Hand fasting

karisheep544 · October 2010

I'm having a handfasting ceremony along with our vows, i'm looking for something simple, but I can only find midevil and pagan versions, any ideas out there?

ichellemay1 · October 2010

I researched these on the 'net - there are too many to count out there. You can modify the ones you find to fit what you would prefer to do.

ivyrose13 · October 2010

I'm in the process of writing my own handfasting ceremony, and I started with this site

http://www.handfasting.info/scripts.html

it's pagan, but you can adapt it to your own needs. I started there, wrote my own vows, and added a unity candle.

jvburrell · November 2010

We're reading this at our ceremony while holding hands. Maybe it's something you can use?

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 alongside 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 fills your mind.

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 help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

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.

sherrirlay · November 2010

I have never heard of Hand fasting before today but after reading the poems, it's definately something I want in my wedding.
Thanks girls!

bpphoto785 · December 2010

I had the same problem! I didn't want anything pagan or Celtic. After a lot of research I found this reading which I really like:

"As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. Woven into this cord, into its very fibers, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for your new life together. With the entwining 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. By this cord you are thus bound to your vow. May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last.
May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths.
Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad, and watch as your strength grows. Remember that it is not this physical cord, but what it represents, that keeps you together."

jadedmaggi · February 2011

I have one you may be interested in. We plan to use it ourselves and it is simply lovely. It is neither pagan nor christian but can be edited very eaisly to go either way. It has already been edited for our wedding, but all we did was add our names, you may edit it for your own personal beliefs but this is the most comonly used Celtic version of the handfasting ceremony we found and it took us several months to find it. When we did it jumped out at us. Some ppl perfer to take the cardinal directions out of it and some (Christian followers) use the cardinial blessings, but change it from the cardinal directions to the names of saints who represent the same ideals...

>>>>>>>>

Handfasting Vows

*Official* Jeremy Logan Davis and Sally Margaret Marie Smith ; Know now, before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life you have formed ties to one another. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real, the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage. With full awareness, know that within this small circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before the people you are closest to, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers.

The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each of your soul's growth.

Do you still seek to enter this ceremony? Yes, we seek to enter.* Who willfully and lovingly presents this man to be bound in marriage to this woman? Maid of honor*I do* Who willfully and lovingly presents this woman to be bound in marriage to this man? Best Man*I do* 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 a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

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 lighten 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; A 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 from the four cardinal directions 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.

I bid you look into each other’s eyes.

Jeremy, Will you cause her pain?
I May*
Is that your intent?
It is not*

Sally, Will you cause him pain?
I may*
Is that your intent?
It is not* *To Both*
Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?
We will* And so the first binding is made. Join your hands
~First cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands by maid of honor~

Sally, Will you share his laughter?
I will*                                                                                                                                                    Jeremy, Will you share her laughter?
I will*                                                                                                                                                                     *To Both*
Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?
We will*                                                                                                                                                        And so the second binding is made.
~Second cord is draped across the couples hands by the best man~

Jeremy, Will you burden her?
I may*
Is that your intent?
It is not*                                                                                                                                                     Sally, Will you burden him?
I may*
Is that your intent?
It is not*                                                                                                                                                     *To Both*
Will you share the burdens of each other so that your spirits may grow in this union?
We will*                                                                                                                                                             And so the third binding is made.
~Maid of honor will drape third cord across the couples, hands~

Sally, will you share his dreams?
I will*

Jeremy, will you share her dreams?
I will* *To Both*
Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?
We will* And so the fourth binding is made.
~Best man, drape fourth cord across the couples hands~

Jeremy, will you cause her anger?
I may*
Is that your intent?
It is not*

Sally, will you cause him anger?
I may*
Is that your intent?
It is not* *To Both*
Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?
We will.

And so the fifth binding is made.
~Maid of honor, drape fifth cord across the couples hands~

Sally, Will you honor him, trust in him, respect him and love only him for all time?
I will*

Jeremy, Will you honor her, trust in her, respect her and love only her for all time?
I will* *To Both*
Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor, trust, respect and love?
We will* And so the sixth and final binding is made.
~Best man, drape sixth cord across the couples hands~

*The best man and maid of honor will now tie the six cords together as the official recites the following:
“The knots of this binding are not formed by these cords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the cords, for as always; you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union. You are now man and wife, bound together for all time in honor, trust, respect and love, Jeremy, kiss your bride.”

*Remove cords, best man will tie three around the bride’s waist, maid of honor will tie three around the groom’s waist.

Upon entering your marital home, drape the three from the groom’s waist over the front door to always protect the home, the other three from the bride’s waist over the bedroom door to ensure fertility*

Hand fasting

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