The symbolism of joined hands within marriage, and specifically in the civil marriage ceremony, holds a powerful meaning.

If we think about it, ever since we were children those who looked after us and then raised us would hold out their hands to teach us how to do something new and above all to instil confidence. With joined hands we began to take our first steps, hand in hand we arrived with our parent on the first day of school, and so on.

So also on the wedding day, hands take on a special connotation: how many stories our joined hands can tell, how many situations, people and feelings they have made us feel.

The groom’s entrance into the ceremony is done with joined hands with his mother or a relative; the bride’s entrance into the civil ceremony is also done with her father or a relative. All this with joined hands to recreate an atavistic bond, to instil that feeling of security at such a crucial moment.

Ivano and Valeria remained for most of the wedding with joined hands as they listened and interacted with their celebrant, as they stood up to prepare to say their “Yes, I do”.

Of course, the couple’s own and personal physicality is something that must be respected and kept intact, so the celebrant may simply invite them to stand with joined hands at some point during the ceremony, but without ever being intrusive.

At the moment of the exchange of consent in marriage, the bride and groom hold each other’s hands and then give each other their right hands, as a symbol of a pact, of an alliance that one hopes will last as long as possible.

Trusting, surrendering and giving each other strength and confidence always with joined hands to feel each other’s sensations simply by touching hands. The body communicates much more than we think especially at a time in marriage where there can be tension and a lot of emotion.

When a man’s hand touches a woman’s hand, both touch the heart of eternity.

Khalil Gibran