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In This Article

• Unique Blessings
• Funny Blessings
• Casual Blessings
• Short Blessings
• Religious Blessings
• Blessings From Different Cultures
• Blessings From Parents
• Blessings For Friend
• Blessings For Sister
• Blessings For Couple
• Bible Verses Quotes

Wedding Dinner Blessing

Non-religious wedding blessings.

• Anniversary Blessings
• When To Say Wedding Blessing
• Wedding Party & Reception

50+ Beautiful Wedding Blessings And Prayers For You

Wedding blessings are beautiful and meaningful quotes for newlyweds. These words of wisdom and encouragement have been passed down through the generations. They also offer guidance and inspiration as the couple embarks on their new life together. They can serve as blessings to guide them through the years to come.

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From classic literature to modern poetry, these quotes offer a variety of perspectives on love, commitment, and the journey of marriage. Check out our tips on inspiring wedding blessings quotes below.

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Brides Often Ask

What are the 7 wedding blessings.

The seven wedding blessings are as follows:

1. A blessing of joy and laughter. 2. A blessing of commitment and faithfulness. 3. A blessing of companionship and intimacy. 4. A blessing of selflessness and sacrifice. 5. A blessing of forgiveness and understanding. 6. A blessing of respect and admiration. 7. A blessing of eternal love and devotion.

When giving these blessings, be sensitive and respectful of the couple’s beliefs. Also, speak from the heart and be genuine in your words and wishes.

How do you say wedding blessings?

Use your creativity, knowledge of the couple, and relationship with them to make your wedding prayers unique and special. If the couple has a good sense of humor, consider incorporating a bit of humor into your blessing. It will make the moment more light-hearted and memorable. Also, you can invite the guests to join in saying a blessing over the couple.

Unique Wedding Blessings Quotes

“May your hearts be united, May your love be unending, and may the world be forever a better place because the two of you fell in love” By Dave Willis

“What I’m feeling, I think, is joy. And it’s been some time since I’ve felt that blinkered rush of happiness. This might be one of those rare events that last, one that’ll be remembered and recalled as months and years, wind and ravel. One of those sweet, significant moments that leaves a footprint in your mind. A photograph couldn’t ever tell its story.” from “Jasper Jones” by Craig Silvey

Unique wedding blessings quotes are personalized, heartfelt messages that convey love, joy, and well wishes for the couple on their special day. Be sure to use unique quotes that have emotional connections for the couple. It will make the quote more meaningful and memorable for the couple. Also, consider the tone of the wedding and choose prayers and blessings that match it.

Funny Wedding Blessings

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“I love you more than a duck can swim, And more than a grapefruit squirts, I love you more than a gin rummy is a bore, And more than a toothache hurts. As a shipwrecked sailor hates the sea, Or a juggler hates a shove, As a hostess detests unexpected guests, That’s how much you I love.” By Ogden Nash

“To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever you’re wrong admit it; Whenever you’re right shut up.” By Ogden Nash

When saying funny wedding blessings and wishes, make sure the humor is appropriate for the occasion and does not offend anyone. Choose a funny quote that will be well-timed and will get a laugh from the audience. Also, consider the couple’s sense of humor, and try not to overuse humor. Use it sparingly to keep it effective.

Casual Wedding Blessings

“After all these years, I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the beginning; it is better to live outside the Garden with her than inside it without her.” By Mark Twain

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.” By Neil Gaiman

For casual blessings, it is vital to keep the tone light and personal. You can include a mix of humor, love, and well wishes for the couple. Also, personalize your blessing by sharing a story or anecdote about the couple. Afterward, encourage guests to raise a glass in a toast to the couple.

Short Wedding Blessings

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“Madly in love after so many years … they enjoyed the miracle of loving each other as much at the table as in bed, and they grew to be so happy that even when they were two worn-out old people they kept on blooming like little children and playing together like dogs.” By Gabriel Garcia Marquez

“Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.” By Albert Einstein

Short blessings readings can be as meaningful as the longer ones, as long as they are heartfelt and sincere. Also, keep it short and sweet, as guests may have a limited attention span. While you are saying your blessings, be concise and to the point, use simple and heartfelt language and then end with a heartfelt wish for the couple’s happiness and future together.

Religious Wedding Blessings

Christian wedding blessings.

“May God bless, keep and guide you the rest of your lives. Happy Wedding Day!”

“Rejoice in your love for each other! God bless you now and always.”

“God bless this marriage and may your love for each other continue to grow.”

“May God bless the two of you abundantly in love, joy, and happiness.”

“We are praying that God guides you in your new adventure. May God pour out blessings on you two.”

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Mark 10:9”

“As you become one in Christ, we wish you more joy and blessings.”

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear. I John 4:18”

Religious blessings are those which appeal to God. They could be taken from the Bible as a quote, or be simply directed to divine forces. For example, English traditional vows are usually written on the base of the Bible but don’t sound very pious.

Jewish Wedding Blessings

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who created everything for His glory. Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who created humanity. Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who created humanity in His image, in the image of the likeness of his form, and made for them an everlasting establishment. Blessed are you, Lord, who created humanity. May the barren one (Jerusalem) rejoice greatly and delight in the ingathering of her children within her in joy. Blessed are you Lord who causes Zion to rejoice with her children. The loving partners shall rejoice as You caused your creatures to delight in the Garden of Eden of old. Blessed are you Lord who causes the groom and bride to rejoice. Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who creates happiness and joy, groom and bride. Exultation, delight, amusement, and pleasure, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. Soon, Lord our God, may the sound of happiness and the sound of joy and the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride be heard in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem — the rejoicing of groom from their huppahs and youths from their singing banquets. Blessed are you Lord who makes the groom rejoice with the bride.

Jewish people take wedding ceremonies seriously. They pay a lot of attention to it and make efforts to keep and cherish their customs. One of them is ShevaB’rachot, Seven Blessings. Jewish blessings are the prayers for the bride’s and groom’s joy, companionship, love, and peace.

Catholic Wedding Blessing

“Lord blesses this beautiful couple with love and hope we pray. Keep alive forevermore the vows they’ve pledged today. May you bless their dreams and visions, And keep them always safe. May peace and joy be with them now On this their wedding day.”

There’s no time limit to when a Catholic Wedding Blessing can occur but it’s customary to perform a blessing shortly after the wedding ceremony, often on the same day and always by an ordained minister.

Pagan Wedding Blessing Examples

“Now you are bound one to the other With a tie not easy to break. Take the time of binding Before the final vows are made To learn what you need to know – To grow in wisdom and love. That your marriage will be strong That your love will last In this life and beyond.”

Papal Wedding Blessing

A Papal Wedding Blessing is a certificate complete with the Papal seal and current Pope’s photo. Receiving a Papal wedding blessing can only be granted to a practicing baptized Catholic and a member of a pastor’s parish. But, the process is rather simple.

All one has to do is fax or mailed to the Parchment Office in Vatican City with at least 2 months’ time for processing. Some Catholics will go to the trouble to travel all the way to Rome for the honor of a Papal blessing. Either way, there is no more meaningful blessing than a Benediction Papal.

Hindu Wedding Blessing Samples

“May this couple be blessed with an abundance of resources and comforts, and be helpful to one another in all ways.

May this couple be strong and complement one another.

May this couple be blessed with prosperity and riches on all levels.

May this couple be eternally happy.

May this couple be blessed with a happy family life.

May this couple live in perfect harmony… true to their personal values and their joint promises.

May this couple always be the best of friends.”

A Hindu priest (pandit) often performs Hindu wedding blessings, but they can also be performed by interfaith priests. There are 7 fairly particular blessings involved in this religious wedding ceremony.

Buddhist Wedding Blessings

“Do not deceive, do not despise each other anywhere. Do not be angry nor bear secret resentments; for as a mother will risk her life and watches over her child, so boundless be your love to all, so tender, kind and mild. Cherish good will right and left, early and late, and without hindrance, without stint, be free of hate and envy, while standing and walking and sitting down, what ever you have in mind, the rule of life that is always best is to be loving-kind.” The Buddha’s Sermon at Rajagaha

Buddhist wedding day blessings typically involve traditional rituals and practices that reflect the couple’s commitment to their spiritual path. So, it is important to involve a qualified Buddhist monk or nun to lead the ceremony, as they will say the blessings and guide the couple through the traditional rituals and practices

Wedding Blessings from Different Cultures

Wedding blessings and wishes from different cultures can vary depending on the specific culture and tradition. When planning a wedding blessing from a different culture, it is important to conduct research and become familiar with the customs, traditions, and symbolism of the different cultures. This will influence how you say your blessings over the new couples.

Irish Wedding Blessings

“May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings Right beside your door.”

“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

Irish wedding blessings quotes are typically steeped in tradition and symbolism. For an Irish wedding ceremony, you can begin with the traditional Irish blessing, “May the road rise to meet you”. Also, it is necessary to be conscious of the symbolism and traditional elements while saying your blessings. It is okay to carry your guests along while saying an Irish blessing for couples.

German Wedding Blessings

“Möge der Herr mit euch sein und euch segnen. Mögt ihr eure Kindeskinder erleben. Mögt ihr arm an Ungemach sein und reich an Gnaden. Mögt ihr vom heutigen Tag an nichts als Segen erleben.”

“May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children’s children. May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.”

German wedding prayers and blessings are led by a priest or minister, who will guide the couple through the exchange of vows and rings. For German blessing, practice pronouncing the words and phrases beforehand to avoid any hesitation or mispronunciation during the ceremony. Also, during the ceremony, speak directly to the couple, wishing them well and speaking about how you are excited about their future together.

Italian Wedding Blessings

“Dio li fa e poi li accoppia.”

“God makes them, and then joins them.”

“Matrimoni e viscuvati, di lu celu su mannati.”

“Weddings and spiritual matters are heaven sent.”

When writing an Italian wedding blessing, it can be helpful to keep it short as Italian wedding blessings are often brief and to the point. So, try to keep your blessing simple and heartfelt. Also, avoid using complex language or flowery phrases. If you are not fluent in Italian, it is a good idea to have your blessing translated by a professional translator to ensure that it is accurate and appropriate.

Apache Wedding Blessings

“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.”

For Apache wedding day blessings, it is vital to research and understand the traditional Apache wedding ceremony and customs, consult with the couple, speak clearly and confidently, and incorporate personal elements into the ceremony. Also, the blessings should be straight to the point, as time is of the essence during weddings.

Wedding Blessings from Parents

“I pray your home be blessed with the love, joy and laughter. And I ask God to give you a long and healthy marriage remaining faithful to one another throughout all seasons of life. Our prayers for our children never cease.”

“May your life be filled with laughter, endless happiness, and good fortune. May your hearts be filled with dreams to face each day with hope and motivation.”

Wedding prayers and blessings from parents are often emotional as it comes from a deep place. If you are a parent, write your blessing or speech, and speak from your heart to your children. There is always a tendency to talk too much but it is advisable to keep it short and sweet. Also, avoid childhood topics that might not sit well with the couples, you don’t want to ruin their day.

Wedding Blessings for a Friend

“May you have strength, patience, good humor, peace, love, and joy in your life together.”

“May these vows and this marriage be blessed. May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah. May this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm. May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise.”

A wedding blessing for a friend captures the essence of your relationship with the couple. You can use humor and personal anecdotes in your speech to make it more relatable to the couple and the guests. You can also share experiences or wisdom about love and marriage that you think may be helpful for the couple. It’s best to end your wedding blessing with a heartfelt and sincere speech for the couple’s future.

Wedding Blessings for Sister

“May your wedding day be as perfect as you are: awesome!”

“You used to be the little girl who would always follow me around, and now you’re all grown up. To me, it all seems like a dream. May your marriage always be happy!”

If you are writing a wedding blessing for your sister, share emotional details about your unique relationship and how you have seen her grow and develop throughout the years. It is also necessary to reminisce about childhood memories and important moments that you have shared. End the wedding blessings quotes by offering your love and support to your sister and her partner as you wish them a lifetime of happiness together.

Wedding Blessings for Couples

“May the years ahead be filled with lasting joy.”

“May the love and happiness you feel today shine through the years.”

When saying wedding day blessings over a couple, it is okay to use storytelling and imagery in your speech to paint a picture of the couple’s journey and future together. Also, encourage the couple to continue to communicate and grow together in their relationship. And, end the blessing with a quote or poem that encapsulates the love and commitment of the couple.

Bible Verses for Wedding Blessings

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

When choosing Bible verses for the wedding blessings message, think about the overall theme or message you want to convey during the ceremony and choose verses that align with that theme. Also, look for verses that convey love and commitment, and avoid using too many verses or complicated language that may be difficult for guests to understand.

Dinner blessings honoring the couple and asking God to provide them with joy, strength, and fruitfulness.

Breaking bread has been part of rituals and ceremonies for thousands of years, and there’s still no better way to bless a marriage.

Here is a traditional religious wedding dinner blessing example:

“Thank you, Creator, for bringing (name) and (name) together in such a happy way. We ask the Universe to bless this couple and their future together. May happiness and joy be a hallmark of their relationship. As they explore their love for each other, establish a home, and build a life together, may they be strengthened by the love and encouragement of those gathered here today. If times get hard, may they remember the commitment they made today and the joy that brought them together? Help them to learn from one another and grow strong as both individuals and a couple. May the food we eat now bring strength to us, and may we all enjoy this time of celebration and friendship. Amen.”

Non-religious wedding blessings are a wonderful way to celebrate a couple’s union without invoking specific religious beliefs or traditions. They can be secular, poetic, or philosophical in nature, and are often focused on themes such as love, commitment, and partnership. Non-religious wedding blessings can be recited by family members, friends, or officiants, and offer a heartfelt way to share in the joy of the wedding ceremony.

May your love for each other be as endless as the oceans, as timeless as the mountains, and as enduring as the skies above.

As you begin your journey together, may your love and commitment to each other only deepen and grow with each passing day. May your life together be filled with joy, laughter, and endless love.

May your love story be like a beautiful melody, always in harmony and full of love. May you continue to create a life of happiness, love, and laughter together.

Blessings on Wedding Anniversary

“May God keep blessing the two of you, and may the love you have for each other keep growing with time.”

“May your marriage be blessed with love, joy, and companionship for all the years of your lives.”

Every couple deserves a blessing on their wedding anniversary. When you are saying these wedding anniversary blessings, share how you have seen the couple grow and evolve in their marriage and how they have inspired you in your own life. It is also necessary to encourage the couple to prioritize their relationship and make time for each other.

When It’s Time To Say Your Wedding Blessing

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Traditionally, a blessing is given during the ceremony or at the reception before dinner. Depending on customs and the couple’s preferences, it’s said either by a religious leader or by a family member. Generally, it goes before the ceremony to grace all the guests, to invite holiness to the venue. But in the end, the blessing is to pray for God’s approval of the new marriage.

At the reception, you might say blessings to a family member, like a father’s prayer to a son, a sister’s blessing, etc.

However, they all vary in length, it could be long marriage quotes  or just a short saying, but they all have care, kindness, and goodwill in common.

Wedding blessings for couples are an important part of the wedding ceremony and are a way to offer support and well wishes for the couple’s future together. It is also important to remember that the wedding blessing is not only for the couple, but also for the guests, and it should be a memorable and meaningful moment for everyone.

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35 Wedding Blessings, Prayers, And Readings For Your Ceremony

Excuse us while we grab our handkerchiefs!

We have rounded up a few of our favorite Bible verses, readings, and poems for you to use on your wedding day that will add a beautiful personal element to your ceremony, and ensure a memorable service for you and those attending.

Choose from these prayers, blessings, and readings to add a special touch to your wedding day.

Wedding Day Blessings

Southern Living

Marriage Prayer for Bride and Groom

By Dr. Louis H. Evans

O God of love, Thou has established marriage for the welfare and happiness of mankind. Thine was the plan, and only with Thee can we work it out with joy.

Bless this husband. Bless him as provider of nourishment and raiment, and sustain him in all the exactions and pressures of his battle for bread. May his strength be her protection, his character be her boast and her pride, and may he so live that she will find in him the haven for which the heart of woman truly longs.

