Inaccurate information from cmoore

It was not written by Daniel Harris. The author is unknown, and it's a Celtic blessing used many, many years ago before Harris was even born. He may have used it in one of his ceremonies and got credit for it, but it is not correct and saying he wrote it is misleading. Some have even printed their wedding brochures giving him credit, but he is not the author.

Jacquie 2023-05-24

where should it be in the ceremony

I really like this, but i'm confused. should it be a separate reading before the vows, or between the vows and rings? Should it be read by the officiant, or someone else, like best man or maid of honour?

lovina 2019-12-01

Mrs.

I read this at my daughter’s wedding and at the end I said “May God bless these hands and hold you in His forever”. I just felt that the title was the Blessing of the Hands and there was no blessing. It just ended.

Michelle 2019-01-13

These Hands

In answer Rebecca Djeuric, to The Blessing of the Hands was written by Daniel Harris. I believe he is a clergyman

cmoore 2018-01-15

Help.

Does anyone know the author to this? I love this so much and want to use it at my wedding but my celebrant won’t allow it without an author.

Rebecca Djuric 2017-12-17

Read this at a wedding

I was asked to do this blessing at my best friends wedding two years ago. Since then so many people have asked when you can do this? Well any time, a wedding, anniversary or even a renewal of vows.

Kenny Williamson 2017-07-22

Celebrating 40 years

We will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary in June. Had I known of this blessing, I would have definitely had someone read it on that day. However, I will surely have someone read it on our anniversary. So beautiful and touching.

Margaret Halliwell 2017-05-31

Cousin of the Bride

So beautiful and heartwarming!

patricia parrish 2017-03-17

Love this reading

This reading was read at my niece's wedding. It was very touching and so true.

Theresa 2015-06-05

After 50 years

After 50 years of marriage, these words are so true today a they were 50 years ago. Every couple should read these words when they take their words together the first time or fifty years later wlhen they renew their marriage commitment.

Rich J 2015-03-31

So Beautiful

I am so loving this. Definitely will be using this for my upcoming wedding this August. This reading is so powerful and perfect for such a beautiful occasion.

Stacie Banks 2015-03-25

I Love This

this is so beautiful and reminds me of how my fh holds my hand all the time now I wanna use this in my wedding

Lora 2015-01-21

Celebrant

I use this often but add the following:

Before: "Please (couple) hold your hands palm facing up so you may see the gift you pledge to each other today."
After" (Couple) now clasp your hands together for just as your hands are joined together so your marriage will always be joined in love"

To me this brings everyones (guests) attention to what we are doing

Ian Brockhouse 2015-01-20

beautiful

This was used at my son's wedding quite beautifully. There has now been a video made using the preacher's reading and video clips taken throughout the wedding. Of course, the clips were of them holding hands, each other, and included him wiping away her tears during the ceremony. So beautiful!

Jacque 2014-11-01

Mine

This reading brings tears into my eyes. Will use it for my wedding ceremony

Teri 2014-10-30

dont gabble

At a recent wedding this was read. Unfortunately the reader rushed through it so quickly that it couldn't be heard.
Rules of public speaking, SLOWLY, loudly and pausing with the punctuation to make sure that the tees and word endings are clear. You can hear what you say but the 1-200 people present can't unless you SPEAK UP

martin Freye 2014-06-04

Used at my step sons wedding

My step sons Mother read this at his wedding yesterday it was beautiful. And made me cry

Gill 2013-12-01

LOVE it

I am using this on my wedding on 9/20/14 . I am also using Celtic wedding vows as opposed to the "traditional" ones. Having the a gift to make mine and my fiance's wedding unique and ours. Thank the gods of old we have Rev Cooke that can do this for us.

Emrys 2013-09-14

mrs

Read this at my sons wedding and even though i rehearsed it hundreds of times cried all the way through it . X

Noeleen Quinn 2013-08-30

Blessing of the Hands

These are beautiful words. Very personal. I am going to recite this Blessing next month as I officiate my first wedding. I was a nanny 20+ yrs. ago for the bride to be & I am so honored she and her groom asked me to marry them. This blessing along with "Union" by Robert Fulghum will be very beautiful.

