Hand Blessing 1

(following ring exchange)

Look upon the hands you are holding on your wedding day… 

These are the hands of your best friend, young and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to passionately love and cherish one another through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.   These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh together and cry together, and as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.  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 fills your heart.

These are the hands that when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.   These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled completely with overwhelming love and desire for you.  

God, bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. May they give you the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of trials. Keep them tender and gentle as you nurture each other in wondrous love. May these hands continue building a relationship founded in caring and devotion to one another, all the days of your life together.

Hand Blessing 2

Bride-, please face -Groom- and hold his hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.  These are the 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 fills you.  These are the hands that will give you support and celebrate with you in your accomplishments.

-Groom-, please hold -Bride- hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.  They 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 year, for a lifetime of happiness.  These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to fulfill your dreams. 

Our prayer for you today is that both of you will use these hands to build a marriage where all your dreams come true.