(authored by Valdís Sölvisdottir)
EAST: O beings of Air, I summon your presence, that you may weave tightly the bonds of Heart, Spirit, and Love between these two. Let none undo the fabric of their love.
SOUTH: O being of Fire, I summon your presence, that you may ignite the passion and love for this blessed pair... ever burning yet never one consuming the other.
WEST: O beings of Water, I summon your presence, that you may bless this couple with a love as deep as any ocean.
NORTH: O beings of Earth, I summon your presence, that you may bless this man and this woman with thy strength and wisdom, to be theirs as long as life and love lasts!
ALL FOUR TOGETHER: Gracious Lady, Gentle Lord, grant this blessed pair thy love and protection. Blessed be!
PRIESTESS (hands chalice of wine to GROOM): May you drink you your fill from the cup of love. (GROOM holds chalice to the BRIDE while she sips, then the BRIDE holds the chalice to the GROOM while he drinks.
The PRIESTESS then replaces the chalice on the altar, and the PRIEST takes up a plate holding salt and some bread) PRIEST (hands the bread to the GROOM): May you eat your fill of the abundance of life.
(GROOM breaks off a piece of bread, dips it into the salt, and feeds it to the BRIDE; then the BRIDE breaks off a piece of bread, dips it into the salt, and feeds it to the GROOM. The PRIEST replaces the bread on the altar.)
PRIESTESS: GROOM, I have not the right to bind you to your bride, only you have this right. If it is your wish, say so at this time, and place your ring in her hand. GROOM: It is my wish. (Places ring in BRIDE's hand)
PRIESTESS: GROOM, if it is your wish for your bride to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger. (GROOM places ring on BRIDE's finger).
GROOM (To BRIDE): I, (GROOM's full name), offer you, (BRIDE's full name) this ring as a symbol of my love and fidelity. It will always be a symbol of the vows which make us husband and wife today. (Places ring on BRIDE's finger) BRIDE: I accept this ring as a symbol of our love and wear it proudly as your wife.
PRIEST: BRIDE, I have not the right to bind you to your groom, only you have this right. If it is your wish, say so at this time, and place your ring in his hand.
BRIDE: It is my wish. (Places ring in GROOM's hand) PRIEST: BRIDE, if it is your wish for your groom to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger. (BRIDE places ring on GROOM's finger).
BRIDE (To GROOM): I, (BRIDE's full name), offer you, (GROOM's full name) this ring as a symbol of my love and fidelity. It will always be a symbol of the vows which make us husband and wife today. (Places ring on GROOM's finger) GROOM: I accept this ring as a symbol of our love and wear it proudly as your husband.
PRIESTESS: BRIDE, please face GROOM, and hold his hands, palm up, so you may see the blessing that they are to you. (BRIDE and GROOM should be facing each other, his upturned hands resting in hers.)
These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your womb.
These are the hands that look so large and clumsy, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief rack your mind.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his love and desire for you.
PRIEST: (GROOM), please hold (BRIDE)'s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.
(BRIDE should now place her upturned hands in the GROOM's hands.)
These are the hands that are smooth, young, and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurts, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it's time to let go.
These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings, after you've both had a long hard day.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope. These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, everything you wish for can be realized.
PRIESTESS: Lord and Lady, bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another.
PRIEST: Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment.
PRIESTESS: Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love.
PRIEST: May (BRIDE) and (GROOM) see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide.
BRIDE: I give you my hand in marriage GROOM: And I give you mine
BRIDE: Take my hand as a symbol of my love.
GROOM: Take my hand as a symbol of my love.
(BRIDE and GROOM join hands, right to right, left to left.)
BRIDE: With this hand, I promise to hold you, cherish you, and respect you always.
GROOM: With this hand, I promise to care for you, provide for you, and to be your friend.
BRIDE: As I hold your hands in mine, I feel your love.
GROOM: And I feel your love; our love is not only for this moment, but for a lifetime.
BRIDE: Yes, for a lifetime.
PRIEST/ESS: "With this cord, I bind you to the vows that you each have made." (Wrap the cords loosely around both arms) "May the Lord and the Lady smile upon this union and bless this couple with health and prosperity. For remember what one may not provide, the other may. So are you bound, in the light of the Lord and Lady, each to the other, unto all of your days."
COUPLE TOGETHER:
Heart to thee,
Soul to thee,
Body to thee,
Forever and always,
So mote it be.
(PRIESTESS positions the broom ready for the couple to jump over.)
PRIEST: This is your first act of working together as husband and wife. May you never work alone.
(PRIESTESS lead the COUPLE to the broom, which they jump over.)
PRIEST/ESS: (Removes binding and holds it overhead.) I present to you, ___________ and her husband ____________. Having sworn oath on this day, each to the other unto the end of their days. [Instructs Groom to kiss the bride]
BRIDE: Now we will feel no rain for each of us will be shelter to one another.
GROOM: And now we will feel no cold for each of us will be warmth to one another.
BRIDE: Now there is no loneliness we are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home.
GROOM: When evening falls, I'll look to you and there you'll be and I'll take your hand and you'll take mine.
BRIDE: And we'll turn together and we'll look to the road we traveled to reach this -- the hour of our happiness.
GROOM: It is stretched far behind us, and our future lies ahead -- a long and winding road where every turning means discovery.
EAST: Hail powers of Air, we thank thee for thy attention! Go forth and annouce to all this union that thou hath witnessed!
SOUTH: Hail powers of Fire, we thank thee for thy attention! Go forth and announce to all this union that thou hath witnessed!
WEST: Hail powers of Water, we thank thee for thy attention! Go forth and announce to all this union that thou hath witnessed!
NORTH: Hail powers of Earth, we thank thee for thy attention! Go forth and announce to all this union that thou hath witnessed!
ALL FOUR TOGETHER: Gracious Lady, Gentle Lord, we thank you for thy attention. Go forth and announce to all this union that thou hath witnessed!
