<em>He raises his voice so all can hear again.</em><br/><br/>By the exchange of these tokens of your love for one another, so are your lives interlaced. What one experiences, so shall the other; as honesty and love build, so will your bond strengthen and grow.<br/><br/><em>Takes a length of red silk ribbon, shining brightly in the midday sun, and drapes it across the lover's joined hands.</em><br/><br/>Woven into this cord, imbued into its very fibers, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for your new life together.<br/><br/><em>Ties the ribbon around their wrists, tight enough that it wouldn't untie by accident.</em><br/><br/>As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. With the fashioning of this knot do I tie all the desires, dreams, love, and happiness wished here in this place to your lives for as long as love shall last.<br/><br/>In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another.  By this cord you are thus bound to your vow. May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last.  May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths.<br/><br/><em>Raises their bound hands so all can see, and speaks to all.</em><br/><br/>Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad, and watch as your strength grows.<br/><br/><em>Gestures grandly to the sky above and grass below.</em><br/><br/>Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...<br/><br/>Like a stone should your love be firm. Like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage. Let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.<br/><br/><em>Raises his arms above his head.</em><br/><br/>It is with this blessing, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.