Remember, you can double-up parts for a smaller ceremony.

Altar supplies:

general altar set-up
tier candle holder
3 candles: gold, silver, and black
3 cords: white, red, and black
salt and water bowls
flower centerpiece
bread plate and bread
drink for bride and groom
quarter lanterns
a censer of incense and incense appropiate for the occasion
a dish of salt or soil
a brass altar bell
a wand
a chalice
anointing oil
crystal
a decorated broom
rings or tokens

Before the ceremony:

The High Priestess blesses all gifts to the Bride and Groom before the handfasting begins. Then the gifts should be placed under the altar.

The Elder (or High Priestess) walks the proposed ritual site. The Drummer takes his or her place and begins to drum softly. The Maiden, High Priest, High Priestess, Temple Summoner, and Quarters take their respective places.

The Summoner checks the altar to make sure all supplies are ready. He or she also checks to make sure the lanterns are at the Quarters and ready.

The Maiden prepares the circle site.

Prepare the Need-Fire: Indoors you could use a small cauldron with a little candle. Outdoors you can buid a fire circled by stones,or use a fire pit.

Cleanse and consecrate the area with salt, water, and bell.

The Drummer stops drumming and says:

The ritual site has been properly prepared for the rite of handfasting. So mote it be.

All: So mote it be!

The Drummer begins to drum softly. The quarters can rattle if they desire. The High Priestess performs the altar devotion. Then The High Priestess and the High Priest cast the circle together. Once this is done, the Drummer stops drumming and says:

Our altar has been devoted and the circle between the worlds has been casted in preparation for the rite of handfasting. So mote it be.

All: So mote it be!

The Drummer begins to drum softly as the High Priest says:

Quarters, prepare to call the sacred energies. The Maiden will deposit the gifts at your feet.

The Maiden puts the incense, a bowl of grain, a bowl of water, and a large crystal on a tray. She stops at each Quarter, depositing the respective gifts. She makes sure that each Quarter person has a lighter, then returns to her place and puts the tray under or beside the altar.

The Quarters - Begin at the North. Each quarter individual should speak from the heart, and what they say should apply to the event. Only one rule - no mixtures. If one calls totem animals, all call totem animals. If one calls angels, all call angels, etcetera. As they speak, they light the Quarter lantern.

Drummer stops drumming and says:

All Quarters have been called to protect and bless this rite of marriage. So mote it be.

All: So mote it be!

The Drummer begins to drum softly. The High Priestess and High Priest anoint each other, then the High Priest anoints The Maiden, who then anoints the Quarters, the Elder, and the Drummer. She gives the oil back to the High Priest.

The High Priestess and High Priest move to where the door will be cut. The High Priest cuts the door. The people assemble outside of the circle. One at the time the High Priest and High Priestess anoint those who enter the circle, and welcome the guests. The Maiden and the Summoner act as traffic control. When all have entered the circle, The Maiden rings the bell to summon the wedding couple, or you can play music on a stereo, or you can have a band play music. The groom enters and moves to the West; the bride follows and takes her place in the East. The High Priestess closes the door.

The Maiden says:

Welcome sisters and brothers to the handfasting of (state the couple's name). To our guests, we welcome you and thank you for making this gathering possible.

The Drummer stops drumming and says:

All who enters here come in perfect love and perfect trust. Let the handfasting begin!

All: Let the handfasting begin!

Ceremony:

The High Priestess says:

(Groom's name) and (bride's name) will you please walk to the center of the circle, join hands, and step before me.

The bride and groom walk to the center of the circle, join hands, then walk up to the altar. The High Priest says:

We are gathered here today at this very special place to celebrate the handfasting vows between (name of the bride) and (name of the groom), both of whom wish to unite their bodies and spirits in perfect love and perfect trust. As we stand between the worlds, they wish to acknowledge their undying love and share in the extension of the great mystery.

The High Priestess says:

Holy Mother, descend upon your people in this sacred ritual of handfasting.

The High Priest says:

Holy Father, descend upon your people in this sacred ritual of handfasting.

The High Priestess says:

So mote it be!

All: So mote it be!

The Temple Summoner rings the bell. Then the High Priestess says:

Who stands before me?

The bride and groom answer by giving their full names. Then the High Priestess say:

And why do you come here?

The bride and groom must give appropiate answers. Then the High Priestess say:

And what sacred words do you offer each other?

The bride and groom must give answer:

Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.

