you that life goes on, that these moments pass. When you are engulfed in anger or in sadness, look to your hand, and remember that the Wheel turns forever onward, and it is love that turns the Wheel.
By the exchange of these tokens of your love for one another, so are your lives interlaced. What one experiences, so shall the other; as honesty and love build, so will your bond strengthen and grow.”
“Please hold each others hand.“
[Prepare to place the cords over the clasped hands.]
“Will you promise to begin your new life together with thoughtfulness and communication?”
Both Answer: “ We will.”
“The first binding is thus made with yellow, symbolic of Air, that your love may always feel as new as a spring breeze and as promising as the scent of blooming flowers.” [The yellow cord is draped over the couple’s hands.]
“Will you strive to keep your romance alive through daily actions and words of affection? “
Both: “We will. “
“The second binding is thus made with red, symbolic of Fire, that your love may be bright and passionate.” [The red cord is draped over the couple’s hands.]
“Will you each seek to ease the others pain and suffering, sharing laughter and joy?”
Both Answer: “We will.”
“The third binding is thus made with blue, symbolic of Water, that your love may flow pure and fill you to your depths.” [The blue cord is draped over the couple’s hands.]
“Will you share yourselves freely and generously with each other, providing support for each other?”
Both: “We will.”
“The fourth binding is thus made with green, symbolic of Earth, that your love may be wise and nurturing, and your happiness abundant”. [The green cord is draped over the couple’s hands.]
“Will you both help each other to grow in spirit and wisdom? “
Both: “We will.”
“The fifth binding is thus made with purple, symbolic of Spirit, that your love may be as limitless as time, and filled with dreams come true.” [The purple cord is draped over the couple’s hands.]
[All five cords are tied together around the couple’s hands.]
“Woven into these cords, imbued into their very fibers, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for your new life together. With the fashioning of this knot do I tie all the desires, dreams, love, and happiness wished here in this place to your lives for as long as love shall last. In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another.”
“As the Air you breathe brings you life, may you always speak truthfully to one another. For truly does each falsehood act as a little death. As the Fire of love burns within you, may you always find a spark even in your anger. For without Love, we are but weak shadows upon the stones. As the Waters of life flow within your bodies, may your personal tides move in unison, and your emotions flow. For Water contains life, sustains life, and without it we are but dry husks. As the Earth grounds and steadies you, may you always remain strong for one another. For strength adds to strength and builds upon itself.
All this do I charge you, for as long as Love shall last.”
“Through the powers of Love between yourselves and this company, and the blessing of the Lord and Lady, do I now pronounce you Handfast! Blessed Be! “
[Bride and Groom kiss and then turn to toward the guests!]