Bless this loving wife. Giver her tenderness that will make her great, a deep sense of understanding, and a great faith in Thee. Give her that inner beauty of soul that never fades, that eternal youth that is found in holding fast the things that never age.

Teach them that marriage is not living merely for each other; it is two uniting and joining hands to serve Thee. Give them great spiritual purpose in life. May they seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the other things shall be added unto them.

May they never take each other's love for granted, but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims, "Out of all this world, you have chosen me."

When life is done and the sun is setting, may they be found then as now, hand in hand, still thanking God for each other. May they serve Thee happily, faithfully, together, until at last one shall lay the other into the arms of God.

This we ask through Jesus Christ, great Lover of our souls.

The Blessing of the Marriage

From  The Book of Common Prayer

Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank you, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death.

Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

A Marriage Blessing

By Dave Willis

May your marriage always bring glory to God, joy to one another and blessings to your family for many generations to come. May love and laughter fill your hearts and your home for all at the days of your lives. May you face every challenge hand-in-hand and side-by-side knowing that with God's grace, you'll conquer all obstacles together. May the world be forever a better place because the two of you fell in love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

From The Church of England

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, for you have created joy and gladness, pleasure and delight, love, peace and fellowship.

Pour out the abundance of your blessing upon  N  and  N  in their new life together. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts and a crown upon their heads.

Bless them in their work and in their companionship; awake and asleep, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death.

Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that banquet where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home.

We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord mercifully grant you the riches of his grace, that you may please him both in body and soul, and, living together in faith and love, may receive the blessings of eternal life.

Blessings of the Hands

By Rev. Daniel L. Harris

These are the hands of your partner, young and strong and full of love, holding your hands as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will hold you and comfort you in grief and uncertainty. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and joy. These are the hands that will hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength. And these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Bible Verses

Song of solomon 8:6-7, new international version.

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its passion as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.

Colossians 3:12-17, New International Version

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, New International Version

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, New International Version

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Romans 12:9-18, New International Version

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Ephesians 5:25-31, New International Version

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

Isaiah 61:10-11, New International Version

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

1 John 3:18-24, New International Version

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God's commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Proverbs 3:3-6, New International Version

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Wedding Prayers

Wedding prayer.

By Robert Louis Stevenson

Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow, for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen

A Wedding Prayer

By Max Lucado

Would you take these two, of dust and bone, Born of flesh, then you, Would you make them one?

Would you speak again The words you spoke When Adam slept And Eve awoke?

Would you let your wine Replace our water. And look with grace On this son, this daughter?

Oh Lord of Eden In your majesty Create again Your tapestry

One heart Where there were two. This is the prayer We lift to you.

Wedding Poems

This marriage.

May these vows and this marriage be blessed. May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah. May this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm. May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise. May this marriage be a sign of compassion, a seal of happiness here and hereafter. May this marriage have a fair face and a good name, an omen as welcome as the moon in a clear blue sky. I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage.

Entering the Vow

By Maureen Tolman Flannery

What is a vow, but an intention spoken out before the world so that the world, in hearing, might take part in aspirations of the willing heart? In our coming here today to join and bless the joy of your becoming wed, may we enter in the truth of the words you've said, "I do."

To Love Is Not to Possess

By James Kavanaugh

To love is not to possess, To own or imprison, Nor to lose one's self in another. Love is to join and separate, To walk alone and together, To find a laughing freedom That lonely isolation does not permit. It is finally to be able To be who we really are No longer clinging in childish dependency Nor docilely living separate lives in silence, It is to be perfectly one's self And perfectly joined in permanent commitment To another–and to one's inner self. Love only endures when it moves like waves, Receding and returning gently or passionately, Or moving lovingly like the tide In the moon's own predictable harmony, Because finally, despite a child's scars Or an adult's deepest wounds, They are openly free to be Who they really are–and always secretly were, In the very core of their being Where true and lasting love can alone abide.

By Lang Leav

You were you, and I was I; we were two, before our time.

I was yours, before I knew; and you have always been mine too.

[i carry your heart with me (i carry it in)]

By E.E. Cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

An Uncommon Love

By Terah Cox

May you have the love only two can know May you go where only two as one may go

May the sun rise and set in your bonded hearts and the moon never find you too long apart

May you cherish each other's dreams as your own and turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones

May you brave life's mountains and miles together May there be no storm your love cannot weather

May you always be lovers and allies and friends May your souls' conversations never end

May you capture on Earth what's in Heaven above May your hearts know the rapture of an uncommon love.

By R. M. Drake

You will be the clouds and I will be the sky. you will be the ocean and I will be the shore. you will be the trees and I will be the wind.

Whatever we are, you and I will always collide.

Hindu Love Poem

Let the earth of my body be mixed with the earth My beloved walks on. Let the fire of my body by the brightness In the mirror that reflects his face. Let the water of my body join the waters Of the lotus pool he bathes in. Let the breath of my body be air Lapping his tired limbs. Let me be sky, and moving through me the cloud-dark Shyama, my beloved.

Wedding Readings

On marriage, from "the prophet".

By Kahlil Gibran

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill up each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall love thee better after death.

St. John Chrysostom Suggests That Young Husbands Should Say To Their Wives

From Catechism of the Catholic Church

I have taken you in my arms, and I love you, and I prefer you to my life itself. For the present life is nothing, and my most ardent dream is to spend it with you in such a way that we may be assured of not being separated in the life reserved for us. . . . I place your love above all things, and nothing would be more bitter or painful to me than to be of a different mind than you.

By William Shakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments. Love is not love / which alters when it alteration finds, / Or bends with the remover to remove. / O no! it is an ever-fixed mark, / That looks on tempests and is never shaken; / It is the star to every wand'ring bark, / whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. / Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks / within his bending sickle's compass come; / Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, / but bears it out even to the edge of doom. / If this be error and upon me prov'd, / I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd.

A Passage From "A Year" With C.S. Lewis

By C.S. Lewis

If the old fairy-tale ending 'They lived happily ever after' is taken to mean 'They felt for the next fifty years exactly as they felt the day before they were married,' then it says what probably never was nor ever would be true, and would be highly undesirable if it were. Who could bear to live in that excitement for even five years? What would become of your work, your appetite, your sleep, your friendships? But, of course, ceasing to be 'in love' need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense—love as distinct from 'being in love'—is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by grace which both partners ask, and receive. They can have this love for each other even at those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when you do not like yourself. They can retain this love even when each would easily, if they allowed themselves, be 'in love' with someone else. 'Being in love' first moved them to promise fidelity: This quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.

Quote From "The Four Loves"

By C. S. Lewis

To love at all is to be vulnerable.

Love Is an Adventure

By Pierre Tielhart de Chardin

Love is an adventure and a conquest. It survives and develops like the universe itself only by perpetual discovery. The only right love is that between couples whose passion leads them both, one through the other, to a higher possession of their being. Put your faith in the spirit which dwells between the two of you. You have each offered yourself to the other as a boundless field of understanding, of enrichment, of mutually increased sensibility. You will meet above all by entering into and constantly sharing one another's thoughts, affections, and dreams. There alone, as you know, in spirit, which is arrived through flesh, you will find no disappointments, no limits. There alone the skies are ever open for your love; there alone lies the great road ahead.

By Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will" - those late night talks that included "someday" and "somehow" and "maybe" - and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed—well, I meant it all, every word."

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another - acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this - is my husband, this - is my wife.

Love Is Friendship Caught Fire

By Laura Hendricks

Love is friendship caught fire; it is quiet, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Love is content with the present, hopes for the future, and does not brood over the past. It is the day-in and day-out chronicles of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you do not have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough.

By Judy Bielicki

It is often said that it is love that makes the world go round. However, without doubt, it is friendship which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel.

True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life—it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony, and it is the calm, warm protection we sometimes need when the world outside seems cold and chaotic.

True friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and failings, without destroying our sense of worthiness. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential.

Bride and Groom came together as friends. Today, they pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and, most importantly, the fun of true friendship.

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40 Wedding Ceremony Readings That Will Wow Any Crowd

In This Article

When it comes time to select your wedding party, you may quickly create a list that’s a little too long for groomsmen. Though your want to include everyone who has made a significant impact on your life in your big day, having double-digits on both sides can becoming overwhelming, fast.

That’s why many couples decide to honor important friends and family in their lives in different ways — from officiants to readers. As part of the ceremony, various people will take the microphone to express poems, scriptures and other meaningful words. While you and your partner should agree on the flow and what’s said for this one-of-a-kind commitment, here are the top 40 options to consider.

Poetic Ceremony Readings

Excerpt from “the master speed” by robert frost .

Two such as you with such a master speed Cannot be parted nor be swept away From one another once you are agreed That life is only life forevermore Together wing to wing and oar to oar.

“Gravitation” by Albert Einstein

Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.

Excerpt from The Irrational Season by Madeleine L’Engle 

But ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take…It is indeed a fearful gamble…Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, so that, together we become a new creature.

To marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take…If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation…It takes a lifetime to learn another person…When love is not possession, but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling, and which implies such risk that it is often rejected.

“A Marriage” by Mark Twain

A marriage makes of two fractional lives a whole; It gives two purposeless lives a work, And doubles the strength of each to perform it. It gives to two questioning natures a reason for living And something to live for. It will give new gladness to the sunshine, A new fragrance to the flowers, a new beauty to the earth And a new mystery to life.

Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove: Oh, no! It is an ever-fixed mark. That looks on tempests and is never shaken; it is the star to every wandering bark, whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken. Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickle’s compass come; love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

“Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of Its Love” By Edmund O’Neill

Marriage is a commitment to life, the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other relationship can equal. It is a physical and an emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.

Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life’s most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other’s best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. And there may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child.

Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly.

Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life.

When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two people who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfill.

“XVII (I do not love you…)” by Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz, or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off. I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers; thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance, risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

Sonnet 75 by William Shakespeare

So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground; And for the peace of you I hold such strife As ‘twixt a miser and his wealth is found; Now proud as an enjoyer and anon Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure, Now counting best to be with you alone, Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure; Sometime all full with feasting on your sight And by and by clean starved for a look; Possessing or pursuing no delight, Save what is had or must from you be took. Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day, Or gluttoning on all, or all away.

“Untitled” by Bee Rawlinson

Love me when I’m old and shocking Peel off my elastic stockings Swing me from the chandeliers Let’s be randy bad old dears. Push around my chromed Bath Chair Let me tease your white chest hair Scaring children, swapping dentures Let us have some great adventures

Take me to the Dogs and Bingo Teach me how to speak the lingo Bone my eels and bring me tea Show me how it’s meant to be

Take me to your special places Watching all the puzzled faces You in shorts and socks and sandals Me with warts and huge love-handles

As the need for love enthralls Wrestle with my damp proof smalls Make me laugh without constraint Buy me chocolate body paint

Hold me safe throughout the night When my hair has turned to white Believe me when I say it’s true I’ve waited all my life for you.

“II” From “Twenty-One Love Poems” by Adrienne Rich

I wake up in your bed. I know I have been dreaming. Much earlier, the alarm broke us from each other, you’ve been at your desk for hours. I know what I dreamed: our friend the poet comes into my room where I’ve been writing for days, drafts, carbons, poems are scattered everywhere, and I want to show her one poem which is the poem of my life. But I hesitate, and wake. You’ve kissed my hair to wake me. I dreamed you were a poem, I say, a poem I wanted to show someone… and I laugh and fall dreaming again of the desire to show you to everyone I love, to move openly together in the pull of gravity, which is not simple, which carried the feathered grass a long way down the upbreathing air.

“Marriage” by Unknown Author

Another ode to the realities of daily married life Marriage is about giving and taking And forging and forsaking Kissing and loving and pushing and shoving Caring and sharing and screaming and swearing About being together whatever the weather About being driven to the end of your tether About sweetness and kindness And wisdom and blindness It’s about being strong when you’re feeling quite weak It’s about saying nothing when you’re dying to speak It’s about being wrong when you know you are right It’s about giving in, before there’s a fight It’s about you two living as cheaply as one (you can give us a call if you know how that’s done!) Never heeding advice that was always well-meant Never counting the cost until it’s all spent And for you two today it’s about to begin And for all that the two of you had to put in Some days filled with joy, and some days with sadness Too late you’ll discover that marriage is madness.

Funny Ceremony Readings

“a word to husbands” by ogden nash.

To keep your marriage brimming With love in the loving cup Whenever you’re wrong, admit it; Whenever you’re right, shut up.

“I’ll Be There for You” by Louise Cuddon

I’ll be there, my darling, through thick and through thin When your mind’s in a mess and your head’s in a spin When your plane’s been delayed, and you’ve missed the last train When life is just threatening to drive you insane When your thrilling whodunit has lost its last page When somebody tells you, you’re looking your age When your coffee’s too cool, and your wine is too warm When the forecast said, ‘Fine,’ but you’re out in a storm When your quick break hotel, turns into a slum And your holiday photos show only your thumb When you park for five minutes in a resident’s bay And return to discover you’ve been towed away When the jeans that you bought in hope or in haste Just stick on your hips and don’t reach round your waist When the food you most like brings you out in red rashes When as soon as you boot up the bloody thing crashes So my darling, my sweetheart, my dear… When you break a rule, when you act the fool When you’ve got the flu, when you’re in a stew When you’re last in the queue, don’t feel blue ’Cause I’m telling you, I’ll be there.

“Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog” by Taylor Mali

On cold winter nights, love is warm. It lies between you and lives and breathes and makes funny noises. Love can wake you up all hours of the night with its needs. Love can give you a sense of security: When you’re walking down the street late at night and you have a leash on love, ain’t no one gonna mess with you. Love needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy. Love does not like being left alone for long. But come home and love is always happy to see you. Love may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life, but you can never be mad at love for long. Love leaves you little surprises here and there. Love makes messes. Sometimes you just want to get love fixed. Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper and swat love on the nose, But then love gives you big kisses, And you laugh at the little things. Sometimes love just wants to play. Running you around the block, leaving you panting. It pulls you in several different directions at once, or winds around and around you, until you’re all wound up and can’t move. And love brings you together. People who have nothing in common but love stop and talk and greet each other on the street. Most importantly, love needs love, and lots of it. And in return, love loves you and loves you and never stops.

“All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulgham

All of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.

These are the things I learned… Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Give them to someone who feels sad. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day. Take a nap every afternoon. Be aware of wonder.

Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

“I Wanna Be Yours” by John Cooper Clarke

I wanna be your vacuum cleaner breathing in your dust I wanna be your Ford Cortina I will never rust

If you like your coffee hot let me be your coffee pot You call the shots I wanna be yours

I wanna be your raincoat for those frequent rainy days I wanna be your dreamboat when you want to sail away

Let me be your teddy bear take me with you anywhere I don’t care I wanna be yours

I wanna be your electric meter I will not run out I wanna be the electric heater you’ll get cold without

I wanna be your setting lotion hold your hair in deep devotion Deep as the deep Atlantic ocean that’s how deep is my devotion

Excerpt from The Princess Bride

Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us togeder today. Mawwage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam. And wove, twue wove, wiww fowwow you fowevah… So tweasuwe youw wove…

“He Never Leaves The Seat Up” by Unknown Author

He never leaves the seat up Or wet towels upon the floor The toothpaste has the lid on And he always shuts the door!

She’s very clean and tidy Though she may sometimes delude Leave your things out at your peril In a second they’ll have moved!

He’s a very active person As are all his next of kin Where as she likes lazy days He’ll still drag her to the gym!

He romances her and dines her Home cooked dinners and the like He even knows her favourite food And spoils her day and night!

She’s thoughtful when he looks at her A smile upon his face Will he look that good in 50 years When his dentures aren’t in place?!

He says he loves her figure And her mental prowess too But when gravity takes her over Will she charm with her IQ?

She says she loves his kindness And his patience is a must And of course she thinks he’s handsome Which in her eyes is a plus!

They’re both not wholly perfect But who are we to judge He can be pig headed Where as she won’t even budge!

