Like many other people, we put our handfasting ceremony together from a combination of traditional Medieval scottish resources and cermonies we found on the net. Thanks to those people who unknowingly donated parts of this ceremony. We felt it only fair to post ours back up here for others to do the same.
<singing begins. guests form a circle under the tree. couple walk in from different directions and are let into the circle, which closes again behind them. singing stops.>
Bard: Blessed be and well come to this place. Be free from care and healed of harm while you sojourn here. Well come all, and thrice blessed this place and time that sees two travelers find a common road. East, South, West, North, Above, Below, Past & Future - they form the sphere of the Universe. We are, each one of us, at the center of that sphere. When two people marry, they meet at that center, and both are changed.
Today we gather to join two friends who have chosen to spend their lives together and show us here that love is still able to conquer all obstacles.
Would Rosanne and David please come forward?
Do you come freely, of your own love and will?
Us: We do.
Bard: Why have you gathered us here today?
David: To witness our declarations of love.
Rosanne: to share our handfasting.
Bard: Are there any doubts in your minds?
Us: [our answer]
Bard: You have been together for a year since declaring your wish to be handfasted. Can either of you or any here give just cause why this union should be put aside? Speak now, or forever hold your peace.
Us: [our answer]
Bard: Above you is the sky, below you the earth.
Like the sky, let your love be free, and full of movement and change.
Like the earth, let your love be solid, firm and nourishing.
You may now speak your vows to each other.
Us: [our vows]
Rosanne: <roie rants about how much she loves day-boy>
By seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, by love and life, in the name of all I believe, I Rosanne take thee David, to my hand, my heart and my spirit, to desire thee and be desired by thee, at the setting of the sun and the rising of the stars. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people and thy ways as I respect myself. So mote it be.
This ring is a token of my promise to be your companion, friend and lover. I offer it to you as I offer you this vow: I will be honest and open with you always; I will strive for your well-being and happiness. Whatever life presents to you, it presents to me also.
David: <day rants about how much he loves ro-girl>
By seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, by love and life, in the name of all I believe, I David take thee Rosanne, to my hand, my heart and my spirit, to desire thee and be desired by thee, at the setting of the sun and the rising of the stars. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people and thy ways as I respect myself. So mote it be.
This ring is a token of my promise to be your companion, friend and lover. I offer it to you as I offer you this vow: I will be honest and open with you always; I will strive for your well-being and happiness. Whatever life presents to you, it presents to me also.
Bard: Do you accept each others' vows?
Us: [our answer]
Bard: Who do you choose to stand by you?
Us: [Go round the circle and choose witnesses.]
Bard: Bring forward the ties.
[People holding ties step forward and hand Bard the ties. Partners join hands right to right and left to left. Bond is tied in a figure eight around the wrists]
Bard: Now we will see how strong the bond is. Would the witnesses test the strength of these knots and those that they bind?
[witnesses do so]
Bard: It seems your bond is true.
[to witnesses] You have proved the bond between the couple is true. I charge you with honouring their pledge to each other.
[to guests] At sundown tomorrow, it will be the close of Beltane and a year and a day since these two were betrothed. When they light the Beltane fire together tomorrow, they commence their lives together. You have witnessed this binding and seen it is true. Let no person come between them. Let no person cause them pain or give them reason to doubt the other.
<pours wine into chalice and hands chalice to couple to drink>
<rosanne and david drink together from chalice and then pass the cup around the circle>
I charge all here gathered to honour their union and protect their pledge. Blessed be.
Please join us in celebrating this spring festival and this joining.
<singing begins again. everyone drinks and feasts>
Click here for photos of the handfasting and the party afterwards
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