Wedding/Handfasting, Everett, Washington - August 2, 2019
Once I've set up the altar and my tools, I will smudge myself and the area the ceremony will take place in and walk my basic perimeter for the circle.
I will then smudge the wedding party.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We lineup for the procession.
After the guests are seated, I will enter.
Welcome all. I am Reverend Rachael Wright. I am an ordained Pagan High Priestess. I am a Norsewoman by heritage and faith. I have conducted spiritual and secular weddings in New York, Oregon, and Washington since 2005. In Pagan weddings, a circle is drawn around the celebrants. An invisible barrier separating this time and place in a sacred, sanctified space. The couple may seek to bind their marriage with the customs of our ancestors such as handfasting, where the bride and groom are ritually bound by their hands as a symbol of their emotional bond and commitment to one another. Another tradition is to ask the blessing of the elements and the Gods of your path. To end the ceremony, the bride and groom will jump over a broom. The broom represents a shared domestic life and also acts as a threshold to cross over into their new life together. We will begin the celebrations with a May Pole dance led by the bride and groom. The Maypole harkens from ancient times. A small tree or a pole to represent the tree hung with ribbons at the top. Dancers held the ribbons and danced round and round to encourage growth and welcome spring. To celebrate the changing seasons. Today we celebrate a new season in the lives of of Bride and Groom. Please be sure to turn off or silence your cell phones. Also, no pictures during the ceremony and please do not post any pictures on social media. Thank you.
Groom enters.
Groomsmen enter
Bridesmaids enter
Bride and Father enter.
I will cast the circle with wand:
Guardian of the East, the Eagle, Spirit of Air and Communication, we welcome you here.
Guardian of the South, Gulltoppr of the Golden Mane, Spirit of Fire and Passion, we welcome you here.
Guardian of the West, the Wolf, Spirit of Water and Understanding, we welcome you here.
Guardian of the North, the German Shepherd, Spirit of Earth and Stability, we welcome you here.
Viking Lord Heimdall and Egyptian Lady Hathor, we welcome you here. God and Goddess. Spirit Within Us. We welcome you here.
Welcome, beloved family and friends, to the wedding of Lady Bride and Lord Groom. I charge you, as witnesses to their vows, to love, support, and guide them in their marriage.
Lady Bride, do you come here of your own free will to be married to this man?
Bride: I do.
Lord Groom, do you come here of your own free will to be married to this woman?
Groom: I do.
Please join your right hands. (I will place the cords over your hands)
The fasting of hands is a tradition of our ancestors. Joined together not only by this cloth, but by their pledge to one another before their kin and clan. Their troth bound in actions and words.
May I have the rings?
Bride says her vows.
I hand her Groom's ring and give her one end of the cord and repeat after me: With this ring, I vow my love to you.
Groom says his vows.
I hand him Bride's ring and repeat after me: With this ring, I vow my love to you.
You will both pull your end of the cord and Tie the Knot!
Sharing of Chalices
Please take your individual cups. These represent yourselves. Each is unique, different.
(mix cups)
Now they are one. A new uniqueness. Still parts, but blended into a symbolic summation of your vows and your love. Drink now of your unity.
(I will place chalices on altar)
By the power vested in me by the State of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
Kissing, pictures, happiness, tears
Blessing with sword:
I hallow thee, O Blade of Steel, by the blessings of Heimdall and Hathor, by the blessing of the Sun and Stars of the Moon and Earth, of the Spirits and Energy that we are; that surround us and bind us all together, bless this woman and this man. Bless their love. Bless their life together.
Blessed Be.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce to you King Groom and Queen Bride!
Open circle with Sword:
Lord Heimdall, Lady Hathor, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
(while I am opening the circle, please walk to the East, I will have the broom waiting there)
Guardian of the North, the German Shepherd, Spirit of Earth and Stability, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
Guardian of the West, the Wolf, Spirit of Water and Understanding, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
Guardian of the South, Gulltoppr of the Golden Mane, Spirit of Fire and Passion, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
Guardian of the East, the Eagle, Spirit of Air and Communication, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
I will place the broom at East
Bride and Groom, as you jump into this new life may this broom remind you of your responsibilities to each other.
Jump!