The High Priestess says:

All who brings such are doubly welcome!

The Temple Summoner rings the bell. Then the High Priestess says:

Remember, above all, you are spirit. Equal in all things. Neither better than the other. Each support of the other.

The Temple Summoner rings the bell. The High Priestess says to the couple:

Please kneel.

The couple kneels. The High Priest anoints the bride with oil and says:

You are our Lady with many faces. Our love, our nurturing, our growth.

The High Priestess anoints the groom with oil and says:

You are our Lord through the ages. Our strength, our protection, our passion.

The Drummer begins to drum softly as the High Priestess says:

Will the couple please rise and prepare to take their vows? Place the right hand on this wand and repeat after me.

The couple rises. The Priestess begins with the groom. He should tell, in his own words, why he wants to marry this woman. The token is handed to the bride or groom:

With this token I give you a reminder of our love and our vision for the future, a symbol of our union together. Will you join with me?

The couple answers: I will.

The bride now says why she wants to marry this man. The High Priestess now wraps the cords around the hands of the couple, leaving the ends to dangle. The High Priest says:

These cords are a symbol of your union within this magick circle today. It is our custom that the elements bless your union. At each quarter, a knot will be tied to signify this blessing. When the ceremony has ended and you stand in the receiving line, we ask that each adult guest also tie a knot of blessing as they congratulate these children of the Goddess. Go now (name of the couple) on this first of your many journeys together.

The couple walk to each Quarter, beginning at the North. Each Quarter blesses the bride and groom, and ties a knot in the cords. The couple returns to the altar. The Drummer stops and says:

The vows have been taken and the Quarters have blessed this handfasting. So mote it be!

All: So mote it be!

The High Priestess unwraps the cords and ties one end to the bride's wrist and one end to the groom's wrist. The Maiden gives the chalice to the bride and says:

Please bless the contests of this chalice

The bride takes the chalice and says:

As the moon kisses the rain, which waters the soil, which grows the vine, which yields the berry into this cup, I ask for the blessings of Our Lady and her conhort the Lord in our handfasting ritual.

The bride holds her hand over the chalice. Then the groom holds the chalice and kneels, while the bride takes the athame and lowers it slowly into the chalice. The High Priestess says:

As the rod is to the God, so the chalice is to the Goddess, and together they are One.

The bride offers the chalice to the groom and says:

May you never thirst.

Then the groom offers the chalice to the groom saying:

May you never thirst.

The groom hands the chalice to the Maiden. Then the Temple Summoner gives the bread to the groom and says:

Please bless the bread.

The groom holds his hands over the bread and says:

As the sun warms the ground, which nurtures the soil, which grows the wheat, which yields the flour to make this bread, so I ask for the blessings of the Holy Lord and Lady on this day of our handfasting.

The groom offers the bread to the bride saying:

May you never hunger.

The bride offers the bread to the groom saying:

May you never hunger.

The bride gives the bread back to the Temple Summoner. Then the Drummer says:

The holy communion is ended. So mote it be!

All: So mote it be!

The Drummer begins fast drumming. The Maiden moves to the center of the circle with the decorated broom. The High Priestess holds the hands of the bride and groom, and turns them to face the members of the circle. She holds her hands high, palms to the sky, and says:

In the name of the Goddess and the God (woman's name) and (man's name) are bonded as one. By the powers invested in me, I now declare you wife and husband. You may kiss the bride! So mote it be!

All: So mote it be!

The Drummer slows the beat. Once the kiss has been completed, the Elder blesses them and the assemblage. The Drummer begins with a fast beat. Then the High Priestess says:

You may now jump the broom!

The couple makes a running jump over the broom as circle members clap. The High Priestess says:

May the blessings of the Old Ones, the Shining Ones, be with you now and always. Blessed be!

The Temple Summoner cuts a door, allowing the couple to leave first, followed by the guests. The High Priestess, High Priest, Elder, Quarters, Maiden, and Temple Summoner remain. The couple form a receiving line far enough away from the site so that the major players of the ritual can complete the closure. The High Priestess thanks the Lady and Lord for their blessings on the rite. The Maiden retrieves the Quarter gifts, then returns to her place. The Quarters release the energy, widdershins beginning at the West Quarter. The High Priestess winds up circle, then deposits the energy in the gifts. The High Priest declares the circle open.

Web page design: Raven Dance
Part of this artwork was courtesy of: Unknown
Created: June 1999