All that said and done They love the time they spent together And I hope as I’m sure you do That this fine day will last forever.

He’ll be more than just her husband He’ll also be her friend And she’ll be more than just his wife She’ll be his soul mate ‘till the end.

“I Wanna Grow Old With You” from The Wedding Singer

I wanna make you smile whenever you’re sad Carry you around when your arthritis is bad All I wanna do is grow old with you I’ll get your medicine when your tummy aches Build you a fire if the furnace breaks Oh, it could be so nice, growing old with you I’ll miss you Kiss you Give you my coat when you are cold Need you Feed you Even let you hold the remote control So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink Put you to bed when you’ve had too much to drink Oh, I could be the man who grows old with you I wanna grow old with you

Spiritual Ceremony Readings

Corinthians 13:4-12.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

“On Marriage from The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran

Then Almitra spoke again and said, “And what of Marriage, master?” And he answered saying: –You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

My beloved responded and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along. ‘For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. ‘The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. ‘The fig tree has ripened its figs, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!’

Romans 12:9-16

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Traditional Irish Blessing

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow May the soft winds freshen your spirit May the sunshine brighten your heart May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love. May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face And the rain fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again my friend May God hold you in the palm of his hand May God be with you and bless you May you see your children’s children May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in Blessings May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward May green be the grass you walk on May blue be the skies above you, And from this day forward. May the joys of today Be those of tomorrow.

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive,  it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,  and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

Ecclesiasticus 6:5-6, 14-17

A kindly turn of speech multiplies a man’s friends, and a courteous way of speaking invites many a friendly reply. Let your acquaintances be many, but your advisers one in a thousand. A faithful friend is a sure shelter, whoever finds one has found a rare treasure. A faithful friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth. A faithful friend is the elixir of life, and hose who fear the Lord will find one. Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a man is, so is his friend.

Apache Wedding Blessing

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, may happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficult and fear assail your relationship – as they threaten all relationships at one time or another – remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

“Wedding Prayer” by Robert Louis Stevenson

Lord, behold our family here assembled.  We thank you for this place in which we dwell,  for the love that unites us,  for the peace accorded us this day,  for the hope with which we expect the morrow,  for the health, the work, the food,  and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;  for our friends in all parts of the earth.  Amen

Scottish Wedding Prayer

Lord help us to remember when  We first met and the strong  love that grew between us.  To work that love into  practical things so that nothing  can divide us.  We ask for words both kind  and loving and hearts always  ready to ask forgiveness as well as to forgive. Dear Lord, we put our  marriage into your hands.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

“The Hungering Dark” by Frederick Buechner

Matrimony is called holy, because this brave and fateful promise of a man and a woman, to love and honor and serve each other through thick and thin, looks beyond itself to more fateful promises still, and speaks mightily of what human life at its most human and most alive and most holy must always be. Every wedding is a dream, and every word that is spoken there means more than it says, and every gesture – the clasping of hands, the giving of rings–is rich with mystery. And so we hope with every bride and groom, that the love they bear one another, and the joy they take in one another, may help them grow in love for this whole world where their final joy lies.

Romantic Ceremony Readings

Excerpt from the amber spyglass by phillip pullman.

I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I’ll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again… I’ll be looking for you, every moment, every single moment. And when we do find each other again, we’ll cling together so tight that nothing and no one’ll ever tear us apart. Every atom of me and every atom of you… We’ll live in birds and flowers and dragonflies and pine trees and in clouds and in those little specks of light you see floating in sunbeams… And when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me.

Excerpt from Love is an Adventure by Pierre Tielhart de Chardin

Love is an adventure and a conquest. It survives and develops like the universe itself only by perpetual discovery. The only right love is that between couples whose passion leads them both, one through the other, to a higher possession of their being. Put your faith in the spirit which dwells between the two of you. You have each offered yourself to the other as a boundless field of understanding, of enrichment, of mutually increased sensibility. You will meet above all by entering into and constantly sharing one another’s thoughts, affections, and dreams. There alone, as you know, in spirit, which is arrived through flesh, you will find no disappointments, no limits. There alone the skies are ever open for your love; there alone lies the great road ahead.

“To Love Is Not to Possess” by James Kavanaugh

To love is not to possess, To own or imprison, Nor to lose one’s self in another. Love is to join and separate, To walk alone and together, To find a laughing freedom That lonely isolation does not permit. It is finally to be able To be who we really are No longer clinging in childish dependency Nor docilely living separate lives in silence, It is to be perfectly one’s self And perfectly joined in permanent commitment To another–and to one’s inner self. Love only endures when it moves like waves, Receding and returning gently or passionately, Or moving lovingly like the tide In the moon’s own predictable harmony, Because finally, despite a child’s scars Or an adult’s deepest wounds, They are openly free to be Who they really are–and always secretly were, In the very core of their being Where true and lasting love can alone abide.

Excerpt from Gift From The Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh  

When you love someone, you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand. We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity; when the only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity—in freedom, in the sense that the dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in the same pattern.

The only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even. Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now. Relationships must be like islands, one must accept them for what they are here and now, within their limits—islands, surrounded and interrupted by the sea, and continually visited and abandoned by the tides.

“I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles 

Let the bough break, let it come down crashin’ Let the sun fade out to a dark sky I can’t say I’d even notice it was absent ‘Cause I could live by the light in your eyes I’ll unfold before you Would have strung together The very first words Of a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right I choose you I will become yours and you will become mine I choose you

There was a time when I would have believed them If they told me you could not come true Just love’s illusion But then you found me and everything changed And I believe in something again My whole heart Will be yours forever This is a beautiful start To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right I choose you I will become yours and you will become mine I choose you 

We are not perfect We’ll learn from our mistakes And as long as it takes I will prove my love to you I am not scared of the elements I am underprepared, but I am willing And even better I get to be the other half of you

Tell the world that we finally got it all right I choose you  I will become yours and you will become mine I choose you 

Blessing of the Hands by Unknown Author

These are the hands of your partner, young and strong and full of love, holding your hands as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will hold you and comfort you in grief and uncertainty. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and joy. These are the hands that will hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength. And these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Excerpt from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

When he looked into her eyes, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke — the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. Because when you know the language, it’s easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it’s in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have no meaning.

“Sooner or Later” by Unknown Author

Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines, and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favorite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all–one known only by those who love.

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37 Wedding Blessings for Every Culture [Free Printables]

A wedding blessing is a beautiful addition to any wedding ceremony. Get inspired with these wedding blessings for every culture, plus free printable scripts.

What is a Wedding Blessing?

A wedding blessing acknowledges the lifelong commitment made by newlyweds. For religious couples, it can symbolize a declaration of approval of the marriage and a means of asking a higher power for many happy and prosperous years together.

Wedding blessings and prayers are a long-standing tradition in many cultures, and they’re a great way to add a special touch to your big day. For traditional couples, wedding ceremony blessings can be a way of honoring a higher power and praying for a successful marriage . During nontraditional weddings, it might simply be a wish for many years of happiness and prosperity as a couple.

Choose your favorite blessing together as a couple or, for something even more intimate, customize your own reading to honor your new marriage.

To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of wedding readings from cultures around the world to inspire you and in no particular order, including:

• Christian wedding blessings
• Buddhist wedding blessings
• Muslim wedding blessings
• Hindu wedding blessings
• Irish wedding blessings
• Jewish wedding blessings
• Catholic wedding blessings
• Scottish wedding blessings
• More wedding blessings

Let’s bow our heads and get into it. ≈

Christian Wedding Blessings

1. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

2. Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow, for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen.

Zola Expert Tip: Don't forget to ask audience members to bow their heads before praying.

3. The Blessing of the Marriage from The Book of Common Prayer

Most gracious God, we give You thanks for Your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank You, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of Your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in Your mercy, bring them to that table where Your saints feast forever in Your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

4. Marriage Blessing by Dave Willis

May your marriage always bring glory to God, joy to one another, and blessings to your family for many generations to come. May love and laughter fill your hearts and your home for all of the days of your lives. May you face every challenge hand in hand and side by side knowing that with God's grace, you'll conquer all obstacles together. May the world be forever a better place because the two of you fell in love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

5. Marriage Prayer for Newlyweds by Dr. Louis H. Evans

O God of love, Thou has established marriage for the welfare and happiness of mankind. Thine was the plan, and only with Thee can we work it out with joy.

Bless this husband. Bless him as provider of nourishment and raiment, and sustain him in all the exactions and pressures of his battle for bread. May his strength be her protection, his character be her boast and her pride, and may he so live that she will find in him the haven for which the heart of woman truly longs.

Bless this loving wife. Giver her tenderness that will make her great, a deep sense of understanding, and a great faith in Thee. Give her that inner beauty of soul that never fades, that eternal youth that is found in holding fast the things that never age.

Teach them that marriage is not living merely for each other; it is two uniting and joining hands to serve Thee. Give them great spiritual purpose in life. May they seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the other things shall be added unto them.

May they never take each other's love for granted, but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims, "Out of all this world, you have chosen me."

When life is done and the sun is setting, may they be found then as now, hand in hand, still thanking God for each other. May they serve Thee happily, faithfully, together, until at last one shall lay the other into the arms of God.

This we ask through Jesus Christ, great Lover of our souls.

6. Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

7. Proverbs 3:3-6

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

8. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Buddhist Wedding Blessings

9. The Buddhist Scriptures, The Buddha’s Sermon at Rajagaha, Verses 19-22

Do not deceive, do not despise each other anywhere.

Do not be angry nor bear secret resentments; for as a mother will risk her life and watches over her child, so boundless be your love to all, so tender, kind, and mild.

Cherish goodwill right and left, early and late, and without hindrance, without stint, be free of hate and envy, while standing and walking and sitting down, whatever you have in mind, the rule of life that is always best is to be loving and kind.

10. Prayer by Lama Thubten Yeshe

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.

In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.

The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.

Muslim Wedding Blessings

11. Wedding Dua for Newlyweds

Oh Allah, bless our marriage and let it be a means for us to become closer to You in love and devotion. Let it be a source of untold blessings, happiness and joy. Oh Allah, let our marriage be a way for us and our families to enter Jannah. Ya Allah, protect our marriage from the whisperings of Shaytan. Give us the strength to live together in justice, equity, love, and mercy. My Lord, let this marriage bring untold blessings to us individually, to our families, and our children Insha Allah. My Creator, bless us with children who will be a source of great joy and happiness. Oh Allah, give us the love which you had blessed Muhammad, Allah's Peace and blessings be upon him, and Khadija with, May Allah be pleased with her.

Zola Expert Tip: Rather than having an officiant perform the blessing, a Muslim wedding dua is an opportunity for you as the couple to take the lead!

12. Wedding Prayer From Al-Fatiha, the Holy Qur’an

In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful. Praise be to God, Sovereign of all the worlds. The Compassionate, the Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning. You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help. Guide us on the straight path, the path of those who have received your grace; not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray. Amen.

Hindu Wedding Blessings

13. Saptapadi

Saptapadi, or “The Seven Steps” involves the couple taking seven steps around a holy fire, each step symbolizing a promise to each other. As the steps are taken, the following blessings are spoken aloud:

Let us provide for our household, stay in good health, and carry out our duties and responsibilities to each other, our families, and our tradition.

Let us continue to develop our mental and spiritual powers.

Let us build our wealth and comfort with the right means.

Let us acquire knowledge, happiness, and harmony by mutual love, respect, and trust.

Let us be blessed with a family of strong and virtuous children.

Let us be blessed with long lives.

Let us remain true companions, committed only to each other.

14. Hindu Wedding Poem

Let the earth of my body be mixed with the earth My beloved walks on. Let the fire of my body be the brightness in the mirror that reflects his face. Let the water of my body join the waters of the lotus pool he bathes in. Let the breath of my body be air lapping his tired limbs. Let me be sky, and moving through me the cloud-dark Shyama, my beloved.

15. Lord Ganesha Blessing

To the Holy Son of Shiva and Parvati, To the remover of all obstacles, Lord Ganesha, We petition for Blessings, To sanctify this ceremony of marriage, And to bless this marriage in all ways. Lord Ganesha. You are the speaker. You are the listener. You are the giver. You are the sustainer. Please protect us from all directions. Let us listen with our ears to that which is auspicious, adorable one. Let us perceive with our eyes what is holy. With strong, stable body and limbs, may we seek divine grace and accept the noble order of all our lives. O Lord Ganesha, please provide for the welfare of this family. Guide prosperity and abundance to their door. Please help them feel your goodness and Divinity within their home. We place any challenges of married life at your feet And trust you will always help. We thank you with all of our hearts.

Irish Wedding Blessings

16. Irish Vow of Unity

We swear by peace and love to stand, Heart to heart and hand to hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, Confirming this our Sacred Vow.

17. Irish Marriage Blessing

May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children. May you be poor in misfortunes, And rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.

18. Blessing Stones

While this isn’t a spoken blessing, it’s a commonly practiced Irish tradition that’s just as meaningful. Each wedding guest makes a wish for the couple on a stone, and then tosses the stone into water to bless them.

Zola Expert Tip: The Blessing Stones tradition can be combined with a spoken prayer for an even more meaningful blessing.

Jewish Wedding Blessings

19. The Seven Blessings

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who created everything for His glory.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who created humanity.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who created humanity in His image, in the image of the likeness of his form, and made for them an everlasting establishment. Blessed are you, Lord, who created humanity.

May the barren one (Jerusalem) rejoice greatly and delight in the ingathering of her children within her in joy. Blessed are you Lord who causes Zion to rejoice with her children.

The loving partners shall rejoice as You caused your creatures to delight in the Garden of Eden of old. Blessed are you Lord who causes the groom and bride to rejoice.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who creates happiness and joy, groom and bride. Exultation, delight, amusement, and pleasure, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. Soon, Lord our God, may the sound of happiness and the sound of joy and the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride be heard in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem—the rejoicing of groom from their huppahs and youths from their singing banquets. Blessed are you Lord who makes the groom rejoice with the bride.

20. Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its passion as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.

21. The Hebrew Wedding Prayer

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hath created joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, mirth and exultation, pleasure and delight, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. May there soon be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the jubilant voice of bridegrooms from the wedding canopy, and of youths from their feasts of song. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who gives the bridegroom joy in his bride.

Catholic Wedding Blessings

22. Prayer of St. Francis

Eternal One, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; when there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

23. The Nuptial Blessing

O God, who by your mighty power created all things out of nothing, and, when you had set in place the beginnings of the universe, formed man and woman in your own image, making the woman an inseparable helpmate to the man, that they might be no longer two, but one flesh, and taught that what you were pleased to make one must never be divided;

O God, who consecrated the bond of Marriage by so great a mystery that in the wedding covenant you foreshadowed the Sacrament of Christ and his Church;

O God, by whom woman is joined to man and the companionship they had in the beginning is endowed with the one blessing not forfeited by original sin nor washed away by the flood.

Look now with favor on these your servants, joined together in Marriage, who ask to be strengthened by your blessing. Send down on them the grace of the Holy Spirit and pour your love into their hearts, that they may remain faithful in the Marriage covenant.

May the grace of love and peace abide in your daughter [name], and let her always follow the example of those holy women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures.

May her husband entrust his heart to her, so that acknowledging her as his equal and his joint heir to the life of grace, he may show her due honor and cherish her always with the love that Christ has for his Church.

And now, Lord, we implore you: may these your servants hold fast to the faith and keep your commandments; made one in the flesh, may they be blameless in all they do; and with the strength that comes from the Gospel, may they bear true witness to Christ before all; (may they be blessed with children, and prove themselves virtuous parents, who live to see their children’s children.)

And grant that, reaching at last together the fullness of years for which they hope, they may come to the life of the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

Zola Expert Tip: There are three versions of the Nuptial Blessing prayer you can choose from in the Order of Celebrating Matrimony.

24. Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers

We have gathered here to celebrate the love of [name] and [name]. God has brought them together, and we pray that God will hold them in his love always. As the food we share will strengthen our bodies, may our time together strengthen the love that binds us. Let us pray. Lord God, you sustain all creatures and never cease to give your children the food they need. We bless you for bringing us together in the love that unites us around this table where the food we take strengthens our bodies. We pray that, nourished by your Word, we may grow ever stronger in faith as we strive for the coming of your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Scottish Wedding Blessings

25. Scottish Blessing by Rev. Donald MacLeod

May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire, so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it. And may light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in the window of a house, bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm. And may the blessing of the rain be on you, may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines, and sometimes a star. And may the blessing of the earth be on you, soft under your feet as you pass along the roads, soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day; and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it. May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God. And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly.

26. Scottish Gaelic Blessing

A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief, may you be healthy all your days. May you be blessed with long life and peace, may you grow old with goodness, and with riches.

More Wedding Blessings

If you’re having a multicultural wedding or simply prefer something less traditional, your options are endless! Below we’ve compiled a list of nontraditional wedding readings to inspire you.

27. This Marriage by Rumi

May these vows and this marriage be blessed. May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah. May this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm. May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise. May this marriage be a sign of compassion, a seal of happiness here and hereafter. May this marriage have a fair face and a good name, an omen as welcome as the moon in a clear blue sky. I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage.

28. On Marriage From "The Prophet"

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill up each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

29. Always by Lang Leav

You were you, and I was I; we were two, before our time.

I was yours, before I knew; and you have always been mine too.

30. Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove. O no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wand'ring bark, Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come; Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me prov'd, I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd.

31. Entering the Vow by Maureen Tolman Flannery

What is a vow, but an intention spoken out before the world so that the world, in hearing, might take part in aspirations of the willing heart? In our coming here today to join and bless the joy of your becoming wed, may we enter in the truth of the words you've said, "I do."

32. An Uncommon Love by Terah Cox

May you have the love only two can know May you go where only two as one may go

May the sun rise and set in your bonded hearts and the moon never find you too long apart

May you cherish each other's dreams as your own and turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones

May you brave life's mountains and miles together May there be no storm your love cannot weather

May you always be lovers and allies and friends May your souls' conversations never end

May you capture on Earth what's in Heaven above May your hearts know the rapture of an uncommon love.

33. Friendship by Judy Bielicki

It is often said that it is love that makes the world go round. However, without doubt, it is friendship which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel.

True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life—it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony, and it is the calm, warm protection we sometimes need when the world outside seems cold and chaotic.

True friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and failings, without destroying our sense of worthiness. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential.

Bride and groom came together as friends. Today, they pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and, most importantly, the fun of true friendship.

34. To Love is Not to Possess by James Kavanaugh

To love is not to possess, To own or imprison, Nor to lose one's self in another. Love is to join and separate, To walk alone and together, To find a laughing freedom That lonely isolation does not permit. It is finally to be able To be who we really are No longer clinging in childish dependency Nor docilely living separate lives in silence, It is to be perfectly one's self And perfectly joined in permanent commitment To another–and to one's inner self. Love only endures when it moves like waves, Receding and returning gently or passionately, Or moving lovingly like the tide In the moon's own predictable harmony, Because finally, despite a child's scars Or an adult's deepest wounds, They are openly free to be Who they really are—and always secretly were, In the very core of their being Where true and lasting love can alone abide.

35. Blessings of the Hands by Rev. Daniel L. Harris

These are the hands of your partner, young and strong and full of love, holding your hands as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will hold you and comfort you in grief and uncertainty. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and joy. These are the hands that will hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength. And these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

36. Union by Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks, all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will," those late night talks that included "someday" and "somehow" and "maybe," and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed—well, I meant it all, every word."

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another — acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this is my husband, this is my wife.

37. How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall love thee better after death.

Finding the right words to celebrate the moment you become unified in marriage can be challenging. No matter your culture or religion, the wedding blessing or ceremony script you choose should align with your personalities and preferences as a couple.

Wedding Blessing FAQs

Have more questions surrounding choosing a wedding blessing? We have answers.

Who can carry out wedding blessings?

For religious ceremonies, a religious leader like a priest, rabbi, or minister will typically carry out the wedding blessing. For nonreligious couples, it’s common to have the wedding officiant or a friend or family member read it. At the end of the day, it’s your wedding, so you get to choose who carries out the blessing.

How long should a wedding blessing be?

Wedding ceremony blessings typically last between 20 and 30 minutes. If multiple blessings are being given, they’ll be shorter in order to give everyone a chance to speak.

How do you give a marriage blessing?

Marriage blessings are typically given after the couple says, “I do.” To give a blessing, first make sure to get everyone’s attention. If the blessing is a religious prayer, it’s polite to ask guests to bow their heads.

What do the Seven Blessings mean?

The Seven Blessings are a Jewish wedding ceremony ritual that each symbolize a central theme: love, a loving home, humor, wisdom, health, art, and community. The blessings themselves are about the creation of the world, humankind, and the unity and joy of marriage.

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20 Wedding Prayers and Blessings for a Beautiful Ceremony

• Rebecca Barlow Jordan www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com
• Updated Jul 22, 2024

More than ever today, as a husband and wife unite in marriage , they need the prayers and blessings of friends and loved ones to help them build a strong foundation of godly love established on Christ, their Rock. Whether you need an opening prayer to start the ceremony, a prayer to use during communion, or a word of blessing for the couple during the reception, you've come to the right place!

 If you want to give something special and lasting to a couple on their wedding day, here are sample prayers you can offer on their behalf. Feel free to use these prayers and marriage blessings as a part of your own ceremony!

A Wedding Day Prayer

Dear Lord, As this couple begins their lives together on their wedding day, I pray that their hearts will unite as one with You in their desire to make You the center. May this day be the start of something beautiful, a celebration unlike any other.

As they offer their vows to one another in the sight of God and others, give them a clear understanding of their commitment to each other. May their loyalty in marriage mirror Your own love and faithfulness to all Your children. Let them know that two are better than one as they mutually invest in and depend on each other—but that the third strand of their marriage ties should always be You. 

I pray you will give this couple unforgettable moments, unending dedication, and unselfish motives as they pledge their devotion to each another. In every way possible, make the house they build together a godly home—a place where hurts are healed with grace, a place where hearts are sealed with forgiveness, and a place where emotions feel safe when shared with honesty and gentleness. Keep their communication open—with You, and with each other as they make prayer a constant priority.

May they visualize their marriage as more than just a bonding of two lives, but as two on mission for You, Lord—a lighthouse of refuge, a welcome place for encouragement, and a testimony to Your power and grace. Help them to cherish their wedding day as a sacred memorial, and their union as a treasure to protect at all costs. Make it a reminder of hope that keeps on going and faith that keeps on growing. Help them to believe that all things are possible through Christ, the One who began the good work in them.

Lord, on their wedding day, may every word spoken and every precious token remind them of the One who holds all things together and who makes all things good. Together as this couple stands side by side, and hand in hand, hold them tightly and never let them go. Fill their hearts with unceasing gratitude. Be their vision, their strength, and their constant companion.

In Jesus’s name, Amen

Prayer Before the Wedding

Lord, we pray that as (bride’s name) and (groom’s name) get ready for their wedding day, not only would their love for each other grow stronger, but they would become more and more aware of your great love for them. Amen.

Short Opening Prayer 

Opening prayer for a joyful beginning .

Loving God, as we gather to celebrate the union of these two hearts, we invite Your presence among us. Bless this ceremony with joy, understanding, and love that reflects Your own. Guide the bride and groom into a future filled with happiness and grace. May this day mark just the beginning of a journey filled with blessings and laughter. In Your holy name, we pray, Amen.

Opening Prayer for Celebration of Love

Heavenly Father, thank You for this beautiful day that brings us together in love and celebration. We ask for Your blessing on this marriage, that it may be a testament to the strength and beauty of Your love. Grant the couple wisdom, patience, and kindness, and guide them in Your ways as they walk this new path together. May their union be a source of light and joy to all around them. Amen."

Opening Prayer for Blessing on Union

Gracious God, we come before You to celebrate the love and commitment of this couple. As they stand before us, ready to join their lives, we ask Your blessings upon this union. Infuse their relationship with Your love and peace, that they may build a life together that glorifies You. Strengthen their bond and fill their hearts with mutual understanding and respect. In all their days, let them be a symbol of unity and love. Amen.

A Wedding Ceremony Blessing Prayer

Father in Heaven, thank You for this husband, ______, and wife, _______, and their commitment to Christian marriage. As we look ahead, we pray that their future will never lack the convictions that make a marriage strong.

Bless this husband, ______. Bless him as provider and protector. Sustain him in all the pressures that come with the task of stewarding a family. May his strength be his wife’s boast and pride, and may he so live that his wife may find in him the haven for which the heart of a woman truly longs.

Bless this wife, ______. Give her a tenderness that makes her great, a deep sense of understanding, and a strong faith in You. Give her that inner beauty of a soul that never fades, that eternal youth that is found in holding fast to the things that never age. May she so live that her husband may be pleased to reverence her in the shrine of his heart.

May they minimize each other’s weaknesses and be swift to praise and magnify each other’s strengths so that they might view each other through a lover’s kind and patient eyes. Help them every day to be kind and gentle, more like You. Give them a little something to forgive each day, that their love might learn to be long-suffering.

Bless them and develop their characters as they walk together with You. Give them enough hurts to keep them humane, enough failures to keep their hands clenched tightly in Yours, and enough of success to make them sure they walk with You throughout all of their life.

May they never take each other’s love for granted but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims, "Out of all this world, you have chosen me." Then, when life is done and the sun is setting, may they be found then as now, still hand in hand, still very proud, still thanking You for each other.

May they travel together as friends and lovers, brother and sister, husband and wife, father and mother, and as servants of Christ until He shall return or until that day when one shall lay the other into the arms of God. This we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the Great Lover of our souls. Amen. ( excerpt by Lysa Terkeurst )

A Simple Wedding Prayer

Heavenly Father, we gather today in joy and gratitude to celebrate the union of this couple. Bless their marriage with love and laughter, understanding and respect. Guide them in their journey together, that they may be a source of strength and comfort to each other in all their days. May their love grow deeper with each passing year, and may their home be filled with peace and happiness. Keep them close in Your care, and lead them in Your paths. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Short Wedding Blessing Prayers

Blessing for Unity: Heavenly Father, bless this couple with a unity that withstands the tests of time. Knit their hearts together so that they may always find comfort and strength in each other’s arms. Let their love be a beacon of Your own steadfast love and faithfulness. Amen.

Blessing for Enduring Love: Lord, shower this couple with Your grace and bless their marriage with enduring love. May they face each day with hands held tight and hearts united in Your love, growing closer through both joy and adversity. Amen.

Blessing for Wisdom and Guidance: Merciful God, grant this couple wisdom and guidance as they embark on their journey together. May they make decisions with prudence and love, always trusting in Your divine will to lead them through life’s complexities. Amen.

Blessing for Prosperity and Health: Gracious Lord, bless this couple with prosperity and good health. May their lives be full of your abundance and their days marked by vitality. Help them to support each other in all circumstances and share in the joys of life’s blessings. Amen.

The Blessing of the Marriage

Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank you, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death.

Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Book of Common Prayer)

Two Are Better Than One

Lord, In your great wisdom you created marriage for our good. “Two are better than one, because we will have a good return for our labor. If either of us falls down, one can help the other up. If the two of us lie down together, we’ll find warmth and comfort we could never find alone. When we’re threatened by trouble or enemies, the two of us can find strength and power side by side. As you knit our lives together in Christ, our cord of three strands will remain unbroken.”  ( Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 )

Wedding Prayer to Love and to Cherish

Lord, No matter what we achieve in our lives, we have nothing without love. We pray for the Spirit’s fruit of love in our hearts. Give us patience that shows mercy when we fail. Teach us gentleness and self-control to speak with kindness and respect at all times. Guard us from pride that demands our own way. Purify our hearts from selfishness so we will help, serve, and give with cheerful hearts.

Enable us to forgive one another as you have forgiven us. ( Colossians 3:13 ) Keep us from anger and bitterness that will bring division and pain to our marriage . Let us continually face forward, leaving the hurts and mistakes of the past behind. Fill our home with truth and integrity as we live by your Word. Make us worthy of trust and honor, persevering in our love until the end. Amen. (Joanna Teigen, Beautiful and Meaning Prayers for Your Wedding Day )

5 Scriptures to Pray Over Your Wedding Day and Marriage

Dear Lord, we want to honor You completely with our marriage. Help us to remain dedicated to praying over our relationship. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters ... You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light" ( 2 Samuel 22:17 and 29, NIV).

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" ( Colossians 4:6 , NIV).

"What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" ( Romans 8:31 , NIV).

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" ( Ephesians 6:12 , NIV).

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" ( Hebrews 10:23 , NIV).

For a Marriage to Reflect Christ's Love

For unending love.

Lord, thank You for loving us so well. Thank You for demonstrating endless and selfless love for us. I pray that You would strengthen our marriages. I pray that You would hold all of our relationships together in Your grace. Help us love one another in response to Your love for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (by Becky Thompson )

A Prayer to Remain Focused As We Plan Our Wedding

Heavenly Father, as we plan our big wedding day, may we be so keenly aware of Your presence that we, like the priests, stop what we are doing and take a moment to breathe in Your goodness. Father, we thank You for the direction You give us and for Your calming presence in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer for Oneness

Dear God, I pray that You would help me to stand in the mystery of oneness that You’ve given husbands and wives. Help me to trust You and to love him faithfully in the midst of life’s trials. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Our Purpose Together

Dear Lord, guide us as we chase boldly after Your purpose for our life together. May You use our marriage to fulfill Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, for you have created joy and gladness, pleasure and delight, love, peace and fellowship.

Pour out the abundance of your blessing upon (groom's name) and (bride's name) in their new life together. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts and a crown upon their heads.

Bless them in their work and in their companionship; awake and asleep, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death.

Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that banquet where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home.

We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord mercifully grant you the riches of his grace, that you may please him both in body and soul, and, living together in faith and love, may receive the blessings of eternal life. Amen . ( by the Church of England )

Scripture Readings and Bible Verses for Your Wedding Ceremony

Here are some great Scripture readings that speak beautifully about love, partnership, and staying strong together. These selections are perfect for making any wedding ceremony deeply meaningful and heartfelt.

Matthew 19:6 - So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

Corinthians 13:4-8  - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 3:12-17 -  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 John 4:18-19 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.

Colossians 3:14 - And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Song of Solomon 2:16 - My beloved is mine and I am his...

Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Ephesians 5 : 25-21 - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an inspirational author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to encourage others heart to heart. She has written 11 books and over 1700 other articles, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. Her daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is available for delivery through Crosswalk.com . You can find out more about Rebecca at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com .

Image courtesy :©GettyImages/Burke/Triolo Productions

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If you’re thinking of incorporating a Scottish wedding tradition into your special day, but aren’t sure where to start, we look at the different options, what they mean, and how to get you on the road to selecting the right one for you and your partner’s big day .

Read More: 11 Non-Religious Wedding Readings for Your Ceremony

What is a Scottish Wedding Blessing?

A Scottish wedding blessing is essentially a Scottish wedding toast , prayer, or a thanksgiving speech that is traditionally given by the father of the bride and is often comprised of well wishes, compliments, and amusing anecdotes. It is then preceded by the groom with a speech of thanks to the wedding party, guests, and his now-wife, and then by a speech from the best man.

Read More : 11 Non-Religious Wedding Blessings

15 Scottish Wedding Blessing Examples

(Wedding blessing from the Clan Buchanan).

May the hills lie low,

May all evil sleep,

(from “Mystery on the Isle of Skye”).

“A toast to the bride and the groom! Firstly, may you two have a happy and fruitful honeymoon . May your life be happy and full of good fortune, and may you remain lovers for life.

Take the time of bindin’

To grow in wisdom and love.

In this life and beyond.”

And may the blessing of the rain be on you; may it wash your Spirit fair and clean, leaving a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines. 

(Origin unknown).

