Second Chances at Love
The following ceremony was done for a couple in which the bride had been previously married and had four children. She was walked down the aisle and "given away" by her children. The couple lit a Memorial Candle for the bride's brother.
(light Memorial Candle)
Rev Rachael: We light this candle in memory of Bride's Brother. Beloved brother and son. Taken from us so young, but forever in our hearts and in our minds.
(pause)
I invoke Thee; Venus, Gaia, and Rati. Goddesses of Love and Fertility. Be with us now.
I invoke Thee; Cernunnous, Amon, and Shiva. Gods of Love and Fertility. Be with us now.
Bridesmaid: I call upon the East. Breath of Life. And creatures of the Air. The Butterfly and the Crow. Be with us in this sacred rite.
Maid of Honor: I call upon the South. Passion and Creativity. And the creatures of the Flame. The Salamander and the Horse. Be with us in this sacred rite.
Groomsman: I call upon the West. Mystery and Emotion. And the creatures of the Water. the trout and the turtle. Be with us in this sacred rite.
Best Man: I call upon the North. Stability and Growth. And the creatures of the Earth. The bear and the wolf. Be with us in this sacred rite.
Rev. Rachael: The circle is cast. So mote it be.
I welcome you all in Love and Light to the handfasting of Groom and Bride.
Who brings this woman to be handfasted to this man.
Oldest Child: My siblings and I do. Groom, will you accept all of us, together, as a family and respect each of us as individuals?
Groom: I gladly accept this family and will respect you as long as long as you accept me.
Child 2: Do you promise that you will never come between us and mommy?
Groom: I promise I will not come between you if you will share her with me.
Child 3: Do you promise to be nice to her and never make her cry?
Groom: I promise to show your mommy all the kindness in the world, but I I accidentally make her cry, I promise to make it up to her immediately.
Child 4: Do you promise to be our friend?
Groom: I'll be your friend if you'll have me.
Rev Rachael: I charge all of you gathered here as witnesses to love and support Bride and Groom as they travel life's path together and as they build a family together.
Groom, do you come here of your own accord to be handfasted and heartjoined to Bride?
Groom: I do.
Rev. Rachael: Bride, do you come her of your own accord to be handfasted and heartjoined to Groom?
Bride: I do.
Rev Rachael: Please join your right hands.
(smudge couple)
Rev Rachael: Be blessed by the element of Air. Communication and Honesty.
Bride: I promise to be truthful with you.
Groom: I promise to listen to all your joys and sorrows.
(lay on yellow cord)
(light tapers and hand to Bride and Groom)
Rev Rachael: Be blessed by the element of Fire. Creativity, love, and passion.
Groom: I join with you my love, my passion, and creative powers.
Bride: I give you all these in return. Our Spirits are One.
(couple lights Unity candle)
(lay on red cord)
(raise glasses)
Rev Rachael: Be blessed by the element of Water. Emotion and understanding.
Bride: (pour all liquid in Groom's glass) I give you my friendship and understanding.
Groom: (pours back 1/2 liquid) This I also give to you that we may share in each other's trials and tribulations.
(couple drink)
(lay on blue cord)
(hold crystal up)
Rev Rachael: Be blessed be the element of Earth. Stability, solidity, and growth
(Bride and Groom hold crystal together)
Groom: I vow to be a rock of strength for you. To hold you up when your own strength fails you.
Bride: I vow to hold you in my arms and never let you fall so that we may grow together.
(lay on green cord)
Rev Rachael: Since Time began and the the first amoeba split into two, there has been the possibility of companionship. Since that time, there has been no greater event that the union of two companions. the joining of hearts, souls, bodies, and minds.
(tie cords)
It is this union and commitment, the age old joining in Nature's harmony; that binds Bride and Groom together today.
Together will they travel through the seasons of life, just as the Earth must.
Bride and Groom discovered each other in the spring of life. Blossoming in the discovery of each other.
Now they are in the summer of life as they commit themselves to each other wholly and without reservation.
In the fall of life, they will come to know each other completely, safe in the knowledge of the strength of their love.
But, as the seasons go, so must come the winter of life and the loss of one. I pray that through the sorrow, love's seed remains, to take you through into the next life, when spring shall come again.
May I have the rings?
These rings represent that cycle of life, the Wheel of the Year... eternity. All these must go round and round. they never end, just as the love of Groom and Bride.
Groom, do you commit yourself to love, honor, respect, and cherish Bride? To support and comfort her even unto the winter of your life?
Groom: I do. (place ring on Bride's finger)
Rev Rachael: Bride, do you commit yourself to love, honor, respect, and cherish Groom? To support and comfort him even unto the winter of your life?
Bride: I do. (place ring on Groom's finger)
Rev Rachael: May the love of the God and Goddess be forever in your hearts. We thank Thee, Great Mother and Father. Hail and Farewell.
May you always walk together, guided by the ancestors and spirits of the land. We thank Thee, loved ones and spirits. Hail and Farewell.
May the blessings of the Wind, the Fire, the Water, and the Earth be with you always. We thank Thee, Guardians. Hail and Farewell.
The circle is open, but may it remain unbroken in our hearts. May what has been said and done here, be never undone.
(remove cords)
(Bridesmaids place broom behind Bride and Groom, they turn and jump)
By the power vested in me by the Lord and Lady I pronounce that Groom and Bride are handfasted and heartjoined for as long as love shall last and by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
So mote it be.
