Celtic Handfasting Ceremony (Priest) We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of _________ bride ______ groom_____ .The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love death has no redemption.  Love is the anterior to Life, postereior to Death, initial Creation and the exponent of Earth.  If we learn no more in life, let this be so. Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection.  As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and downs, its trials and triumps. With full understanding of this, Groom and Bride have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. As in the times of past, at this time, who gives the bride in marriage, but as a woman, is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes here of her own free will and if she has taken her families blessings. Bride, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord? (Bride) Yes, it is true. (Priest) With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you. (father) She comes with me, her father, and is accompanied by all of her families blessings. (Priest) Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to what which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass remeber....Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant.  Let the powers of the mind and of intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strenght of your dedication make you inseparable.  Be close, but not too close.  Possess one another, yet be understanding.  Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for the Gods are with you always. Groom, I have not the right to bind thee to Bride, only you have this right.  If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand (Groom) It is my wish. (Priest) Bride, if it be your wish for Groom to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger. (places ring on grooms left finger) Bride, I have not the right to bind thee to Groom to be bound 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. (Priest) Groom, if it be your wish for Bride to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger.  (places the ring on her left ring finger.) (to groom) Repete after me: I, (grooms full name), in the name of the spirits of the Gods that reside within all of us, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee (Bride's full name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my 6choosen one.  To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee, without shame, for naught can exsist in the purity of my love for thee.  I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love and love again.  I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.  Nor shall I ever seek to cause you harm. (to bride) I, (bride's full name), in the name of the spirits of the Gods that reside within us all, by the life that courses within my heart, take thee, (grooms full name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my choosen.  To desire and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee without shame or guilt, for naught can exsist in the purity of my love for thee.  I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in lfe and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love and love again.  I shall not seek to change thee in any way.  I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.  Nor shall I seek to cause you any harm. (Priest) Now place your love in each others hearts.(couple places right hand over the others heart) (Priest) (hands chalice to groom, saying:) May you drink your fill from the cup of love. (groom holds chalice to bride while she sips then bride takes chalice and holds it for groom while he sips.  The chalice is then  handed back to the Priest who sets it on the table.  Next the Priest takes a plate of bread, giving it to the groom. Same procedure repeated with bread, groom feeding bride and bride feeding groom.) (Now the couple joins right hands as they are bound by the Priest/Priestess) By the power vested in me by the Gods of Creation and the state of ______, I/we now pronouce you husband and wife. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you. Mote so it be.