Paul & Karina Handfasting

Rose Haven Designs - Making beach wedding dreams come true

Reverend Wren with Paul and Karina, Mapleton Oregon

Know that before you go further, since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter into this state of matrimony, you should strive to make real the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage.
With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be hand fasted before your friends and family, but that you speak that intent also to your higher powers.
The promises made today, and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.

Do you still seek to enter into this ceremony?
"yes we seek to enter"

I bid you look into each others eyes.
Paul, will you cause her pain? "I may". Is that your intent? "No".
Karina, will you cause him pain? "I may". Is that your intent? "No".
(to both) Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it? "Yes".

And so the binding is made. Please join hands.
*first cord is draped across Bride and Grooms hands.*

Karina, will you share his laughter? "Yes".
Paul, will you share her laughter? "Yes".
(to both) Will you both look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? "Yes".
And so the binding is made. (Second cord is draped).

Karina, will you burden him? "I may". Is that your intent? "No".
Paul, will you burden Karina? "I may". Is that your intent? "No".
(to both) Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union? "Yes".
And so, the binding is made. (Third cord is draped).

Karina, will you share his dreams? "Yes".
Paul will you share her dreams? "Yes".
(to both) Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes? "Yes".
And so the binding is made (fourth cord is draped).

Karina, will you cause him anger? "I may". Is that your intent? "No".
Paul, will you cause her anger? "I may". Is that your intent?" No".
(to both) Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union? "We will".
And so the binding is made (fifth cord is draped).

Karina, will you honor him? "I will".
Paul, will you honor her? "I will".
(to both) Will you seek never to give cause to break that honor? "We shall never do so".
And so the binding is made (drape sixth cord).

(cords are tied with three knots)
"The knots of this binding are not formed by these cords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the cords, for, as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union".

Paul, please repeat after me: "I Paul, take you Karina to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow and forever. I will trust and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. No matter what may come, I will always be there for you. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep, so help me God".

Karina, please repeat after me: "I Karina, take you Paul to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow and forever. I will trust and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. No matter what may come, I will always be there for you. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep, so help me God".

May I have the rings?
Paul, take the ring that you have selected for Karina, place it on her finger and repeat after me. "Karina, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed".
Karina, take the ring that you have selected for Paul, place it on his finger and repeat after me. "Paul, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed".
In as much as you have pledged to the other your life long commitment, love and devotion, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Paul, you may kiss your bride!