Couple Conducted Handfasting Ceremony
The altar and entire Circle area should be wildly decorated with an abundance of flowers everywhere.Normally the couple would have obtained small gifts for each other, but charged with symbolism and meaning. The priestess and priest would each light white candles. Those present would enter the area and the Circle is cast as usual. The priest would begin.
- GROOM:
- May the place of this rite
- Be consecrated before the gods.
- For we gather here in a ritual of love
- With us two who would be wed.
- For a year and one day, till the next Lammas arrives.
- (NAME) and (NAME) stand before the
- Eternal Gods and Goddesses of Nature.
- BRIDE:
- Be with us here,
- O beings of the Air
- And with your Clever Fingers
- Tie closely the bonds between us two who would be bound.
Light incense of love, such as rose or jasmine.
- GROOM:
- Be with us here,
- O beings of the Fire
- Give our love and passion
- Your all consuming ardor
Light a red candle.
- BRIDE:
- Be with us here
- O beings of the Water
- Give to us two who desire it the deepest of love
- And depth of body, soul and spirit
Drink water, wine, or juice from a goblet.
- BRIDE:
- Be with us here
- O beings of the Earth
- Lend your strength and constancy
- To us for as long as we desire to be together
Scatter salt, or actual earth.
- BOTH:
- Blessed Goddess and Laughing God
- We invoke Thee!
- Give to us Your Unconditional Love
- And Your Ever Vigilant Protection!
The GROOM would place their rings upon a wand of willow. He holds it in his right hand with his hands over the rings. The BRIDE places her left hand over his.
- GROOM:
- Above us the stars
- Below us the stones
- As Time doth pass remember...
- Like a star above should our love be constant
- Like a stone below should our love be strong
- Remember to weather the threatening storms
- They pass ever quickly and wash away wrong
- Make love ever often as we both so desire
- The world may grow cold but can freeze not our Fire
- Be us close although separate
- Tho ever together
- Each possessing the other thru Will not thru Law
- Strengthen each other the length of our union
- The God and the Goddess are with us Always.
The BRIDE waits 5 hearbeats.
BRIDE: It is my wish to become one with (GROOM's NAME) .
GROOM: it is my wish to become one with (BRIDE's NAME) .
- GROOM and BRIDE together:
- Then As Above So Below
- As the God and Goddess are One
- And the Old Ones witness this rite
- We now proclaimed Husband and Wife!
BRIDE and GROOM kiss and exchange their gifts.