“May you both be blessed with the fortitude of heaven, the brightness of the Sun, and the brilliance of the moon. May you have the magnificence of fire, speed of lightning, quickness of wind, depth of the sea, stability of Earth, and the sturdiness of rock. May your joys be as sweet as the flowers that blossom in spring and as radiant as the summer Sun. May the shower of autumn leaves bring to you faith and fortune, and may your love be resilient amidst the long winter nights.”

With much love and care,

In a little house where your hearts are content.”

Tea to sip beside the fire,

Be the worst you will ever see.

May you always keep hale and hearty

As we wish you always to be. “

“If righteousness is in the heart, there will be beauty in character. There will be harmony in the home if there is beauty in character. If there is harmony in the home, the nation will have order. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. So let it be!”

“May you both be blessed with the strength of heaven, The light of the sun and the radiance of the moon, The splendour of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of earth, And the firmness of rock.”

“Happy the bride and bridegroom, and thrice happy are they whose love grows stronger daily and whose union remains undissolved until the last day.”

“Ten thousand things bright, Ten thousand miles, no dust, Water and sky one colour, Houses shining along your road.”

How to Write a Scottish Wedding Blessing For Your Big Day

If you want to add your own unique touch to a Scottish wedding blessing , as many do, you can ask the allocated speakers to write them. Here’s what the speaker should bear in mind when creating a wedding blessing:

Scottish Wedding Blessing: FAQs

Celtic weddings are often very traditional affairs and will incorporate a blessing such as “May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!”

Pin Scottish Wedding Blessings

More guides to getting married in scotland, get in touch.

The Best Wedding Prayers & Blessings for Your Wedding Ceremony

If bringing religious or cultural elements into your wedding ceremony is important to you, you may want to consider adding a wedding prayer or wedding blessing. A wedding prayer is a great way to honour your faith and connect your ceremony to something spiritual. It can be delivered by your officiant or by a guest of honour.

Wedding blessings are not reserved for traditional religious or Christian weddings. Couples of all faiths can include prayers into their ceremony. You may even find some prayers on this list that work for a secular (non-religious) ceremony.

Like with all things in your wedding, we believe it should be done your way. If you love one of the prayers here and want to use it in your ceremony, go for it! If you like bits and pieces of different prayers, go ahead and create your own. If the language is outdated, the pronouns don’t fit or you want to address your prayer to a different name, change whatever you want. There’s no one right way to say a wedding prayer.

And if a wedding prayer isn’t for you, you may want to consider adding a reading or a quote to your ceremony. Check out our readings ( romantic , offbeat , from songs , from literature , and from TV/movies ) and quote options .

Here are 27 wedding prayers that could work perfectly for your ceremony:

Opening wedding prayer:

Lord God Almighty,

Creator of the heavens and earth.

Thank you for the gift of marriage

For all the joy and love that it brings us.

We thank you for NAME and NAME

Thank you that you have brought them together for this special day,

And that you hold them safely in Your hands.

We pray that you would richly bless them as they exchange their vows and their wedding rings,

And from this day forward they would walk hand in hand into everything that you have destined them to be.

We give our hearts and beings to You now in adoration,

And welcome Your Holy Spirit amongst us.

Closing wedding prayer:

Gracious God, our hearts are filled with great happiness on this the wedding day of NAME and NAME. They come before you, pledging their lives and their hearts to one another.

Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring heartbreak into their marriage.

Temper their hearts with kindness and help them to be sweethearts, helpmates, friend and guide, and together, may they meet the cares and problems of life more bravely.

May their home truly be a place of love and harmony where your Spirit is ever present. Bless their wedding day, we pray, and walk beside them, through all their life together. Amen.

Short wedding blessing:

Lord bless this beautiful couple with love and hope we pray.

Keep alive forever more the vows they’ve pledged today.

May you bless their dreams and visions,

And keep them always safe.

May peace and joy be with them now

On this their wedding day.

Benediction for Christian wedding wishes:

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you;

the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you,

and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace;

that you may faithfully live together in this life,

and in the age to come have life everlasting.

Episcopal wedding prayer:

Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of salvation, and giver of all grace:

Look with favor upon the world you have made, and for which your Son gave his life,

and especially upon this man and this woman whom you make one flesh in Holy Matrimony.

Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life,

that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity,

a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.

Celtic wedding blessing:

May there always be work for your hands to do.

May your purse always hold a coin or two.

May the sun always shine upon your window pane.

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near to you and

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Irish wedding blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields

and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Irish blessing for wedding:

Happy is the bride that rain falls on

May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.

May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.

May the saddest day of your future

Be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

May your hands be forever clasped in friendship

And your hearts joined forever in love.

Your lives are very special,

God has touched you in many ways.

May his blessings rest upon you

And fill all your coming days.

We swear by peace and love to stand,

Heart to heart and hand to hand.

Hark, O Spirit, and hear us now,

Confirming this our Sacred Vow.

Scottish wedding blessing 1:

A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief,

May you be healthy all your days.

May you be blessed with long life and peace,

May you grow old with goodness, and with riches.

Scottish wedding blessing 2:

May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire, so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it.

And may light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in the window of a house, bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm. And may the blessing of the rain be on you, may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines, and sometimes a star.

And may the blessing of the earth be on you, soft under your feet as you pass along the roads, soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day; and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it. May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God. And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly.

Bless this union wedding prayer:

Dear God, thank you for this joyous day.

Thank you for Your Light that has entered NAME and NAME’s life.

Thank you for all the miracles and blessings.

Please bless this union.

Help NAME and NAME find the perfect place in this world for their love to flourish.

Let the radiant light of their love shine on all those around them.

May all their future creations be blessed.

God, bless them with the inner gifts of trust, compassion, forgiveness and truth that they may live and grow together in love and peace.

Nature of love wedding prayer:

Father of mankind, whose nature is love, look with favor upon this woman and this man who desire to make their vows before you.

We are grateful for the providence that has led to this union.

Grant this to be more than an outward union, but also the blending of hearts and spirits and purposes.

Bless each with the inward qualities of integrity, trust, cooperation and forgiveness, that they may live together in love and peace.

Blessed wedding prayer:

Blessed are the man and the woman who have grown beyond themselves and have seen through their separations.

They delight in the way things are and keep their hearts open, day and night.

They are like trees planted near flowing rivers, which bear fruit when they are ready.

Their leaves will not fall or wither.

Everything they do will succeed.

Blessed is one who comes in the name of Love.

Greek wedding prayer:

I invoke Thee, Who art the greatest of all, Who created all, Who generated it from thyself, Who sees all and is never seen.

We ask Your blessing for NAME and NAME today as they enter into this cherished covenant.

We ask You to bless this community of friends and family who pledge their love and support of NAME and NAME’s marriage.

Infinite One, fly ahead of them

Open the way

Prepare the path

Spirity of the sun

Mother of the light

Come to them!

Cherokee wedding prayer:

God in heaven above, please protect the ones we love.

We honor all You created as they pledge their hearts and lives together.

We honor mother-earth and ask for their marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons.

We honor fire and ask that our their union be warm and glowing with love in their  hearts.

We honor wind and ask that their sail through life safe and calm as in their Father’s arms.

We honor water to clean and soothe their relationship that it may never thirst for love.

With all the forces of the universe You created, we pray for harmony and true happiness as their forever grow young together.

Christian wedding wishes, 1st Corinthians 13:4-7:

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud.

Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way.

Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong.

Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs.

You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them.

Family wedding prayer:

Lord, behold our family here assembled.

We thank you for this place in which we dwell,

for the love that unites us,

for the peace accorded us this day,

for the hope with which we expect the morrow,

for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;

for our friends in all parts of the earth.

Hebrew wedding blessing:

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hath created joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, mirth and exultation, pleasure and delight, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship.

May there soon be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the jubilant voice of bridegrooms from the wedding canopy, and of youths from their feasts of song.

Blessed art thou, O Lord, who gives the Bridegroom joy in his bride.

Song of Solomon:

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine .

My beloved speaks and says to me: Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.

Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is comely. Set me as a seal upon your heart and seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy cruel as the grave.

It flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.

Muslim wedding Dua (for the couple):

Oh Allah, bless our marriage and let it be a means for us to become closer to You in love and devotion. Let it be a source of untold blessings, happiness and joy.

Oh Allah, let our marriage be a way for us and our families to enter Jannah.

Ya Allah, protect our marriage from the whisperings of Shaytan. Give us the strength to live together in justice, equity, love and, mercy.

My Lord, let this marriage bring untold blessings to us individually, to our families, and our children Insha Allah.

My Creator, bless us with children who will be a source of great joy and happiness.

Oh Allah, give us the love which you had blessed Muhammad, Allah’s Peace and blessings be upon him, and Khadija with, May Allah be pleased with her.

Muslim wedding Dua (for the guests):

Oh Allah, bless this couple with faith, love and happiness in this world and the Next.

O Allah, You are the Loving (Al Wadud) and the Merciful (Al Rehman). Please put love and mercy in the hearts of this couple for each other.

Our Creator, strengthen the hearts of the bride and groom with faith, and let them increase in their love and commitment to You through their bond.

Oh Lord of the Universe, all power is with You. Let this couple’s marriage become a beautiful example to other couples.

My God, protect this couple from the misguidance and planning of Shaytan. Help them resist his call to break their bond.

Oh Allah, bless this couple with children who will be a source of happiness and joy to them and the world.

Oh Allah, unite the couple and their families in faith and love.

Oh Lord, You are the Just. Let this couple live their lives being fair and just to each other.

Oh Forgiver (Ghafoor), bless this couple with the strength to forgive each other’s shortcomings.

Oh Allah, give them the loving relationship which Muhammad and Aisha had. May Allah be pleased with them.

Buddhist wedding prayer:

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.

In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.

The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.

A Blessing for The Journey (Buddhist wedding prayer):

Let us vow to bear witness to the wholeness of life,  realizing the completeness of each and every thing.

Embracing our differences,  I shall know myself as you,  and you as myself.

May we serve each other  for all our days,  here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to open ourselves to the abundance of life.

Freely giving and receiving, I shall care for you,  for the trees and stars,  as treasures of my very own.

May we be grateful  for all our days,  here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to forgive all hurt,  caused by ourselves and others,  and to never condone hurtful ways.

Being responsible for my actions,  I shall free myself and you.

Will you free me, too?

May we be kind  for all our days,  here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to remember that all that appears will disappear.

In the midst of uncertainty,  I shall sow love.

Here! Now! I call to you:

Let us together live

The Great Peace that we are.

May we give no fear  for all our days,  here, there, and everywhere.

Hindu wedding prayer:

To the Holy Son of Shiva and Parvati,

To the remover of all obstacles, Lord Ganesha,

We Petition for Blessings,

To sanctify this ceremony of marriage,

And to bless this marriage in all ways.

Lord Ganesha.

You are the speaker.

You are the listener.

You are the giver.

You are the sustainer.

Please protect us from all directions.

Let us listen with our ears to that which is auspicious, adorable one.

Let us perceive with our eyes what is holy.

With strong, stable body and limbs, may we seek divine grace and accept the noble order of all our lives.

O Lord Ganesha, please provide for the welfare of this family.

Guide prosperity and abundance to their door.

Please help them feel your goodness and Divinity within their home.

We place any challenges of married life at your feet

And trust you will always help.

We thank you with all of our hearts.

Prayer of St. Francis:

Eternal One, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

when there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Wedding prayer from Al-Fatiha, the Holy Qur’an:

In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.

Praise be to God, Sovereign of all the worlds.

The Compassionate, the Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.

You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.

Guide us on the straight path,  the path of those who have received your grace;

not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray.

Prayer for no rain on wedding day

On our wedding day, we come to you, With hope in our hearts and skies so blue. We ask for a day without rain’s embrace, So our joy can shine in the perfect space.

With love and gratitude, we make this plea, For clear skies and a rain-free decree. Bless our union with sunshine’s ray, On this cherished day, we humbly pray.

Opening prayer for wedding reception (Catholic)

Loving Father,

As we gather here to celebrate the sacred bond of marriage, we thank you for the love that has brought us together. Bless this joyful occasion as we share in the happiness of [Couple’s Names] and their commitment to each other.

May your grace continue to guide them on their journey of love and unity. Let this celebration be a reflection of the joy and blessings that come from your divine love. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we pray.

Prayer before meals at a wedding reception

On this day of celebration and love, we gather around this table with grateful hearts. We thank you for the union of [Couple’s Names] and for the love that has brought us together.

As we partake in this meal, bless the hands that have prepared it and the hearts that will enjoy it. May this food nourish our bodies and remind us of the abundance of your blessings. Let the joy of this occasion fill our hearts and may your presence be felt among us.

Short prayer for blessing food at wedding reception

Bless this meal before us, a symbol of your abundant provision and the love that brings us together.

May this food nourish our bodies and remind us of the blessings you bestow upon us each day.

We thank you for the gift of community, for the love that binds us, and for the moments of joy that we share. Amen.

Prayer for the bride on her wedding day 

Today, as we celebrate the radiant spirit of [Bride’s Name] on her wedding day, we are reminded of the beauty of love and commitment. We thank you for the joy she brings into our lives.

Bless her with a marriage filled with laughter, shared dreams, and a deep connection. May her days be bright, her nights be peaceful, and her heart be ever open to the blessings you provide. Grant her the strength to face challenges hand in hand with [Partner’s Name], and may their love be a testament to your grace.

As she stands at the threshold of this new adventure, fill her heart with your divine peace and surround her with your loving presence. May her journey be marked by your guidance and boundless love. Amen.

Prayer for those with us in spirit at the wedding ceremony

As we gather to celebrate this union of hearts, we are mindful of those who are no longer with us in body but remain forever in our hearts. We lift up their memory and the love they brought into our lives.

May their spirits surround us today, a gentle presence that reminds us of the love that transcends time and space. We are grateful for the joy they added to our lives and the memories we hold dear.

In this moment of celebration, we acknowledge their absence and hold them close in our thoughts. We are comforted knowing that they are watching over us, and their love lives on in the stories we share and the bonds we cherish.

In their honor, we continue this journey of love and celebration, knowing that they are with us in spirit.

Which wedding prayer or blessing are you choosing for your ceremony? Let us know when you get in touch to book your wedding officiant for your ceremony!  

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Need help figuring out what to say when you officiate a wedding? Check out our wedding ceremony script library. Whether you are looking for a ceremony with a marriage officiant speech, non-religious wedding ceremony script, christian ceremony script, or a wedding ceremony template, we have all the sample wedding ceremony scripts you could want. Check them out!

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10 Wedding Prayers to Bless a Marriage with Faith and Love

Use one or multiple of these wedding prayers to bless a newlywed couple with a lifetime of faith and love for each other and God! Find powerful scriptures about marriage to bless a wedding and traditional wedding prayers to pray for their devotion and patience.

It is truly blessed when a man and a woman join in holy matrimony to love and care for each other "till death do us part." Especially if you know the couple personally, you may want to pray for their wedding and life together in marriage.

Here we have gathered 10 amazing wedding prayers to strengthen a new marriage in love, faith, and hope. May God bless the newly married couple and may they harken your words to live in peace and remembrance of God!

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." - 1 Peter 4:8

10 Wedding Prayers to Bless a Marriage

A wedding prayer from the church of england.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, for you have created joy and gladness, pleasure and delight, love, peace, and fellowship.

Pour out the abundance of your blessing upon [ names of bride and groom ] in their new life together.

Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts and a crown upon their heads.

Bless them in their work and in their companionship; awake and asleep, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death.

Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that banquet where your saints feast forever in your heavenly home.

We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Keep Them in Love and Peace

O eternal God, creator, and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, author of everlasting life, send your blessing on this man and this woman whom we bless in your name.

Help and empower them to live faithfully together, and to keep the promises made to each other and to you.

Keep them in your love and peace together, and guide them with your holy Word; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of Compassion and Humility ~ Colossians 3:12-17

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Love Never Fails ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Two are Better than One ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him; a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Prayer for Genuine Love - Romans 12:9-18

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

A Marriage Prayer by Dave Willis

May your marriage always bring glory to God, a joy to one another, and blessings to your family for many generations to come. May love and laughter fill your hearts and your home for all at the days of your lives. May you face every challenge hand-in-hand and side-by-side knowing that with God’s grace, you’ll conquer all obstacles together. May the world be forever a better place because the two of you fell in love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Blessing of Marriage

Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. 