PJ Brenner 2013-07-17

reverend

I saw this while preparing to officiate a secular wedding. I decided if you are going to leave God out of your wedding/life the least I can do his bless your hands

ronald johnson 2013-06-05

perfect gift for anniversary. Love It

I am going to take a photo of the wedded couples hands together on the wedding day. Enlarge the photo and frame it together with this beautiful, loved filled reading.

Bella 2013-05-30

Perfect Sentiment

I read this at my sister's wedding - simply sums upeverything

Nicola 2013-01-25

Blessing of Hands

I pray that these words manifest and want to use them in my marriage vows. God Bless!

Angel 2012-11-11

Omg that is divine

Will certainly use this reading, very special indeed

Donna carlton 2012-09-21

Truth

My sister, a judge,married my husband and me, and this was the poem she read as a part of our vows..there wasn't a dry eye in the place.. In truth, the hands you hold from that day forward should be the ones you grow old with ..

Bev 2012-09-12

Really lovely reading

I heard this at a wedding at the weekend - it was so moving, I wish I'd had it at my wedding.

Amanda 2012-09-03

Inspiring

My son and his wife had his grandfather and her grandmother read this poem at their beautiful wedding. There wasn't a dry eye in the church when they were finished!

Gail 2012-07-03

Blessings

This was the blessing we read at our wedding and we all wept...the tenderness of the moment combined with the prayer was the most beautiful part of our ceremony. We remember it always and always hold hands!

Cathy 2012-05-31

Mrs

I read this poem for my friend at her wedding. this is so powerful it leaves me in tears all the time

Abbey Ali 2012-03-31

blessing of hands

i was fortunate enough to be asked to read this out at my sons wedding, after i had chosen it,it moved me greatly lovely sentiment

david 2011-12-21

Amazing

After reading through hundreds of poems and quotes I was so happy to find this. I wish it ended in a way that actually blessed the hands though. Like "Let us all bear witness as I bless these hands" or something.

dayna 2011-12-20

Remebered from a previous wedding

I remembered these vows from a wedding I attended almost 8 years ago and when I got engaged I immediately looked this up and am going to use it for our ceremony. It was so beautiful I remembered it all these years.

Danielle 2011-11-08

mother of bride reading

How lovely. I have been looking for an appropriate reading for my daughter's wedding next saturday and now I have found the perfect one. Thank you

carole 2011-10-22

hands ceremony

The minister used this at my daughters wedding. This was the most beautiful words I have ever heard at a wedding. Everyone was touched. It tells alot about marriage that everyone should hear.

claire 2011-06-21

love this reading

Having just been ordained, I'm looking at all aspects of the ceremony and really love this reading.

jane 2011-04-25

Blessing Of The Hands

Thought this reading was beautiful and said ALL that needed to be said.
Lyndsey and I shared this reading at our son and daughters wedding, very touching.

Catriona Green 2011-01-05

So beautiful...

Imagined this being read by one of my best friends on my wedding day bought tears to my eyes.

Victoria 2010-10-20

Yep

Yep , that is beautiful , I think this will be a good one right before the rings . We are both massage therapists , so somehow I resonate with that one . Thank you .

Isabelle 2010-05-02

Beautiful

I am reading this for my dad and his fiancees wedding tomorrow! Very beautiful..

Natalie 2010-03-19

Beautiful

I will be showing ths to my partner and hoping he feels the same way about ths reading as I do. We are having a Handfasting ceremony so this seems perfect.

Maree 2010-02-07

This is what my husband remembered

I was married 2 years ago and we used this and it brought tears to everyones eyes.. This was the one thing my Husband remembered about the Ceremony...

amber 2009-10-22

blessing of the hands

This is a beautiful poem and i'm also using it in my wedding ceremony. It really captured what am sure we all want and need in our relationships.

paula horabin 2009-03-21

Hands

I am having my Matron of Honor (my sister) read this right before the exchange of rings. I love this reading.