Ladies and Gentlemen, please join myself and Mr. and Mrs. Groom at the maypole to dance as you are able and celebrate their marriage.
I will then smudge the wedding party.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We lineup for the procession.
After the guests are seated, I will enter.
Welcome all. I am Reverend Rachael Wright. I am an ordained Pagan High Priestess. I am a Norsewoman by heritage and faith. I have conducted spiritual and secular weddings in New York, Oregon, and Washington since 2005. In Pagan weddings, a circle is drawn around the celebrants. An invisible barrier separating this time and place in a sacred, sanctified space. The couple may seek to bind their marriage with the customs of our ancestors such as handfasting, where the bride and groom are ritually bound by their hands as a symbol of their emotional bond and commitment to one another. Another tradition is to ask the blessing of the elements and the Gods of your path. To end the ceremony, the bride and groom will jump over a broom. The broom represents a shared domestic life and also acts as a threshold to cross over into their new life together. We will begin the celebrations with a May Pole dance led by the bride and groom. The Maypole harkens from ancient times. A small tree or a pole to represent the tree hung with ribbons at the top. Dancers held the ribbons and danced round and round to encourage growth and welcome spring. To celebrate the changing seasons. Today we celebrate a new season in the lives of of Bride and Groom. Please be sure to turn off or silence your cell phones. Also, no pictures during the ceremony and please do not post any pictures on social media. Thank you.
Groom enters.
Groomsmen enter
Bridesmaids enter
Bride and Father enter.
I will cast the circle with wand:
Guardian of the East, the Eagle, Spirit of Air and Communication, we welcome you here.
Guardian of the South, Gulltoppr of the Golden Mane, Spirit of Fire and Passion, we welcome you here.
Guardian of the West, the Wolf, Spirit of Water and Understanding, we welcome you here.
Guardian of the North, the German Shepherd, Spirit of Earth and Stability, we welcome you here.
Viking Lord Heimdall and Egyptian Lady Hathor, we welcome you here. God and Goddess. Spirit Within Us. We welcome you here.
Welcome, beloved family and friends, to the wedding of Lady Bride and Lord Groom. I charge you, as witnesses to their vows, to love, support, and guide them in their marriage.
Lady Bride, do you come here of your own free will to be married to this man?
Bride: I do.
Lord Groom, do you come here of your own free will to be married to this woman?
Groom: I do.
Please join your right hands. (I will place the cords over your hands)
The fasting of hands is a tradition of our ancestors. Joined together not only by this cloth, but by their pledge to one another before their kin and clan. Their troth bound in actions and words.
May I have the rings?
Bride says her vows.
I hand her Groom's ring and give her one end of the cord and repeat after me: With this ring, I vow my love to you.
Groom says his vows.
I hand him Bride's ring and repeat after me: With this ring, I vow my love to you.
You will both pull your end of the cord and Tie the Knot!
Sharing of Chalices
Please take your individual cups. These represent yourselves. Each is unique, different.
(mix cups)
Now they are one. A new uniqueness. Still parts, but blended into a symbolic summation of your vows and your love. Drink now of your unity.
(I will place chalices on altar)
By the power vested in me by the State of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
Kissing, pictures, happiness, tears
Blessing with sword:
I hallow thee, O Blade of Steel, by the blessings of Heimdall and Hathor, by the blessing of the Sun and Stars of the Moon and Earth, of the Spirits and Energy that we are; that surround us and bind us all together, bless this woman and this man. Bless their love. Bless their life together.
Blessed Be.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce to you King Groom and Queen Bride!
Open circle with Sword:
Lord Heimdall, Lady Hathor, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
(while I am opening the circle, please walk to the East, I will have the broom waiting there)
Guardian of the North, the German Shepherd, Spirit of Earth and Stability, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
Guardian of the West, the Wolf, Spirit of Water and Understanding, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
Guardian of the South, Gulltoppr of the Golden Mane, Spirit of Fire and Passion, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
Guardian of the East, the Eagle, Spirit of Air and Communication, we thank you for joining us in these rites. Hail and Farewell.
I will place the broom at East
Bride and Groom, as you jump into this new life may this broom remind you of your responsibilities to each other.
Jump!
Ladies and Gentlemen, please join myself and Mr. and Mrs. Groom at the maypole to dance as you are able and celebrate their marriage.