We thank you, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this man and this woman. 

Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. 

Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death.

Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

A Prayer for Faith and Patience in Marriage

O God, you established and blessed marriage, and you use it as a picture of the spiritual marriage and unity between Christ and his Church.

Look mercifully on this man and woman that they may love, honor, and cherish each other, and live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer to Bless a Marriage and Family

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you for instituting holy matrimony to keep us from unchastity and other offenses. Send your blessing on this husband and wife, that they may not provoke each other to anger and strife, but live peaceably together in love and godliness, receive your gracious help in all temptations and raise their children according to your will. Move them to walk before you in purity and holiness , to put their trust in you, and lead holy lives on earth and in the world to come to enjoy eternal life; through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

Read more: 25 Wedding Bible Verses to Bless a Marriage with God's Word

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Christianity.com's editorial staff is a team of writers with a background in the Christian faith and writing experience. We work to create relevant, inspiring content for our audience and update timely articles as necessary.

This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times.  Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

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65 Short Wedding Blessings, Wishes And Prayers For Friends And Family

Love is a remarkable force that unites two souls, bringing them together in a bond that transcends time and space. As two individuals embark on their journey of togetherness, a wedding serves as a joyous occasion to celebrate their love, commitment, and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

While heartfelt speeches and grand gestures are often a part of such celebrations, it is the power of concise and meaningful words that can truly encapsulate the essence of love and blessings. And this is why we have provided you with some of the heartiest short wedding blessings, wishes and prayers.

In this blog post, we invite you to explore the beauty of short wedding blessings and wishes. These snippets of heartfelt wisdom have the incredible ability to touch the hearts of both the newlyweds and their loved ones, leaving a lasting impression of love, happiness, and support.

From simple blessings that encapsulate the purest essence of love to wishes that symbolize a lifetime of happiness, these short yet powerful messages hold the potential to bring tears of joy, laughter, and heartfelt appreciation. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your own wedding or are looking to bestow your heartfelt wishes upon a cherished couple, we’ve got you covered.

Short Wedding Blessings

2. May your marriage be a reflection of the love and commitment you share, growing stronger with each passing day. May your union be a source of inspiration to all who witness it.

5. May the love you have for each other be a constant source of strength and inspiration. May your union be a testament to the power of love, overcoming all obstacles that come your way.

6. May your marriage be a sanctuary, a place of peace and comfort for both of you. May you always find solace in each other’s arms and find joy in the simplest moments together.

8. Today, as you exchange vows and promise your love to one another, may you be surrounded by the warmth and blessings of your loved ones. May your union be blessed with love, prosperity, and everlasting happiness.

11. May your hearts be forever intertwined, beating as one in perfect harmony. May your love grow deeper with each passing day, bringing you endless joy and fulfillment.

14. As you embark on this beautiful journey together, may your love be the foundation that holds you steady. May your marriage be a tapestry woven with trust, respect, and unwavering commitment.

Wedding Blessings And Wishes

1. May your love story be filled with chapters of joy, passion, and unwavering commitment. May your marriage be a beautiful journey of growth and endless love.

2. As you say “I do” today, may your hearts be forever intertwined, beating as one. May your love be a guiding light, leading you through life’s adventures.

4. On this special day, may the love and happiness you feel be multiplied and shared with all those around you. May your union be a beacon of hope and inspiration.

5. May your marriage be a symphony of two souls, harmonizing in perfect melody. May your love create a beautiful music that resonates with the world.

7. Today, as you embark on this sacred journey together, may you always find strength and comfort in each other’s arms. May your love be a safe haven in times of storm.

8. May your love be an unbreakable bond, weathering any storm that comes your way. May you always find solace in each other’s embrace and overcome any challenge with love and grace.

10. May your marriage be a masterpiece, painted with strokes of love, kindness, and compassion. May you create a life filled with colors that bring joy to your hearts.

11. Today, as you unite your lives, may you always remember the promises you make to one another. May your commitment be unwavering, and your love grow stronger with each passing day.

13. May your home be filled with laughter, shared dreams, and the warmth of each other’s presence. May you create a haven of love and acceptance for all who enter.

14. As you begin this remarkable journey, may you always find joy in the little things and appreciate the beauty of each day. May your love be a constant reminder of life’s precious moments.

More Resources: Wishes For Someone Getting Married

Wedding Blessings From Parents

2. Today, we give you our heartfelt blessings as you start this new chapter in your lives. May your journey together be filled with endless love, understanding, and unwavering support.

3. From the moment you were born, we dreamed of this day. Now, as we witness you exchanging vows, our hearts overflow with love and happiness. May your marriage be a reflection of the love and values we have instilled in you.

5. Today, we entrust you with each other’s hearts. May you always treasure and protect the love you share. Our blessings are with you as you embark on this beautiful journey together.

6. We are grateful for the love and joy you have brought into our lives. Today, we offer our heartfelt blessings, praying that your marriage is blessed with health, prosperity, and a love that knows no bounds.

8. Our hearts are filled with love and gratitude as we witness this beautiful union. May your marriage be a source of strength and inspiration, nurturing your souls and filling your lives with joy.

9. From the moment we held you in our arms, we knew you were destined for great love. Today, we offer our blessings, knowing that you have found your soulmate. May your love story continue to unfold with beauty and grace.

11. As your parents, we have witnessed the depth of your love and the strength of your commitment. We bless your union, praying that you continue to grow together, supporting and uplifting each other in every step of your journey.

12. Our hearts overflow with joy and love as we witness you exchange vows. We offer our blessings, knowing that your love is built on a foundation of friendship, trust, and unwavering devotion.

14. As parents, we have always wanted the best for you. Today, we bless your union, praying that your marriage is filled with happiness, laughter, and shared dreams. May your love continue to grow and flourish throughout the years.

15. Today, we pass the torch of love and happiness to you, our beloved children. May your marriage be a testament to the love and values we have imparted upon you. Our blessings are with you as you begin this incredible journey together.

Short Wedding Wishes For Colleague And Friend

2. Congratulations on finding love in each other. May your marriage be filled with happiness, success, and the unwavering support of one another. Best wishes!

5. Sending heartfelt congratulations to a remarkable colleague and friend on your wedding day. May your love shine brightly and inspire those around you. Best wishes for a beautiful journey ahead.

8. On this joyous occasion, I extend my warmest wishes to a dear colleague and friend. May your wedding day be a memorable start to an extraordinary life together. Congratulations and best wishes!

Short Funny Wedding Wishes

1. Congratulations on finally finding someone who can put up with you! Wishing you both a lifetime of laughter and adventures together.

4. Marriage is like a roller coaster ride—full of ups, downs, and unexpected twists. Buckle up and enjoy the wild and hilarious journey together. Congratulations!

7. Cheers to the newlyweds! May your marriage be as exciting and unpredictable as a comedy show, with laughter echoing through your lives every day. Congratulations and enjoy the hilarity!

10. Congratulations on your wedding day! May your love story be filled with funny anecdotes, humorous memories, and a never-ending supply of laughter. Enjoy the journey together!

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10 Wedding Blessings and Prayers

• Sabra Ciancanelli

These blessings, prayers, and Bible verses will make any wedding speech memorable.

Looking for the right words for a marriage ceremony? Having difficulty coming up with wedding speech ideas? Whether you are writing your own vows or planning a speech for the wedding reception, we’ve got you covered. These inspiring and uplifting prayers, Bible verses and wedding blessings can help you celebrate this special occasion.

READ MORE: Wedding Day—How to Have the One You Want

10 Wedding Blessings and Prayers:

1. A Biblical Wedding Blessing

My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. —Song of Solomon 2:10-13

2. A Traditional Wedding Prayer

Most gracious God, we give You thanks for Your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank You, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of Your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in Your mercy, bring them to that table where Your saints feast for ever in Your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen. —Book of Common Prayer

READ MORE: How to Increase Joy in Marriage

3. The Corinthians Wedding Reading

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. —1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4. A Short Wedding Prayer

Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow, for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen. —Wedding Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

5. A Wedding Bible Verse About Love

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. —1 John 4:16-19

READ MORE: 50 Best Bible Verses About Love and Devotion

6. A Short Wedding Blessing

May you each bring your best self to the other. May you each bring intelligence and commitment as well as faith to the task that is set before you. May you maintain enduring respect and trust. May all who follow your lives with interest and affection have cause often to rejoice, not only in your happiness, but also in your brave and generous living. —Unknown

7. A Short Bible Verse About Marriage

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. —Proverbs 3:3-4

8. A Wedding Dinner Blessing

May your love grow like a beautiful tree, sending roots deep and branches high, with new beauty every season of your life together. May you dare to dream dreams not yet dreamt. May you find constant reward and challenge as you pursue the ongoing adventure of learning who you are and where you want to go. May you always have a special sense of your mission in life together, and may you never tire of the endless possibilities of exploring your shared existence. —Unknown

9. An Irish Wedding Blessing

May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rain fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. —Irish Blessing

10. A Wedding Blessing Quote

Lord, help us remember when we first met and the strong love that grew between us, to see the good within the other and find answers to all our problems. Help us to say the kind and loving thing and make us big enough to ask forgiveness of the other. We put our marriage into Your hands. Amen. —Norman Vincent Peale

10 Bible Verses for Wedding Blessings:

• Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. —Ephesians 4:2
• Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. —1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  —Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
• I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. —Song of Solomon 6:3
• And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. —Hebrews 10:24
• Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. —Romans 12:10
• If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. —1 Corinthians 13:2
• Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. —Proverbs 21:21
• I found the one my heart loves. —Song of Solomon 3:4
• And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. —Colossians 3:14

READ MORE ABOUT WEDDINGS AND MARRIAGE:

• 5 Short Marriage Devotions
• 7 Ways to Improve Your Faith Habits in a New Marriage
• 6 Positive Habits for Your New Marriage

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30 Inspiring Bible Verses for Weddings

Are you looking for the perfect Bible passage to include in your wedding? Do you want to find something to include for a reading during the ceremony, a verse on your invitations or programs, or during a prayer?

The verses below can be a great addition for your big day while also offering wisdom for a happier and stronger marriage. They share a lot of truth about how to love well and create fulfilling, forgiving, long-lasting relationships.

Wondering which verses you could use for your wedding?

Start here.

Bible Verses for Your Wedding About Love

1. 1 corinthians 13:4-8.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (English Standard Version)

This is what real, lasting love looks like and how to demonstrate it to others. It is a kind, strong, patient, enduring and humble kind of love that’s different from what you may experience on a regular basis. It’s the way that God loves you and the way He desires for people to love each other.  

2. Romans 12:9-12

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. (New Living Translation)

According to these verses, love is active, true, affectionate and honoring to the other person. It takes effort and sacrifice. It can withstand the struggles, joy and pains of life through prayer, patience and hope in God.  

3. Colossians 3:12-17

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)

While dating, you may have spent a lot of time thinking about how you will dress on your wedding day, but have you thought about what you will need to “wear” every day throughout your marriage? 

These verses talk about how you need to “dress” or respond each day in your relationships. It doesn’t take effort or intentionality to be self-focused, unforgiving or impatient — that comes naturally. 

But it takes an active choice, time in the Bible, prayer, praise and thankfulness to God to be able to “put on” kindness when it’s hard, to wear humility when you think you are right, or dress with forgiveness as generously as Jesus did.  

4. Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. (ESV)

In ancient Israel, where God’s people lived at the time this passage was written, the word “seal” meant possession or belonging. The wife in this poetic passage wants her husband to set her as a seal on his heart.  

5. 1 Peter 3:8-9

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (ESV)

The Bible describes love as being filled with empathy (putting yourself in someone else’s shoes), tenderness and humility in both action and thoughts.

This kind of love doesn't give the other person what you think they deserve, but instead responds with kindness no matter what is “deserved.” This is how to demonstrate the way Jesus loves the world through the way you live and love the people in your life.  

6. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (ESV)

God’s design for people is for them to be in relationships and not to go through life alone. In friendship, teammates, family and marriage, you need the other person. Two are better than one.

But this verse goes on to also talk about a cord or rope not just being made of two strands but three. In this example, Jesus Christ is the “third cord” of a strong and healthy marriage or relationship. Putting God at the center of your relationship supernaturally strengthens it.  

7. Romans 13:8-10

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

If one law governs your married relationship, let it be the law of love — of loving God first, and loving each other as yourselves. When you seek to do this, you’ve fulfilled all the other laws.  

8. 1 Peter 4:8

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (ESV)

Love contributes toward genuine peace because it graciously forgives — as opposed to living in denial, dwelling on injustice or meting out paybacks.

The choice to keep loving each other even when you’ve been hurt is because you are choosing to forgive. God intended marriage to be a picture of how He loves us, and how He knows all of our good and our bad and still chooses to love us.

Bible Verses for Your Wedding About Marriage

9. genesis 2:18-25.

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (ESV)

Following His creation of the world, God commissions Adam to name the animals. In this parade, it becomes clear to Adam that, in contrast, he has no suitable companion, no life partner. 

God responds to Adam’s felt need by creating a partner, an intimate ally. In marriage, God intends a man and a woman to bond together and create a new family, above any other human relationship.  

10. Proverbs 3:3-6

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

God knows what it’s like to love as a human. He knows humans love the idea of love, but not the hard work or sacrifice it takes to love someone well.

These verses say to make the perfect, immovable, persistent love of God be where you find your identity and hope when life doesn’t make sense. 

Demonstrating God’s love to others and trusting isn’t easy and doesn’t always make sense. But, when you do, God promises to work things out for your good.  

11. Ephesians 4:1-3

…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (ESV)

Ephesians says the worthiness of your calling is marked by humility and gentleness. Those qualities define the way Jesus Himself lived and loved, and in your marriage you have the opportunity to mirror His humility and His gentleness in the way you love one another.

And as a married couple filled with the Holy Spirit, unity — oneness — is one the utmost callings (see John 17). What will you be willing to work through for the sake of true oneness?  

12. 1 John 3:18

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (New International Version)

On your wedding day, you will verbally declare your love and commitment to each other. But forty minutes and forty years from your wedding day, what will the story of your love be when times get tough? What will it look like when your spouse disappoints you? Or if you become a parent and mess up? Or when your bank account is empty and bills are piling up? 

Proclaim your love not just in your vows but through the way you live and treat your spouse. You won’t do it perfectly, and you will need forgiveness along the way, but you can make loving through your actions your aim.  

13. Song of Solomon 2:10-13

My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.” (ESV)

Poetically, King Solomon, the author of this passage from the Bible, speaks to his bride with metaphors of spring, appealing to her senses as a young husband. His words depict love at its finest: life-giving, blooming and full of new life.

Bible Verses for Your Wedding About Jesus’ Life and Love

14. ephesians 5:1-2.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (NIV)

The Bible refers to followers of Jesus, or the church, as His bride. This is because God created marriage to be a picture of His love for His people here on earth. 

Your marriage is meant to mimic the greatest love story of all time : Jesus pursuing the world (followers of Jesus — His bride, the church) to the point of laying down His life for them and their sins.

If you follow Jesus, you are dearly loved and called to follow His example by humbling yourself and living in a way that demonstrates that love in your marriage and other relationships.  

15. John 15:12-13

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (ESV)

Loving each other as Jesus unconditionally loved, then sacrificed for you and me: It’s not easy. But when you love as Jesus did, it paves the way for creating and sustaining a healthy marriage.

Because, as Paul Miller writes in “A Loving Life: In a World of Broken Relationships”:

“...once we discover that the other person is deeply flawed, we often pull back, thinking everything is wrong. A bad marriage is one where neither spouse does the hard work of love. But as soon as one spouse begins to do [steadfast, unfailing love], the bad marriage disappears.” 

This doesn’t mean a relationship becomes easy. But when agendas are laid down and there is a desire to love even when it hurts, God’s love is beautifully demonstrated.  