Astin 2009-02-22

perfect

We are renewing our wedding vows on a Sea South crusie ship and this is just perfect

anne 2009-01-15

nice...

My friend used this at her wedding but with a personal touch... It was very nice and touching, made many tear away...

amri 2008-09-24

Excellent

I can't wait to use this in my wedding in September.

Bob 2008-09-16

Just perfect

I've been looking for something like this for months and now finally 2 weeks before our wedding I found it. It is perfect and sums up how much we mean to one another and love each other. THANK YOU!!!!!

Amy Eller 2008-09-03

used in my ceremony

I used this reading in my wedding ceremony on 8-8-8 at Catalina Island. It was just my groom and I,and minister,witness. My groom began to get teary eyed when it was read then i ... just beautiful....

jessica 2008-08-11

Crying as I write

This has to be the most touching reading I have read! It is amazing the power these words have...I have been searching for the perfect saying to be read at the wedding and I just found it!! Thanks so much! It is just perfect!

Alli 2008-07-24

Such a beautiful piece

My fiance and I will also be using this poem as a reading in our ceremony. Truly beautiful... there won't be a dry eye in the house!

Alana 2008-07-19

Hold hands

i am going to use this too. the minister will say, "i would now invite you Louise and Kieran to hold one another's hands and think about these words..." then he will say the reading... it is perfect!

Louie 2008-05-28

puke

Went to a wedding with this reading. It made everyone uncomfortable (slightly longer version of poem) and the reception was spent wondering if the bride was already pregnant.

Betsie 2008-04-03

beautiful...just beautiful

this is so touching...a promise of eternal love.definately using this in my wedding

pius 2008-03-23

Perfect

I'm not very good with words but this poem is perfect. I'll definitely be using it in my wedding and i know it'll stick in my fiances heart. God bless

Sandra odoemenam 2008-03-09

Beautiful

I am reading this at work and it just made me cry! Definitely using this at my wedding

Emma 2008-01-15

Hand-fasting

We are doing a Celtic ceremony in which our hands our bound together, I think this will be perfect during that.

Jina 2007-09-10

beautiful

This is amazing. So touching and perfect for my wedding! thank you.

sarah 2007-08-04

Blessing of the hands

It choked me up when I read it :)I'm going to use it too. I am also using Blessing for a Marriage.

Amanda 2007-07-03

Family Tradition

My husband had this in our wedding and our niece and 2 nephews had it thier weddings. It has become a tradition in our family now.

Michelle 2007-06-30

beautiful

i will change it up a bit since our ceremony is a renewal of vows, but this is such a beautiful piece. i especially love the last part.

Kristin 2007-06-19

Wonderful

Can't wait to use this in my wedding in October!

Toni 2007-05-31

Perfect Prayer

I found this prayer before i even got engaged and wrote it in a diary knowing that someday i would definitly want it in my wedding. Thankfully my prince charming came along and we are using this beautiful piece next year!!

maria 2007-04-25

Perfect

This is such a simply perfect read for a wedding. My sister who is standing as my MOH will be reading this at my wedding in May!!

Audrey 2007-03-14

i cry everytime

I LOVE this blessing... I have come along the long reading of this blessing and I will be using it in my wedding I hope everyone likes it.... I know I tear up every time i read it!

Sarafena 2007-02-26

I have tears in my eyes

I too am going to use this in my wedding. It is short, but very touching.

Rebecca 2005-09-12

Blessings of the hands

I think its very beautiful.Im also going to us this on my wedding day.It WOW me.Thank-you God Bless.

Roxanne Clarke 2005-08-12

I love this reading

I am using this in my wedding. I think it is a beautiful reading and very intimate for a wedding ceremony!!

Judith 2005-06-20