Hand binding also called hand fasting

Its' meaning is essentially the same from culture to culture and religion to religion, in that it is symbolic of the couple's "oneness" and unity. The form we use is basically Celtic. We have the bride and groom place their hands on top of each other,  a white silk rope is draped around them to symbolize that the couple has bound their lives together. To bind children who are included in the ceremony, a placement of their hands along with their parents is included  as a symbol that everybody is now tied together as a family.