16. Ephesians 5:20-33

[Give] thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (ESV)

Marriage in the Bible reflects values different than those in popular culture, just how love in the Bible looks different from the love commonly seen in the world today. 

These verses from Ephesians 5 that talk about the different biblical roles for the husband and wife in marriage can be tricky to read. Here are a couple things to keep in mind: 

Marriage is meant to be a picture of how Jesus loved the church, or His followers, by giving up His own life for them. 

The passage begins by calling all people to submit to each other out of reverence for Christ.

The husband’s role uses Christ as the example to follow (who gave up His life by dying for those who love and follow Him). And then the passage goes into further detail about how a husband should serve his wife, by caring for her as diligently and faithfully as he cares for his own body.

In the context of this time period, a wife was to love and submit to her husband’s sacrificial leadership. This kind of submission was not a submission to violence, or exploitation, abuse or power (see Psalm 5:6, 11:5; Proverbs 6:16-19). It was a submission to the husband’s love, care, service and provision — like Christ’s bride trusts him.

17. 1 John 4:7-12

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (NIV)

Sacrificial love allows us to see and experience God’s character as well as His love. God sent His own Son, Jesus, to make a way for us to be forgiven and have a relationship with the heavenly father, God, by dying and paying the punishment for sin. 

God’s intervention, to the point of his own Son’s death, showed the depth of God’s love. 

That is the model of love in marriage: playing out God’s example of loving and putting your spouse before yourself at times. Loving others in this way allows them to see God.

Wedding Verses About a Loving Marriage

18. philippians 2:2-4.

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV)

In life and marriage, the Bible calls for you to be unified with your spouse, and that will mean at times laying down your own way, pride and selfishness.

When you lay down your own agendas, rights and way for your partner’s sake, your life and marriage become a picture of the sacrifice God made for us through Jesus.  

19. Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

Having gentleness and tenderness toward the other person, even when you’ve been wronged, demonstrates the love of God and the making of a healthy marriage. You will both need love and forgiveness in your marriage. And you both need the other person to be kind and tenderhearted. 

Love isn’t one sided. As author Ruth Bell Graham once said, “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”  

20. Matthew 19:6

“So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (ESV)

In ancient Israel, it was legal for a husband to divorce his wife if he found any “indecency in her” (Deuteronomy 24:1). This could lead to a man divorcing his wife for almost any reason, leaving women in that time financially destitute without land and a way to survive. 

Jesus saw this injustice and reminded people that divorce was never God’s desire. It only exists because of human beings’ failure to be loving: “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19:8, ESV).

(Matthew 19:6 could be placed on a save-the-date, wedding invitation or guest book.)  

21. 1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)

Among the gifts that God grants us within this life, only these are permanent: Faith, which is belief and trust. Hope, which is the expectation that God will bring about good. And love, which is wholehearted devotion to one another.  

Don’t let your attention leave them.

(Try this verse on save-the-dates or wedding invitations.)  

22. 1 John 4:18-19

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

This passage capitalizes on something you may already have recognized: Trust lies at the core of real love. 

In Genesis 2:25, we learn that Adam and Eve, at their marriage, were “naked and unashamed.” In this, we find a metaphor for marriage as a whole: being holistically ourselves, yet unafraid — totally embraced and accepted. 

Dr. Timothy Keller observes in “The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God” that “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything.”

Bible Verses for Your Wedding About Thanks

23. psalm 126:3.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. (NIV)

This verse can celebrate your relationship and your wedding, and it can point to the source of joy, Jesus.

(Consider this for use on save-the-dates, invitations or place cards.)  

24. Song of Solomon 3:4

I found him whom my soul loves. (ESV)

Solomon’s young bride poetically exclaims over her lover — and offers beauty that is still read centuries later.

25. Psalm 34:3

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! (ESV)

For the couple that centers itself on Jesus, this verse expresses the purpose and thrill of their relationship. 

26. Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (ESV)

A healthy marriage provides one of the richest ways to tangibly experience God’s generosity and kindness to us. Your relationship and the celebration of your marriage are both opportunities to demonstrate the faithfulness of God to those who trust in Him.  

27. 1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (ESV)

Use these ancient words of poetry to express your joy and delight in a God whose love has shown up and will continue to do so in your life and marriage.

Wedding Verses of Blessing and Benediction

28. romans 15:5-6.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

These words are a verbal blessing for unified relationships between Christians. “Unity” doesn’t eliminate personhood. Like a song with harmony, God-given uniquenesses are blended together for His honor.

(Consider this as a closing prayer or benediction to your ceremony!)  

29. John 17:22-23

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)

In Jesus’ final prayer before His death, He asked God the Father for the kind of unity among Christians that would make them “perfectly one” to most clearly display Jesus to a watching world.  

30. Isaiah 12:4-5

Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.  (ESV)

This verse is just one of many to express the fullness of your happiness and gratitude for God bringing you and your spouse together.

(Consider this as a concluding blessing to your ceremony, or consider using on place cards, invitations or save-the-dates.)

So many aspects of weddings express God’s love: the celebration, oneness, beauty, connectedness, family, sacredness, and pledges of faithfulness. 

As you plan your own ceremony and prepare for your marriage, may these verses encourage you and be a great foundation for your life together. 

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Wonderful wedding toasts and blessings

Easy Weddings

While some couples receive a blessing from their priest or other religious officiant during their wedding ceremony, for others, it comes via their MC or a family elder, who will lead guests to share in a wedding blessing before the main meal.

Here are some wedding blessing options, if you’re looking for a little spiritual inspiration:

Longtime Sun, a traditional Irish wedding blessing

May the longtime sun shine on you; All love surround you; And the pure light within you; Guide you on your way; Akal, Akal, infinity…. Akal, Akal, no end

Seven wedding blessings

Because you have chosen a life together, May your joy deepen; May your wisdom increase; May your passion for life and each other intensify; May your compassion for yourselves and others expand; May our support and gentleness toward each other grow; May your generosity to yourselves, each other, and your community be enhanced; May goodness abide with you always and may you flourish and prosper together. By Davi Walders

A Christian blessing

Dear Lord, We have come before you this day to give thanks for the love you have shared with these two people. We ask that you help <insert groom’s name> and <insert bride’s name> to always remember when they first met and to remember the strong love that grew between them. To work that love into practical things so nothing can divide them. Please help them find words both kind and loving and hearts always ready to ask forgiveness as well as able to forgive. Dear Lord, we put this marriage into your hands. Amen

A native American blessing

May the sun bring you new energy by day; May the moon softly restore you by night; May the rain wash away your worries; May the breeze blow new strength into your being.

A short traditional Irish blessing

May God be with you and bless you; May you see your children’s children; May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings; May you know nothing but happiness; from this day forward.

A traditional Hebrew blessing

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hath created joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, mirth and exultation, pleasure and delight, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship.

May there soon be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the jubilant voice of bridegrooms from the wedding canopy, and of youths from their feasts of song.

Blessed art thou, O Lord, who gives the Bridegroom joy in his bride.

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25 Christian Wedding Prayers for the Bride and Groom

Christian weddings are beautiful celebrations of love and commitment, where two souls embark on a journey together under the loving gaze of God. At the heart of these sacred ceremonies are heartfelt prayers that seek blessings, guidance, and grace for the bride and groom as they start this incredible chapter of their lives.

In this article, we present Christian wedding prayers for the bride and groom that encapsulate the profound emotions, hopes, and aspirations of this momentous occasion. These wedding prayers serve as a source of inspiration and a reminder of the divine presence in every step of the marital journey. Join us in seeking God’s blessings for couples as they unite in love and faith.

#1. A Wedding Prayer for Love Everlasting

We come before you on this joyous day, thankful for the love that has brought [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] together. May their love be as enduring as your love for us, unwavering and eternal. Bless them with a deep and unbreakable bond, so that their commitment to each other may shine as a beacon of hope to all who witness it.

We pray for your guidance, Lord, that they may navigate the challenges of life with grace and patience, always leaning on their faith and each other. Thank you for the gift of love, and we ask for your blessings on their journey together.

#2. A Wedding Prayer for Unity in Marriage

Heavenly Father,

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] join their lives in holy matrimony, we pray for a profound sense of unity between them. May their hearts beat as one, their dreams intertwine, and their love deepen with each passing day. In their moments of joy, let them rejoice together, and in times of sorrow, let them find solace in one another’s arms.

Lord, bless their marriage with harmony and understanding, and may their union always reflect your divine love for us all. May they be a testament to the power of love and faith in your name.

Related Prayers: 25 Heartwarming Prayers for Wedding Dinner

#3. A Wedding Prayer for God’s Blessing on This Union

We gather here today in celebration of the union between [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. We ask for your abundant blessings to pour down upon them. May their marriage be a shining example of your love, grace, and faithfulness.

Guide them through the highs and lows of life’s journey, reminding them always of your presence in their lives. Bless their home with joy, laughter, and unwavering love. We trust in your divine plan for their future together, knowing that with you at the center of their marriage, they can overcome any obstacle.

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#4. A Wedding Prayer for Faithful Commitment

Dear Heavenly Father,

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] make their vows before you and all those gathered here, we pray for a deep and unwavering commitment to one another. May their promises be steadfast, and their love enduring. In moments of doubt or difficulty, may they always turn to you, Lord, for guidance and strength.

Grant them the patience to understand each other fully and the wisdom to forgive freely. May their marriage be a testament to your love and grace, shining brightly in a world that often seeks to pull us apart.

#5. A Wedding Prayer for a Strong Foundation

On this day of new beginnings, we ask for your blessings upon [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] as they lay the foundation for their life together. May their love be built on a rock-solid foundation of trust, respect, and faith in your divine plan.

Guide them in their journey to create a home filled with love and understanding. Grant them the strength to weather life’s storms together and the wisdom to cherish the peaceful moments of joy. Lord, may their marriage be a testament to the power of a love rooted in you.

#6. A Prayer for a Joyful Journey Together

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] embark on this sacred journey of marriage, we lift them up in prayer. May their path be adorned with joy, laughter, and the beauty of shared moments. Grant them the grace to find delight in the little things and to celebrate the grand milestones of life.

Lord, we pray that their marriage is filled with a sense of wonder and adventure. May they explore the depths of their love with open hearts, always eager to discover new facets of each other’s souls. Bless them with the ability to make each day a celebration of love.

#7. A Prayer for Patience and Understanding

In the sacred bond of marriage, patience and understanding are invaluable virtues. We pray, dear God, that you bestow these qualities upon [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. May they have the patience to listen and understand one another, especially during times of disagreement.

Grant them the wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent. May their love be a haven of tranquility, where forgiveness flows freely, and misunderstandings are resolved with grace. Lord, let their patience and understanding be a testament to your enduring love.

#8. A Prayer for God’s Guidance in Marriage

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] enter into the covenant of marriage, we humbly ask for your divine guidance. May they seek your wisdom in every decision they make, both individually and as a couple. Lead them along the path of righteousness, and may their steps be ordered by your love and grace.

Grant them discernment in times of uncertainty and clarity in moments of doubt. May their marriage be a reflection of your divine plan, filled with purpose, love, and unwavering trust in your providence.

#9. A Prayer for Abundant Grace

Grace is the foundation of our faith, and we pray that you pour out your abundant grace upon [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. In their marriage, may they experience your unmerited favor, which strengthens them in times of weakness and sustains them in times of need.

We ask that you bless them with the grace to extend forgiveness and compassion to each other, just as you have done for us. May their love be a testament to the grace that abounds in your love for humanity, and may they be a source of grace for those they encounter.

#10. A Prayer for Unconditional Love

Unconditional love is a precious gift, and we pray that [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] may experience it in its fullness. May their love be unwavering, just as your love for us is constant and unconditional.

Grant them the ability to love each other without reservation, even in moments of imperfection. May their hearts be open to forgiveness and understanding, and may their love grow stronger with each passing day.

Lord, may their marriage radiate the beauty of unconditional love, a love that mirrors your boundless affection for us.

#11. A Prayer for Humility and Servitude

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] embark on their journey of marriage, we humbly pray for the virtues of humility and servitude. May they approach each day with a humble heart, recognizing their need for your guidance and the support of one another.

Teach them to serve each other selflessly, just as your Son, Jesus Christ, exemplified through his life on Earth. May their marriage be a testament to the beauty of putting others before themselves, finding joy in acts of kindness and grace.

#12. A Prayer for a Christ-Centered Marriage

In the sacred covenant of marriage, we pray that [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] center their lives around you, dear Lord. May their marriage be anchored in faith, with Christ as their cornerstone. As they build their lives together, may they continuously seek your wisdom and guidance.

May their love reflect the love of Christ for his Church, selfless and sacrificial. Grant them the strength to support and uplift each other in their individual journeys of faith, knowing that in you, they find their ultimate source of strength and hope.

#13. A Prayer for Endless Romance

Romance is a beautiful expression of love, and we pray that [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] keep the flame of romance alive in their marriage. May their love story be a tale of endless romance, where they continue to court and cherish one another with passion and affection.

Bless their relationship with moments of tenderness and sparks of excitement. May they never cease to surprise each other with tokens of love and affection. Lord, may their marriage be a reminder of the love and romance you shower upon us daily.

#14. A Prayer for Trust and Transparency

Trust and transparency are the cornerstones of a strong marriage. We pray that [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] cultivate unwavering trust in one another, with hearts open to transparency and honesty.

Grant them the courage to share their fears, hopes, and dreams with one another, knowing that their love is a safe space for vulnerability. May their trust in each other mirror the trust we have in you, Lord, and may their transparency deepen their bond.

#15. A Prayer for Family Harmony

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] become one in marriage, we pray for harmony within their new family. May their families and loved ones join together in unity and support, celebrating the love that has brought them together.

Bless their extended families with the wisdom to respect their union and offer guidance when needed. May the bonds of family grow stronger through this marriage, and may their home be a place of love, laughter, and unity for all who enter.

#16. A Prayer for Wisdom in Decision-Making

In the journey of marriage, decisions both big and small shape the path ahead. We pray for [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] to be blessed with divine wisdom as they navigate life’s choices together. May they seek your guidance in every decision, and may your light shine upon their path.

Grant them discernment to make choices that honor their commitment to each other and to you, Lord. May their decisions lead to a life filled with purpose and fulfillment, always reflecting your divine plan for their marriage.

#17. A Prayer for Financial Security

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] begin their life together, we pray for financial security and wisdom in managing their resources. Bless their endeavors and grant them the ability to provide for their needs and those they may be called to support.

May they steward their finances with diligence and generosity, always mindful of your teachings about responsible stewardship. Lord, may their home be a place of abundance, where they share their blessings with others in need.

#18. A Prayer for Good Health and Well-being

Health is a precious gift, and we pray for the well-being of [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. May they enjoy good health, both physically and emotionally, as they journey through life together. Bless them with strength and vitality to face life’s challenges with grace.

Grant them the wisdom to prioritize self-care and nurture their physical, emotional, and spiritual health. May their marriage be a source of comfort and support during times of illness or hardship, reminding them of your loving presence.

#19. A Prayer for Forgiveness and Reconciliation

In the sacred bond of marriage, misunderstandings and disagreements may arise. We pray that [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] cultivate hearts of forgiveness and reconciliation. May they be quick to seek resolution and slow to hold onto grudges.

Grant them the humility to apologize when they are wrong and the grace to forgive when they are hurt. May their marriage be a testament to the power of forgiveness, reflecting your divine example of unending mercy and love.

#20. A Prayer for Laughter and Joy

Laughter and joy are gifts that lighten the heart and soul. We pray that [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] find abundant laughter and joy in their marriage. May their days be filled with shared laughter, and may their hearts overflow with happiness.

Grant them the ability to find joy in the simple pleasures of life and the strength to weather life’s storms with a sense of humor. Lord, may their marriage be a source of light and happiness, radiating your love to all they encounter.

#21. A Prayer for Protection and Safety

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] embark on this journey of marriage, we pray for their protection and safety. Watch over them in their daily lives, shielding them from harm and danger. Be their refuge and strength, Lord, in times of uncertainty.