You may kiss the bride.
It is my great pleasure to introduce to you, Mr and Mrs Groom.
(light Memorial Candle)
Rev Rachael: We light this candle in memory of Bride's Brother. Beloved brother and son. Taken from us so young, but forever in our hearts and in our minds.
(pause)
I invoke Thee; Venus, Gaia, and Rati. Goddesses of Love and Fertility. Be with us now.
I invoke Thee; Cernunnous, Amon, and Shiva. Gods of Love and Fertility. Be with us now.
Bridesmaid: I call upon the East. Breath of Life. And creatures of the Air. The Butterfly and the Crow. Be with us in this sacred rite.
Maid of Honor: I call upon the South. Passion and Creativity. And the creatures of the Flame. The Salamander and the Horse. Be with us in this sacred rite.
Groomsman: I call upon the West. Mystery and Emotion. And the creatures of the Water. the trout and the turtle. Be with us in this sacred rite.
Best Man: I call upon the North. Stability and Growth. And the creatures of the Earth. The bear and the wolf. Be with us in this sacred rite.
Rev. Rachael: The circle is cast. So mote it be.
I welcome you all in Love and Light to the handfasting of Groom and Bride.
Who brings this woman to be handfasted to this man.
Oldest Child: My siblings and I do. Groom, will you accept all of us, together, as a family and respect each of us as individuals?
Groom: I gladly accept this family and will respect you as long as long as you accept me.
Child 2: Do you promise that you will never come between us and mommy?
Groom: I promise I will not come between you if you will share her with me.
Child 3: Do you promise to be nice to her and never make her cry?
Groom: I promise to show your mommy all the kindness in the world, but I I accidentally make her cry, I promise to make it up to her immediately.
Child 4: Do you promise to be our friend?
Groom: I'll be your friend if you'll have me.
Rev Rachael: I charge all of you gathered here as witnesses to love and support Bride and Groom as they travel life's path together and as they build a family together.
Groom, do you come here of your own accord to be handfasted and heartjoined to Bride?
Groom: I do.
Rev. Rachael: Bride, do you come her of your own accord to be handfasted and heartjoined to Groom?
Bride: I do.
Rev Rachael: Please join your right hands.
(smudge couple)
Rev Rachael: Be blessed by the element of Air. Communication and Honesty.
Bride: I promise to be truthful with you.
Groom: I promise to listen to all your joys and sorrows.
(lay on yellow cord)
(light tapers and hand to Bride and Groom)
Rev Rachael: Be blessed by the element of Fire. Creativity, love, and passion.
Groom: I join with you my love, my passion, and creative powers.
Bride: I give you all these in return. Our Spirits are One.
(couple lights Unity candle)
(lay on red cord)
(raise glasses)
Rev Rachael: Be blessed by the element of Water. Emotion and understanding.
Bride: (pour all liquid in Groom's glass) I give you my friendship and understanding.
Groom: (pours back 1/2 liquid) This I also give to you that we may share in each other's trials and tribulations.
(couple drink)
(lay on blue cord)
(hold crystal up)
Rev Rachael: Be blessed be the element of Earth. Stability, solidity, and growth
(Bride and Groom hold crystal together)
Groom: I vow to be a rock of strength for you. To hold you up when your own strength fails you.
Bride: I vow to hold you in my arms and never let you fall so that we may grow together.
(lay on green cord)
Rev Rachael: Since Time began and the the first amoeba split into two, there has been the possibility of companionship. Since that time, there has been no greater event that the union of two companions. the joining of hearts, souls, bodies, and minds.
(tie cords)
It is this union and commitment, the age old joining in Nature's harmony; that binds Bride and Groom together today.
Together will they travel through the seasons of life, just as the Earth must.
Bride and Groom discovered each other in the spring of life. Blossoming in the discovery of each other.
Now they are in the summer of life as they commit themselves to each other wholly and without reservation.
In the fall of life, they will come to know each other completely, safe in the knowledge of the strength of their love.
But, as the seasons go, so must come the winter of life and the loss of one. I pray that through the sorrow, love's seed remains, to take you through into the next life, when spring shall come again.
May I have the rings?
These rings represent that cycle of life, the Wheel of the Year... eternity. All these must go round and round. they never end, just as the love of Groom and Bride.
Groom, do you commit yourself to love, honor, respect, and cherish Bride? To support and comfort her even unto the winter of your life?
Groom: I do. (place ring on Bride's finger)
Rev Rachael: Bride, do you commit yourself to love, honor, respect, and cherish Groom? To support and comfort him even unto the winter of your life?
Bride: I do. (place ring on Groom's finger)
Rev Rachael: May the love of the God and Goddess be forever in your hearts. We thank Thee, Great Mother and Father. Hail and Farewell.
May you always walk together, guided by the ancestors and spirits of the land. We thank Thee, loved ones and spirits. Hail and Farewell.
May the blessings of the Wind, the Fire, the Water, and the Earth be with you always. We thank Thee, Guardians. Hail and Farewell.
The circle is open, but may it remain unbroken in our hearts. May what has been said and done here, be never undone.
(remove cords)
(Bridesmaids place broom behind Bride and Groom, they turn and jump)
By the power vested in me by the Lord and Lady I pronounce that Groom and Bride are handfasted and heartjoined for as long as love shall last and by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
So mote it be.
You may kiss the bride.
It is my great pleasure to introduce to you, Mr and Mrs Groom.