Weddingbee boards

Hand Fasting is a Irish tradition. You can do this instead of the unity candle or sand ceremony.

http://www.bellaonline.org/articles/art35618.asp

I'm not Irish but we did this just because it's different than most wedding.

We used a brown ribbon to tie our hands together while our officiant read this...

As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. Woven into this cord, into its very fibers, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for your new life together. With the entwining of this knot do I tie all the desires, dreams, love, and happiness wished here in this place to your lives for as long as love shall last.

 In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another. By this cord you are thus bound to your vows. May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last.

 May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths.

 Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad, and watch as your strength grows. Remember that it is not this physical cord, but what it represents, that keep you together.