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Douglas & Christine Wedding Ceremony
(A Spiritual Celtic Ceremony with a Handbinding)

 BLUE SKY WEDDING CEREMONY INFORMATION

Text in italics are words spoken by the Bride & Groom or Ceremony participants other than the Celebrant. Text in { } are words spoken by the Celebrant to the guests, and generally explain what is happening or about to happen in the Ceremony. Text in [ ] are actions by the Bride & Groom, Celebrant, or other Ceremony participants. All other text are words spoken by the Celebrant directly addressing the Bride & Groom, and/or the guests.


Processional to Bagpipes


Opening Words

[Father Remains Up Front]

Good afternoon, We are gathered here in the presence of God and of this company to join in holy marriage Christine Full Name and Douglas Full Name.


Presentation of the Bride

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Christine's Father: Her mother and I do.

[Bride's Father Returns to Seat]


Opening Prayer

{Let us bless this joyous union with prayer. Please bow your heads}

God of light, who gives us the longing for love and the capability of loving, we give you thanks for Christine and Doug, for their open hearts and willing spirits, and for the example of love that they embody here in our presence. Be with them on this joyous occasion of showing their love and making their vows; and be with us, their witnesses, that we may all be changed by what is said and witnessed here.


Handbinding Ritual

{Now, we are going to perform a ritual called a Handbinding.}

[Christine Hands Bouquet to Maid of Honor Lauren]

[Christine & Doug Face Each Other and Join Hands]

In ancient Celtic culture, couples announce their marriage through what is called a Handbinding. When a couple joins hands and takes on a new life together, their destinies are tied into one future. This tradition includes a cord to symbolize that as husband and wife, Douglas and Christine will be bound together as one family.

[Celebrant Holds Ribbon Up so Guests can See It]

The Ribbon we will be using today is a handkerchief from Christine's Grandmother.

Douglas and Christine have chosen to unite their hands and hearts into one life.

[Celebrant ties Christine's and Doug's Hands in a Bow with Ribbon]

Notice that each person is still an individual but now they are working together.

Douglas and Christine, as your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.

[Celebrant Unties Hands and Drapes Ribbon on Podium Under Book]


Prayer/Charge To The Couple

Dear God, look mercifully upon your children, Christine and Doug, and be generous with them, so that in the unfolding veils of time, they may truly stand for one another as emblems of the incarnation of your love. Give them a sense of joy, excitement, possibility, and challenge about what they are undertaking here, the ever-unfolding and beautiful work of refining their spirits in the presence of each other's witness, of becoming the bearers of your love. And knowing that this is a high and often difficult work - that its rewards are uncommon, invisible often in ordinary day-to-day life, we pray for them the benediction of company, the encouragement of witnesses, the boundless joy of living always in the midst of love. Give them peace of heart and strength of spirit so they may honor the vows they make here today. And may the promises they make inspire and instruct each one of us who celebrates with them. Amen.


Reading by Celebrant

On this blessed day, we celebrate the Celtic spirit of A-num Ca-ra. A-num Ca-ra is translated from the Gaelic as "soul friend." By entering into a partnership with you're A-num Ca-ra, you are joined in an ancient and eternal way with this person whom you cherish. In everyone's life there is a soul mate whose love embraces us. We recognize today the soul mate that Doug and Christine have found in each other. They will now recite their own vows in this spirit.


Vows

[Doug takes Vow Card from Tux and Reads Vows]

[Celebrant Hands Vow Card to Christine, who then Reads Vows]


Expression of Intent

{Now, Doug & Christine will make public their intention to marry.}

Doug, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep you only unto her, so long as you both shall live?

Doug: I will.

Christine, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep you only unto him, so long as you both shall live?

Christine: I will.


Blessing of the Rings

[Celebrant asks Best Man Jimmy for the Rings]

{And now, before Doug and Christine exchange their wedding rings I'd like to say some words about the importance and symbolism of these rings}

A circle is the symbol of the sun, the earth, and the universe. It is a symbol of holiness and of perfection and of peace. In these rings it is the symbol of unity, in which your lives are now joined in one unbroken circle, in which, wherever you go, you will always return to one another and to your togetherness.


Exchange Of The Rings

{And now, Doug & Christine will exchange their wedding rings.}

[Celebrant Hands Christine's Ring to Doug]

Doug, take Christine's Ring and place it on the tip of her finger and repeat after me:

Just as this circle is without end, my love for you has no end. Just as the ring endures, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I take you to be my trusted confidante and partner for life.

[Celebrant Hands Doug's Ring to Christine]

Christine, take Doug's Ring and place it on the tip of his finger and repeat after me:

Just as this circle is without end, my love for you has no end. Just as the ring endures, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I take you to be my trusted confidante and partner for life.


Pronouncement of Marriage

{At this time we come to the Pronouncement of Marriage. The Pronouncement is my public, and legal, proclamation that Christine and Doug are married. It is the exact moment of Marriage...}

Doug and Christine, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by your vows, the joining of your hands, and the giving of these rings, I now declare you to be husband and wife.


Permission to Kiss

You may kiss the bride!


Presentation of the New Couple

[Christine Takes Bouquet back from M of Honor]

[Celebrant Asks Christine and Doug to Turn and Face Their Guests]


Ladies and gentlemen, It is my pleasure to present to you...
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Last Name!


Recessional to Bagpipes


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Douglas and Christine, as your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust.

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