Tying a couple's wrists together with coloured cords or ribbons is the essential core of the handfasting ceremony

Four of the colours represent the elements :

Green for the Earth
Gold for the Air
Blue for the Sea
Red for the Fire

In a six cord ceremony a colour is added for each of you to choose to represent yourself , preferably not one of the colours of the elements . You can pick a colour either because you like it or because of what it is associated with

There are many different accounts of the meaning of each colour , but here is a short list you may find useful :

Red
The colour of the element of Fire
Passion , strength , courage , health

Pink
Honour , truth , happiness , friendship

Orange
Adaptability , attraction , kindness , encouragement

Yellow
Charm , confidence , balance , harmony

Blue
The colour of the Element of Water
Light blue
Tranquillity , understanding , patience , health
Dark blue
Longevity , safe journey

Green
The colour of the element of Earth
Luck , energy , charity , prosperity

Violet /Purple
Healing , power , progress , high ideals

Black
Wisdom , pure love , empowerment

Grey
Balance , evenhandedness

White
Purity , peace , serenity , devotion

Brown
Concentration , nurturing , hearth and home

Silver
The Moon , creativity , inspiration , protection

Gold
The colour of the element of Air
The Sun , endurance , clarity , unity

The six cord ceremony also includes a set of questions , some of which call for specific answers from each of you individually , and some from both of you together

These are the questions and the answers :

Will you cause her / him pain?
Answer : I may
Is that your intent ?
Answer : No

Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it ?
Answer : We will

Will you share his / her laughter ?
Answer : I will

Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other ?
Answer : We will

Will you burden her / him ?
Answer : I may
Is that your intent ?
Answer : No

Will you share each other's burden so that your feelings may grow stronger ?
Answer : We will

Will you share his / her dreams ?
Answer : I will

Will you dream together to create new hopes and realities?
Answer : We will

Will you cause her / him anger ?
Answer : I may
Is that your intent ?
Answer : No

Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of your relationship ?
Answer : We will

Will you honour him / her ?
Answer : I will

Will you seek never to give cause to break that honour ?
Answer : We shall never do so