The Celebration and Blessing of a Handfasting
The Circle is cast, the Quarters are called, the Goddess and the God
are invoked, all appropriate to the traditions of the couple to be handfasted.
Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of
the Goddess and the God to witness and bless the handfasting
of this woman and this man. The bond and covenant of
marriage
is a sacred and ancient rite.
The union of wife and
husband in heart, body, and mind is
intended for their mutual
joy; for the help and comfort
given one another in
prosperity and adversity; and,
perhaps, for the procreation of. Therefore marriage is
not to be entered into
unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently,
deliberately, and in
accordance with the purposes for which it
has been instituted.
Into this holy union N.N. and N.N. now come to
be joined.
If any of you can show just cause why they may not
lawfully be
married, speak now; or else for ever hold your
peace.
Then the Celebrants say to the persons to be married
We require and charge you both, here in the
presence of the Goddess
and the God, that if either of you know any reason why
you may not
be handfasted in marriage lawfully, you do now confess it.
The
Declaration of Consent
The Celebrants say to the woman
N., will you have this man to be your husband; to
live
together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him,
comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in
health;
and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as
long as you
both shall live?
The Woman answers
I will.
The Celebrants say to the man
N., will you have this woman to be your wife; to
live
together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her,
comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and
in health;
and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as
long as you
both shall live?
The Man answers
I will.
The Celebrants then addresses the community, saying
Will all of you witnessing these promises do all
in your
power to uphold these two persons in their
marriage?
People We will.
If there is to be a presentation or a giving in marriage, it takes
place at this time.
Music or readings may go here.
The Celebrants then say to the community:
O gracious Goddess and God, Look happily upon this
man
and this woman who come to you seeking your blessing, and assist
them with your grace, that with true fidelity and
steadfast love
they may honor and keep the promises and vows they
make.
A homily or other response to the Readings may follow
Sometimes the celebrants might excerpt passages from love letters written by the
couple..
The
Marriage
The Man, facing the woman and taking her right hand in his, says
In the Name of the Goddess and the God, I, N., take you, N.,
to be my wife, 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, until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow.
Then they loose their hands, and the Woman, still facing the man,
takes his right hand
in hers, and says
In the Name of the Goddess and the God, I, N., take you, N.,
to be my husband, 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, until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow.
The loose their hands.
The Priest might bless the ring or rings as follows
Bless, O Lady and Lord, this ring to be a sign of
the vows by which
this man and this woman have bound themselves to
each
other.
The giver places the ring on the ring‑finger of the other's
hand and says
N., I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and
with all
that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.
Then the Celebrants join the right hands of husband and wife and says
Now that N.
and N. have given themselves to each
other by
solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the
giving and
receiving of a ring, by the power vested in me by
the State
of ________ and as ordained clergy within the __________
I pronounce
that they are husband and wife.
Those whom the Goddess and the God has joined
together
let no one put asunder.
People So mote in be.
The
Blessings
All standing, the Celebrants say
Eternal Goddess and God, creator and preserver of all life,
look with favor upon this world you have made, and
especially upon this man and this woman
whom you make one in this marriage.
Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of
their
common life, that each may be to the other a
strength in need, a
counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a
companion in joy.
So mote it be.
Grant that their wills may be so knit together in
your will,
and their spirits in your Spirit, that they may
grow in love
and peace with you and one another all the days of
their life.
So mote it be.
Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to
recognize and
acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other's
forgiveness
and yours.
So mote it be.
Bestow on them, the gift and
heritage of children, and the grace
to bring them up to know
you, to love you, and to serve you. So
mote it be.
Give them such fulfillment of their mutual
affection that they
may reach out in love and concern for others. So mote it be.
Grant that all married persons who have witnessed
these vows
may find their lives strengthened and their
loyalties
confirmed. So mote it be.
The Presentation
The Goddess and the God are thanked for their presence,
The Quarters are dismissed, and the Circle is opened.
Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again.