Hand-Fasting

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This ceremony may be unfamiliar to you. The early Celtic, Scots and Welsh marriage ritual of hand-fasting is the traditional ceremony from whence comes the expression “tying the knot”. Although this ceremony pre-dates Christianity by many centuries the early Catholic Church in Europe adopted it as their own. The origins of Hand-fasting are thousands of years old, but it is still practiced in many places throughout Europe today.There are many variations of this ceremony in use, some with single chords or clan tartans, others more elaborate using many chords. This is a particularly elaborate, beautiful and historically accurate "six-chorded" hand-fasting ceremony.

Welcome and Introduction: It is my great pleasure to welcome each of you here to witness the joining together of Name and Name. We have come here today to celebrate love. For that which is truly eternal is found in the binding of life and love. It is more than just flesh to flesh, it is mind to mind, feeling to feeling, soul to soul, the ordinary and the spiritual, bound together willingly as one. It is such a marriage we celebrate here today.

Optional 'Giving away' of the bride:
From the protection of love, to the protection of love, this woman is given today. Who brings her to this moment?
Father of the Bride: "I do" or “Her mother and I do.”
Your task is well done, Thank you – please be seated.

The marriage we celebrate today has already taken place in the hearts and minds of Name and Name. We are here today as witnesses to their vows so that we may be a constant reminder to them of their promises. In the years to come we are all bound to these vows, as supporters of their relationship and defenders of their love.

Name and Name, every experience you have ever had, everything you have ever done, everything you have ever learned, has brought you to this moment. From this moment new experiences as a married couple lie before you. New opportunities to grow deeper in love with each other. New days given to strengthen the bond between you. From this moment everything is made new by the vows you speak here.

Readings - it is usual to have one or two readings read here, please feel free to choose from the suggestions attached, or to use ones special to you. It is usual to have family or friends read these, but the officiate will be happy to read them for you if you wish.

Handfasting.
Know now that since your lives have crossed, you have formed ties between each other. The promises you make today and the ties that are bound here will cross the years and will greatly strengthen your union. With full awareness, know that you declare your intent to be hand-fasted before your friends and family. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?
Name and Name: “Yes, we seek to enter.”
I bid you look into each others eyes......

Name, will you honor her/him?     I will.
Name, will you honor her/him?     I will.
[To Both] Will you seek never to give cause to break that honor?      yes.
And so the binding is made. Join your hands.
(The first chord is draped across their hands.)

Name, will you share her/his dreams?    I will .
Name, will you share her/his dreams?    I will .
[To Both] Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?          Yes.
And so the binding is made.
(The second chord is draped across their hands.)

Name, will you share her/his laughter? I will .
Name, will you share her/his laughter? I will .
[To Both] Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? Yes.
And so the binding is made.
(The third chord is draped across their hands.)

Name, might you ever burden her/him? I might...
Is that your intent? No.
Name, might you ever burden her/him? I might...
Is that your intent? No
[To Both] Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union? Yes.
And so the binding is made.
(The fourth chord is draped across their hands.)

Name, might you ever cause her/him pain?       I might...
Is that your intent?   No.
Name, might you ever cause her/him pain?       I might...
Is that your intent?   No.
[To Both] Will you share each others pain and seek to ease it?         Yes.
And so the binding is made.
(The fifth chord is draped across their hands.)

Name, might you ever cause her/him anger?    I might...
Is that your intent?   No.
Name, might you ever cause her/him anger?    I might...
Is that your intent? No.
[To Both] Will you together take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?            Yes.
And so the binding is made.
(The sixth chord is draped across their hands.)

The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords, but rather by your vows. For as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union.

(Once the chords are knotted they are removed and handed to a family member or friend for safe keeping)

Blessing - Choose a prayer or blessing from the suggested list, or feel free to choose one of your own.This can be read by the officiate or a family member. You may prefer to use this time to have a special song sung, or simply move directly into the exchange of rings.

Exchange of Rings.
I remind you that marriage is a precious gift; a lifelong dedication to love and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely. It is traditional to offer each other a token, a personal daily reminder of the vows that you have made here. Do you offer each other such tokens here today?

Name and Name: Yes.
(the rings are brought forward and handed to the officiate.).

Partner 1: Takes the ring and places it on partners finger whilst repeating the following:
With this ring I thee wed; 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, till death do us part; in the presence of these witnesses I so vow.

Partner 2: Takes the ring and places it on partners finger whilst repeating the following:
With this ring I thee wed; 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, till death do us part; in the presence of these witnesses I so vow.

Blessing - Choose a prayer or blessing from the suggested list, or feel free to choose one of your own.This can be read by the officiate or a family member.

Presentation of the couple.
Forasmuch as you, Name, and you, Name, have openly declared vows of marriage; and in the presence of these witnesses, family, and friends, have pledged love to each other; and have confirmed the same by the joining of hands, exchange of rings, and declaration of vows; By the authority vested in me, and in the presence of these witnesses, I now pronounce you one in marriage (Or husband and wife). You may kiss.(The bride)

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you as husband and wife: Mr. and Mrs. Name and Name. (or, if preferred - Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you as married before all and in the face of God,. Name and Name.)