Weddings/Handfastings/Vow Renewals

[Arduinna]

My hubby and I are planning on renewing our vows. I was wondering if anyone else might be planning a wedding or vow renewal ??

I would love to hear all the great ideas you all have. Have you seen something great at a handfasting?? Share it with me! I would love some great ideas on incorporating pagan symbols into our day.

TIA

[Myst]

You might want to do a search, someone just asked about doing a bonding/handfasting type ceremony, and I know it's not the first time handfasting has been brought up here at MW.

[Twilight Garden]

My husband and I are still newly-weds. We've been married a whole 3 months. We had a fairly nontraditional wedding done by our Unitarian Universalist minister. It was a garden wedding at a local state park.

He has a daughter from a previous disaster and we made sure to include her in the ceremony. The minister asked us about keeping her within our circle of love, then asked her if she was accepting of me and welcomed me in as a new part of her family.

As far as pagan symbols: There was a place in the ceremony where we were asked to think of some things about our past that may have (or had potential to) hindered the natural loving development of our family. (for example his ex-wife) The minister passed the sword over our heads to sever those ties. Then she passed the broom over our heads to sweep them away.

We had an archway at the altar covered in mistletoe, since your supposed to kiss under mistletoe. I carried Gardenias in my bouquet because they are a wonderful symbol of love and they have a strong fabulous scent. I also carefully chose my other flowers in the bouquet for their meanings. Snapdragons for protection and safety, two-tone roses for the romantic and pure love...

:loveduv: Congrats to you on renewing your vows. Good luck.

[WynnJera]

Here are some handfasting verses I have done ....

" Handfasting Chant "

Hearts in love pound
Handfasting bells sound
Lord and Lady Blessed Be
Help them on the path of
forever honoring thee
Show them the ways of
our true Mother Earth
Let them feel her grand power
with every rebirth
Guide them forever
strong and true
For their hearts are open and
they believe in you
In doing so let it harm none
I ask this for me
and true love to be done

WynnJera © Copyright protected

" Hands Of Love"

Hands of love
Two tied together of one
melding spirit filled souls.
Uniting perfection in simplicity
Breathing life earthward eternal
I am your and you are mine
Yet we do not belong to one another
We are of mystical mother nature
We are of flesh and bone
We are of spirit and soul
We are of trails and triumps
We are of smiles and tears
We are of everything we hold in these 2 hands
We are of love

WynnJera © Copyright protected

These were to be my vows this Sept 21 / 2002

"Vows To The Man I Love"

I vow to thee M'lord love and happiness for now and always
I want to be your best friend, your wife,
as well as your eternal soul mate until the day I pass
I yearn to look into your eyes every morn
and hope to look into your eyes every night
I promise to be by your side when things get out of hand
So when you think all hope is gone
just look beside you and
I will be there to brighten our darken path
Your eyes are the windows to your true soul
your smiles protects me from the cold crewl rain
Your love blankets me from hate and harm
you are my mentor and I envy your every thought
I need you to giude me thru the dark wooded forests of my life
help me cross those rivers that are far too wide
I want to laugh with you
I want to cry with you
I want you hand in friendship as well as love
I wish to share life's up and downs with you
Side by side,
hand in hand
heart to heart
soul to soul
M'lord will you join your life with mine?

WynnJera © Copyright protected

Due to the car accident last Oct we have had to delay our ceremony ~ but it will be held at the Muttart Conservitory...

http://www.gov.edmonton.ab.ca/comm_services/city_op_attractions/muttart/

Now we just need to pick a different day in a couple years ~ they said they would hold our deposit until then ....

Bagpipes are going to play me in with " Greensleeves "

and then entertain while we take picture ....

Colors are Wine and that clear rainbow iredescent color

gifts with our name and date are apricot sized crystal Geodes we bought to symbol 1 life made by the two 1/2 of each geodes...

reception is being done at my grampy's local elks club and food will be home cooked by our family

Dress being hand made by my grammy's best friend

http://dcm.bizhosting.com/im010006.html


Cake Topper .....

http://www.pewteretc.com/Content/item.asp?Item=3846


thats about it I guess .... hope it helped to inspire ...

BB ~ WynnJera ~

[Doctor Oakroot]

My new wife and I were handfasted 12/31/01 - a completely impomptu and improvised ceremony. We're going to have something more formal for the families this summer.

As part of our impomptu ceremony, we collected stuff that made interesting sounds and wrote and recorded a piece of music to commemorate the event. The music starts out with a theme representing her, changes to a theme representing me and ends with both themes playing.

Great fun and very bonding :bigredgri

[Arduinna]

ooo, I knew you guys would have some great suggestions!!

Myst -thanks I will do a search for the other threads :-)

Lunarmist -I love that idea about severing ties to past situations. Thank you so much. In the 10 years we've been married we've gone through alot, I love the idea of a physical way of expressing the release of the past.

Wynjera -Thank you for sharing your beautiful words with me. I'm so sorry to hear about your fiance's car accident. I hope he is making a speedy recovery, and that your dream union can happen soon. I love the symbolism if the geodes. You've given me some great inspiration :-)

Dr Oakwood -Congratulations!! Hubby and I had an improptu elopment ourselves that's why we are renewing for our 10 year anniversary. I love the blending of the music! I hadn't thought of how to incorporate music in a unique way. Thanks. Good luck planning your summer event.

[WynnJera]

Hi Arduinna ~ It was not Jay that was in a car wreck it was me ~ lol ~ Last Oct I was at a red light and a 5 ton meat delivery truck hit me full tilt saying his breaks did not work ( Yea right ) cop said if I was not driving my truck seen here ....

http://www.wingsofhopeforusa.com/wynn.htm

and driving Jay's Neon that the guy would have driven right over me and I would not be here .....

my left side is pins and needles like when your foot falls asleep ~ I am getting better slowly ~ I go to physio 3 times a week and within the next few weeks will be on a back to work program ( elderly care worker ) we thought we would push the date back cuz I have not been working and $$$ is tight ~ plus give me a change to heal 100% ( I hope ) but also give me a chance to retrain if I can no longer do what I did ~ So we are looking at a couples years ( BTW ~ He is being sued ~ evil cackle ) ~ BB ~ WynnJera ~

[Arduinna]

eek, sorry I misunderstood. What a bad accident, those big trucks can do some damage. I'm glad to made it through, and survived. I think the cop was right.

Sounds like you won't have any problem winning your lawsuit.

I can understand why you want to be 100% for the wedding. I hope your physio therapy heals you very soon.

Have a great Valentines Day!

[Twig]

I had the honor last summer of presiding over the wedding of a coworker and her beau. Being that neither of them are particularly "religious", They asked for a ceremony devoid of "christian" connotations. (As a matter of fact, I'm to do the same again for two other couples this summer. :D)

If you'd like, I could write a draft for what you need or, send you a copy of the vows I've written for such occasions. feel free to email me.

Peace,
Rev. Robert (Twig) Jones
:elf:

[Arduinna]

Thanks Twig :-) I will email you soon.

[Myst]

A list of books at Amazon about planning alternative weddings - the list itself was created by a Pagan bride to be. :)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/1K9KE2VZJPO82/ref=cm_lm_dp_l_2/002-4338869-3386414

[Faery-Wings]

Thanks for starting this thread. :)

Next year is my 10 year anniversary and I finally talked hubby into renewing our vows. We are scrimping and saving to go to Sandals and have a simple ceremony there. I would love to include some Pagan symbolism as we were married Catholic the first time around. I will have to write these ideas down or I'll forget. Also off to searchthose other threads.

BB

Chris