Hand Fasting Ceremony
A hand fasting wedding ceremony involves the tying of hands together with a cord, ceremonial cloth, or colorful ribbons, to symbolize the coming together and remaining together. It can be used as a declaration of intent.
Here is a sample hand fasting ceremony:
Officiant: (Bride's Name) and (Groom's Name) have chosen to include the tradition of hand-fasting into their wedding ceremony today. Hand-fasting is a wedding ritual in which the couples' hands are tied together as a symbol of their lives being joined together.
(Bride's Name) and (Groom's Name), marriage forms eternal and sacred bonds. The promises made today bind your lives together. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?
Bride and Groom: "Yes."
Officiant: (Bride's Name) and (Groom's Name), please hold hands and look into each other's eyes. (Bride’s left hand holds Groom’s right hand)
Officiant: Will you honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?
Bride and Groom: "We will."
Officiant wraps the cord once, loosely, over the couples' hands.
Officiant: Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?
Bride and Groom: "We will."
Officiant wraps cord again over the hands.
Officiant: Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?
Bride and Groom: "We will."
Officiant wraps cord again over the hands.
Officiant: Will you share each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?
Bride and Groom: "We will."
Officiant wraps cord again over the hands, then ties together.
Officiant: (Bride's Name) and (Groom's Name), as your hands are now bound together, so your lives are joined in a union of love and trust. The knots of this binding symbolize the vows you have made. Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.
May this knot of love remain forever tied, and may these hands be blessed. May they always be held by one another. May they have the strength to hold on tightly during the storms of life. May they remain tender and gentle as they nurture each other. May these hands build a relationship of love, caring, and devotion. May (Bride's Name) and (Groom's Name) see each other's hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.
(Officiant unties cord)