EXTRAS THAT CAN BE ADDED TO THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SERVICE:

At this point in the service many couple will add one of the following extras
Blessing of the hands, or the Candle Lighting Ceremony for indoor weddings, or
they may want use the Sand Ceremony if outdoors.
 
This is a great filler and only adds about 5 - 7 mins to the service time.
If you would like more readings please go here.

Originally long version was written by a brides mother as a gift on her wedding day
and has since been used widely with several versions of the original these are just a few.
Below you will find the original long version as well.

1.  BLESSING OF THE HANDS - (Short Version)

BLESSING OF THE HANDS:
These are the hands of your best friend,
young and strong and vibrant with love,
that are holding yours on your wedding day,
as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
These are the hands that will work along side yours,
as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry,
as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.
These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you
through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes:
tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness,
and hold you when fear or grief wracks your mind.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek
as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely
with his overwhelming love and desire for you.



2. Blessing of the Hands (Another Short Version)
These are the hands of your best friend,
young and strong and full of love for you,
that are holding yours on your wedding day
as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you are weak

Yes, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged
will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Dear Father,

   Bless the hands that you see before you this day.

May they always be held by one another.
Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark moments of disillusionment.
Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love.

 Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace,
rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection.
May they see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guides for one another. 

This We ask in your name. Amen.


3. BLESSING OF HANDS (FULL VERSION)

These are the hands of your best friend, young, strong and vibrant and filled with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

 

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future together as you laugh, and as you cry as you share your innermost secrets and dreams with one another.

 

These are the hands that will passionately love and cherish you through the years for a lifetime of happiness.

These are a the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow, and tears of joy much as they are today.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when you are afraid or worry fills your mind.

 

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes:  Eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire souly for you.

+++++

Wade, take her hands now palm up where you may see what a wonderful gift they are to you sir.

 

Wade, these are the hands of your best friend.  They are smooth, young and carefree, and they are holding yours on this special day.  Soon she will be pledging her love and her commitment to you all the days of her life.

 

These are the hands that will ease the tension from your neck in the evenings after you’ve had a long day.

 

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times together. 

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years for a life time of happiness.

 

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down you dreams.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it the most. 

 

And lastly these are the hands that even when wrinkled with time
will still be reaching out for yours still giving you the same unspoken tenderness
they are today for these are the hands of love. 
May you both love the special touch from these special pairs of hands now and forever more.

 

Dear Father,

   Bless the hands that you see before you this day.

May they always be held by one another.
Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress
and the dark moments of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle
as they nurture each other in their love.

Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace,
rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection.
May they see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guides for one another. 

This We ask in your name. Amen.



CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY
1.

Candle Lighting:

Will the Candle Lighters please step forward to light the two outer tapered candles at this time.

Candles lighters are lighting the candles as your minister speaks

 

The Unity Candle signifies many things, for many people, it is the “Trinity”.

The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost. 

When we use the candles in a wedding ceremony we are combining two individual spirits into one. 
It symbolizes the coming together of your past and your future. 
It also symbolizes the union that exists between a man and a woman who enter the Holy Estate of matrimony. 
They are no longer two separate individual but ONE.  One in spirit One in heart and One in Love.

 

Scripture says, “ for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother
and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”.

 

Colossians 3:14 tells us

Over these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 

These candles symbolize that union of unity.

 

Will you both now light your individual flames.

These two candles represent the individual lives of Joe and Sue, and the families from which they have come.

 

Sue and Joe, will you now take your candles, and light the center candle at this time.

 

As they now light the center candle they join in spirit, to become one family forever more.  Blowing out the single tapers, reminds them that from this day forth, they are twice as bright together no longer single flames in the night  May you all recognize your continuing importance in each other’s lives by sharing with eachother the light of your love.

2.

SAND CEREMONY: USED WHEN OUTSIDE
This is done after the rings generally but can be done prior.

Sand Ceremony:  Anicieto and Deborah

You have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of you promises and vows.
You have also exchanged your rings. This covenant is a relationship pledge between two people
who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives.

 

The most beautiful example of this partnership is the marriage ceremony itself.
You have each freely committed to share the rest of your lives with each other today.

And to demonstrate the uniqueness of your love for one another,
we celebrate your new relationship and the creation of a new family
through the pouring of these 4 individual containers of sand on the table before you now.

 

One container represents you, Deborah

 all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be.

One represents you, Anicieto,

and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be.

And the other two containers represent your daughters,

Jonet and Julia. 

As these 4 containers of sand are poured into the larger container,
the individual containers of sand will no longer exist,
but will be joined together as one.
Just as your lives have been joined today. 
At this time, Please pour your containers now.

 

As you see, just as these grains of sand can never be separated
and poured back into their individual containers,
so too your marriage always be blended by your love
that you all share as a newly created family.
May this container always serve as a reminder of your special day together.

If it's just the two of you, you would omit the extra containers of sand
and use the number 2 in place of the 4 as discribed above.