Hand Fastening

A hand fastening wedding ceremony involves the tying of hands together with a cord, ceremonial cloth, or colourful 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 honour 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)

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Hand Ceremony

-Bride-, please face -Groom-and hold his hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.These are the hands that will work along yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.These are the hands that you will place with expectant joy against your stomach until he too feels his child stir within you.These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.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 comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes, eyes that are completely filled with his overwhelming love and desire for you. -Groom-, please hold -Brides- hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young, and carefree that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when its time to let go.These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years for a lifetime of happiness.These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life.These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams.  Together as a team, everything you wish can be realized.Officiant:     God, bless these hands that you see before you this day.  May they always be held by one another.  Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment.  Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love.  Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring and devoted in reaching for your perfection.May -Bride- and -Groom- see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.  We ask this in your name. 
Shorter Hand Ceremony-Bride-, please face -Groom- and hold his hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.  These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.  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 comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief fills you.  These are the hands that will give you support and celebrate with you in your accomplishments.-Groom-, please hold -Bride- hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.  They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.  These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the year, for a lifetime of happiness.  These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to fulfill your dreams.  Together, as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.