Sample Ceremony - Handfasting

Convocation #5
It is indeed wonderful that two best friends, _____
____ & _________, have come together this day,
before their friends and family to declare their love
and friendship and sanctify their relationship with
marriage.

Marriage is the union of two divinities…
It is the union of two souls, attracted to each other
by a strong love and a need to abolish the illusion
that they are separate. It is the higher unity, which
is eternally whole and complete, which fuses the
separate energies within two spirits. It is the golden
ring in a chain whose beginning is a simple glance
and whose ending is eternity. Let us pray.

Invocation #2
All knowing Spirit, in whose presence all human
spirits bend to their becoming, we invite you to join
us in this ceremony binding the lives and destinies of
_________ & _________. As they speak and we
hear the words that will forever join them, allow the
intentions being uttered in their hallowed conversation
to stand true in time and run deep as a singing
river through the landscape of their lives.

Expression of Intent #4
_________, do you now choose _________ to be
your life companion, to share your life openly with
him, to speak truthfully and lovingly to him, to accept
him fully as he is and delight in who he is becoming, to
respect his uniqueness and compassionately encourage
and support him through all the changes of your years
together? I do.

_________, do you now choose _________ to be
your life companion, to share your life openly with her,
to speak truthfully and lovingly to her, to accept her
fully as she is and delight in who she is becoming, to
respect her uniqueness and compassionately encourage
and support her through all the changes of your years
together? I do.

Having expressed your intentions, may the light of love,
respect and understanding shine eternally for you.

Candle Lighting Ceremony
The mothers of the bride and groom, each have a
candle which represents the light and life that was
brought forth in the world when their children
_________&_________ were born. They will
now light the bride and groom’s candles from their
candles which symbolized the life given to the child
by the mother.

_________&_________ will combine their flames
to light one candle as a combined expression of
their individual Spirits. As they light the one candle
together, see it as a representation of their union
which each other and with the world. As each candle
may light another without diminishing its own light,
so may two join together without diminishing each
other. Marriage is a partnership where each may give
of themselves without losing that which makes each
one unique.

Address #5
Marriage creates the security for two people to
fully open themselves to each other. Within the
safety of this commitment comes the opportunity
to accept another person as a complete being who
experiences both hopes and fears, satisfaction and
suffering. Marriage provides a relationship in which
you can have and be a lover, an ally and a partner.
And it is only through this commitment that you
can discover true intimacy – in which hidden and
protected parts of yourselves are permitted to
come forth, find acceptance and help you become
whole. The strength this brings enables each of you
to open more readily to the world, beginning and
unending cycle of giving and receiving.

Consecration #2
May the promises you make to one another be lived
out to the end of your lives in an atmosphere of
profound joy.

Now we stand at the center of life where all things
meet their opposites. Male and female, darkness and
light, Spirit and matter, that which makes each thing
whole and complete.

Celtic Handfastings
Facing each other, the bride and groom join hands as the
officiant binds their wrists with a ribbon.

Now as I tied this true lovers knot, you two are joined
as one. Gentle are the bonds of this union, pull one way
and the bonds are strengthened, pull the other and they
are loosened. Now you may speak your vows.

Vows #2
From this day forward I choose you, _________, to
be my (wife/husband).
to live with your and laugh with you;
to stand by your side and sleep in your arms;
to be joy to your heart and food to your soul;
to bring out in the best in you always;
and, for you, to be the most that I can.
To laugh with you in good times;
to struggle with you in the bad times;
to solace you when you are down hearted;
to wipe your tears with my hands;
to comfort you with my body;
to mirror your with my soul;
to share with you all my riches and honors;
all the days of our lives.
Through this rite, within this circle, you two have
been joined in spirit. Keep this knot as a token of your
spiritual bonds, and as a visible symbol of this bonds,
you shall wear these rings.

Ring Blessing #6
Rings are an ancient symbol, blessed and simple.
Round like the sun, like the eye, like arms that embrace.
Circles for love that is given comes back around
again and again. Therefore, may these symbols remind
you that your love, like the sun illumines; that your
love, like the eye, must see clearly; and that your love,
like arms that embrace, is a grace upon this world.

Ring Exchange
With this ring, I celebrate and proclaim my love for you.

Pronouncement #2
In giving thanks we acknowledge and welcome this
happy moment. Let everyone here now offer in his or
her own way, a silent prayer of thanksgiving in honor
of _________&_________’s commitment to each
other this day. The circle is completed, as we have
offered our thanks back to the One from whom all
blessings flow. Therefore, by the power vested in me
by the State of Utah, I now pronounce you husband
and wife. May all that is noble and beautiful be with
you both always.

Benediction #7
“Apache Song”
Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be a shelter to the other,
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth to the other,
Now there is no loneliness for you,
for now each of you will be a companion to the other,
Now you are two bodies,
but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place
to enter into your days together.
And may your days be good
and long on this earth.

The Kiss
You may now Kiss

Presentation of Newlyweds
Friends and Family I present to you _________ &
_________ (last name).