May their home be a sanctuary where they find comfort and peace, knowing that you are their ultimate protector. Bless them with the assurance that, with you by their side, they need not fear what lies ahead.

#22. A Prayer for Fulfilling God’s Purpose

In your infinite wisdom, you have a purpose for each of us. We pray that [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] discover and fulfill your unique plan for their lives. May their marriage be a partnership in service to your kingdom.

Guide them to use their talents, resources, and love to make a positive impact on the world around them. Lord, may their union be a testament to the fulfillment that comes from aligning their lives with your divine purpose.

#23. A Prayer for Fertility and Children

We lift up to you the desire of [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] to have children. Grant them the gift of fertility, should it be your will, and bless them with the joy of parenthood. May their home be filled with the laughter and innocence of children.

We also pray for patience and strength should they face challenges on this journey. Lord, may their love and faith remain steadfast, knowing that you have a plan for their family, whether through biological or adoptive means.

#24. A Prayer for Strength in Difficult Times

Life can be filled with trials and tribulations, but we know that your strength is unwavering. We pray for [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] to find strength in you during difficult times. May they draw on their faith and the love they share to overcome any adversity.

Grant them the resilience to face challenges together, knowing that you are their anchor in the storm. Lord, may their marriage be a testament to the power of love and faith during life’s toughest moments.

#25. A Prayer for Everlasting Happiness

As [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] stand before you and their loved ones on this joyous day, we pray for everlasting happiness in their marriage. May their love continue to grow, deepening with each passing year.

Bless them with moments of pure joy and contentment, and may their days be filled with the warmth of love and companionship. Lord, may their marriage be a beacon of hope, radiating the happiness that comes from a life built on faith and love.

Closing Thoughts

In this collection of Christian wedding prayers for the bride and groom, we have shared in the profound moments of love, faith, and commitment that mark the beginning of a marital journey. These heartfelt prayers, infused with compassion and devotion, serve as a testament to the enduring power of love when anchored in faith.

As they embark on their shared life together, may these prayers be a source of inspiration and strength, reminding them of the divine presence that accompanies them every step of the way. In love and faith, they have embarked on a journey that will be marked by joy, challenges, growth, and a deepening connection with each other and with God.

May their marriage be a shining example of the beauty that unfolds when two hearts unite in love under the guidance of the Almighty. We wish them a lifetime filled with love, happiness, and the unwavering grace of our Heavenly Father.

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8 Sample Wedding Ceremony Scripts to Guide Your Own Celebration

Plus, we're sharing writing tips to customize your wedding vows and ceremony scripts.

Cristina Montemayor is a freelance writer and makeup artist whose work has appeared on HelloGiggles, Slate, Elite Daily, and Bustle.

Photo by Brittany Painter Photography

In This Article

The wedding ceremony is the heart of the big day. The attire, the flowers, and the food are all icing on the cake, but the wedding ceremony —the time when a couple exchanges vows and rings—is when two people actually become married. Considering the significance, it’s surprising that many couples often leave the wedding ceremony planning to the last minute, according to wedding officiant and professional vow writing coach Tanya Pushkine. “It’s so rare that the wedding ceremony is thought of as a priority,” says Pushkine. “It’s almost like an afterthought.”

Meet the Expert

Tanya Pushkine is a professional vow writing coach, ceremony planner, and officiant based in New York City. She’s known as the “vow whisperer” for her ability to craft authentic and memorable ceremonies that reflect the unique personalities and beliefs of the couple.

Pushkine recommends that couples start thinking about the ceremony early in the wedding-planning process so that they know what to ask for when they meet with their wedding planner or day-of coordinator. Religious ceremonies are typically more fixed in terms of the service, language, and traditions while secular/non-religious ceremonies give couples a lot more flexibility to personalize the ceremony to their unique tastes.

All weddings have a standard format ( processional , readings, vows, exchange of rings, pronouncement, first kiss, and recessional), but by changing up the readings, verbiage, and incorporating creative rituals into the service, you can make it completely your own and create a service that leaves your guests laughing, crying, and excited about what’s coming next. “Millennials are writing their own rules,” Pushkine says of modern wedding ceremonies . “They’re looking to create an experience, which is different than before, where couples just did what their parents did.”

Below, we’ve outlined wedding ceremony script writing tips and a few sample wedding ceremony scripts to inspire you.

Photo by Liz Andolina Photography

Wedding Ceremony Script Writing Tips

Whether you're working with a professional officiant , a member of a religious house of worship, a justice of the peace, or a friend or family member, you might decide to customize your wedding ceremony. If so, know that scripting your wedding ceremony can be a fun, joyful experience, but the pressure to do and say the right thing can interfere. Here's how to keep it from becoming overwhelming.

Start Early

Don’t leave writing your wedding ceremony until the last minute. Get ahead of it and start doing your research early on in the wedding-planning process so that you have plenty of time to find inspiration and craft a ceremony that reflects you as a couple. “It’s like a puzzle,” Pushkine warns. “There are so many different variations and themes to choose from when it comes to planning a wedding ceremony, so try to find unique elements that fit your personal style.”

Work With Your Officiant

The officiant is the most important person at the ceremony—more than the newlyweds—because they’re leading the entire service, and they hold the power to actually marry the couple. If your officiant is a religious leader or experienced wedding officiant , they might already have an outline for the wedding ceremony that you can add to, if you so choose. If you’re having a friend step in as the officiant, they’ll need some direction from the couple as to what they’ll want to include in the ceremony.

Don’t Procrastinate on Writing Your Vows

If you decide to write your own vows , make sure you dedicate plenty of time to not only writing your vows but practicing your delivery as well. Your vows are a lifetime promise that you’re making to your partner in front of your closest friends and family, so they should be meaningful and personal, but without being too revealing. Choose your words carefully, and rehearse until you feel confident and comfortable saying them aloud. 

Keep It Short and Sweet

Unless your ceremony involves a religious service, try to keep the ceremony length to no more than 30 minutes. Any longer and your guests might start looking at their watches. If you want a memorable ceremony that’s fun for everyone—not just the couple—try to make your ceremony interactive. “The best thing you can do to make your ceremony unique is to get people laughing,” Pushkine says. “Wedding ceremonies can be a lot of fun without completely disregarding the serious element involved.” 

Consider Printing Programs for Your Guests

Personalized wedding ceremonies can be entertaining, but the further away you get from the traditional ceremony format, the more confused your guests might be. Wedding programs are a great addition to make your guests feel more involved and aware of where the service is going.

Programs are also great to further explain more meaningful elements of the ceremony, like why you chose to include certain readings or rituals. 

Get a Second Opinion

Make sure to have someone look over your wedding script before the big day to make sure it flows well and sounds both authentic and natural. It never hurts to have a second pair of eyes to provide feedback and edit suggestions on what is likely the most important speech you’ll ever deliver.

Photo by Lance Nicoll

Sample Wedding Ceremony Scripts

Now that you’re ready to start writing your own wedding ceremony script, here are a few sample scripts to use as a jumping-off point, all prepared by American Marriage Ministries (AMM) .

Photo by Getty Images / Brides

Traditional Wedding Ceremony Script

PROCESSIONAL Beginning of the wedding ceremony. Guests are seated followed by the entrance of the bridal party.

INVOCATION Welcome, loved ones. We are gathered here today to join [Name] and [Name] in holy matrimony.

VOW EXCHANGE [Name], I promise to cherish you always, to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us.

[Name] I promise to cherish you always, to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us.

RING EXCHANGE AND DECLARATION OF INTENT With this ring I, [Name], take you, [Name], to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life may bring us.

With this ring I, [Name], take you, [Name], to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life may bring us.

PRONOUNCEMENT By the power vested in me by the state of [State], I now pronounce you [husband and wife/husband and husband/wife and wife]!

Nonreligious Wedding Ceremony Script

PROCESSIONAL Beginning of the wedding ceremony. Guests are seated.

INVOCATION Family and friends, thank you all for coming today to share in this wonderful occasion. Today we are here together to unite [Name] and [Name] in marriage.

DECLARATION OF INTENT Do you [Name], take this [woman/man/person] to be your lawfully wedded [husband/wife], to live together in matrimony, to love [her/him/them], comfort [her/him/them], honor and keep [her/him/them], in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?

Do you [Name], take this [woman/man/person] to be your lawfully wedded [husband/wife], to live together in matrimony, to love [her/him/them], comfort [her/him/them], honor and keep [her/him/them], in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?

RING EXCHANGE [Name] and [Name] have chosen rings to exchange with each other as a symbol of their unending love. As you place this ring on [Name]’s finger, please repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love now and forever.

[Name], as you place this ring on [Name]’s finger, please repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love now and forever.

PRONOUNCEMENT By the authority vested in me by the State of [State], I now pronounce you [husband and wife/husband and husband/wife and wife]!

RECESSIONAL End of the wedding ceremony.

Modern Wedding Ceremony Script

INVOCATION Welcome family and friends. We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of [Name] and [Name]. This is not the beginning of a new relationship but an acknowledgment of the next chapter in their lives together. [Name] and [Name] have spent years getting to know each other, and we now bear witness to what their relationship has become. Today, they will affirm this bond formally and publicly.

[Name] and [Name] will mark their transition as a couple not only by celebrating the love between themselves, but by also celebrating the love between all of us—including the love of their parents, siblings, extended family, and best friends. Without that love, today would be far less joyous.

DECLARATION OF INTENT Do you [Name] take [Name] to be your lawfully wedded [husband/wife]? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto [him/her/them] for as long as you both shall live?

Do you [Name] take [Name] to be your lawfully wedded [husband/wife]? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto [him/her/them] for as long as you both shall live?

RING EXCHANGE A ring is an unbroken circle, with ends that have been joined together, and it represents your union. It is a symbol of infinity, and of your infinite love. When you look at these rings on your hands, be reminded of this moment, your commitment, and the love you now feel for each other.

[Name], place the ring on [Name]'s finger and repeat after me:

[Name], I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge: to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever.

And now...[Name], place the ring on [Name]'s finger and repeat after me:

PRONOUNCEMENT Before these witnesses, you have pledged to be joined in marriage. You have now sealed this pledge with your wedding rings. By the authority vested in me by the great State of [State], I now pronounce you married!

Christian Wedding Ceremony Script

INVOCATION We are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join together [Name] and [Name] in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, since the first man and the first woman walked on the earth. Therefore; it is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly. Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if anyone can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

READING A reading from the Apostle Paul, The first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13, verses 4 through 7: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Father, as [Name] and [Name] pledge themselves to each other, help them and bless them that their love may be pure, and their vows may be true. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

DECLARATION OF INTENT [Name] and [Name], you have come together this day so that the Lord may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of this minister of His word and this community of family and friends and so, in the presence of this gathering, I ask you to state your intentions: Have you both come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage? If so, answer by saying 'I have.'

RING EXCHANGE [Name], please take the ring you have selected for [Name]. As you place it on [his/her] finger, repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed.

[Name], please take the ring you have selected for [Name]. As you place it on [his/her] finger, repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed.

PRAYER May Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, always be at the center of the new lives you are now starting to build together, that you may know the ways of true love and kindness. May the Lord bless you both all the days of your lives and fill you with His joy. Amen.

PRONOUNCEMENT Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder. In so much as [Name] and [Name] have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, having given and pledged their faith, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that you are husband and wife. I ask you now to seal the promises you have made with each other this day with a kiss.

Jewish Wedding Ceremony Script

SIGNING OF THE KETUBAH The Ketubah is an ancient document and is a marriage contract that lays out the commitment that the couple has to each other. It is signed by two Jewish witnesses, neither of whom can be blood-related family members to the couple.

BEDEKEN After the Ketubah signing, there is a short but meaningful ritual where the groom covers the bride’s face with her veil. The veiling itself is a symbol of modesty, based upon the biblical account of Rebecca meeting Isaac. Some couples put a modern spin on the tradition by having the bride place a yarmulke on the groom.

INVOCATION We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of [Name] and [Name]. A special thanks to all of you that traveled from far and wide to witness the promise these two are about to make to one another. We are here to offer our love and support, and to stand with [Name] and [Name] as they begin this new chapter of their lives.

RING EXCHANGE The couple will now exchange rings. These rings symbolize the never-ending love you feel for each other. The ring has neither a beginning nor an end, just as there is no beginning or end to what the partners give and receive. These rings will be a reminder of the vows you have taken today. By this ring, you are consecrated to me according to the law of Moses and Israel.

BLESSING OF THE HANDS [Name] and [Name], please join hands. Looks at these hands for they are of your closest friend. They are strong and full of love. As you join hands today, you make the promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

THE SEVEN BLESSINGS The Seven Blessings are now recited.

BREAKING THE GLASS The ceremony is concluded by the groom stamping on a glass and smashing it. This is the signal for the gathered people to cheer, dance, and shout “Mazal Tov!” Some couples choose to update this tradition by breaking the glass together with one swift smash in unison.

Baptist Wedding Ceremony Script

PROCESSIONAL Beginning of the wedding ceremony. Guests are seated followed by the entrance of the bridal party.

INVOCATION Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God, family, and friends to witness a joyous occasion—the union of [Name] and [Name] in holy matrimony.

PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE Who gives [Name] to be married to [Name]?

[Bride’s father or parent] I do.

DECLARATION OF INTENT [Name] and [Name], as you stand here before friends, family, and God, I ask you to declare your intentions to join in the sacred covenant of marriage.

Do you take [Name] to be your husband, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him, as long as you both shall live?

[Name], have you come here freely and without reservation to marry?

[Name], do you take [Name] to be your wife, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live?

EXCHANGE OF VOWS AND RINGS [Name] and [Name] will now exchange rings as a symbol of their commitment and endless devotion.

 [Name], you may place the ring you’ve chosen on [Name]’s hand.

 And [Name], you may place the ring you’ve chosen on [Name]’s hand.

 [Couple exchanges rings.]

This marriage unites not just [Name] and [Name], but all of the families sitting here today. They ask now for your blessing. Do you promise to support [Name] and [Name] in their marriage, to keep them in your prayers, to hold them up with love, and to rejoice in companionship in Jesus as they walk this path together?

[Audience] We do.

Closing prayers.

PRONOUNCEMENT [Name] and [Name], having witnessed your marriage vows in the eyes of God and before all who are assembled here, by the authority invested in me by the State of [State], I pronounce you husband and wife. 

You may kiss the bride!

Protestant Wedding Ceremony Script

PROCESSION Beginning of the wedding ceremony. Guests are seated followed by the entrance of the bridal party. 

INVOCATION Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today in the presence of God to witness and bless this union as [Name] and [Name] join together in holy matrimony. 

This holy bond is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, thoughtfully, and in accordance with those purposes for which God created it. 

INTERROGATION AND CHARGE TO THE COUPLE If anyone present knows of any reason why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace. 

[Name] and [Name], here in the presence of God, family, and friends, if either of you know any reason why you should not marry, do now confess it. 

PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE Who presents [Name] to be married to [Name]?

DECLARATION OF INTENT Please face each other and join hands.

[Name] if it’s in your heart, please repeat after me. 

In the name of God,  I, [Name], take you, [Name],  to be my (wife/husband/spouse),  to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse,  for richer for poorer,  in sickness and in health,  to love and to cherish,  until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

[Partner repeats this vow.]

EXCHANGE OF RINGS Lord, bless these rings as you bless this union, in your infinite wisdom, today, tomorrow and always. Amen

[Partner] I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion. With all that I am, and all that I have, I promise to honor and cherish you, in God’s name. 

[Partner repeats.]

PRONOUNCEMENT [Name] and [Name], remember to love each other faithfully, just as Christ loved the church, for marriage is a lasting promise of kindness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Trust in God with all your heart, and your path forward will be filled with joy and light for all the years to come. 

By the power vested in me by the beautiful state of [State], in the presence of God and the witness of friends and family, it is my great privilege to pronounce you husband and wife!

Catholic Wedding Ceremony Script

INVOCATION In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Opening prayer and readings.

CELEBRATION OF MATRIMONY All stand, and the couple comes to the altar flanked by their witnesses. The priest will address the couple with a celebration of matrimony:

Dearly beloved, you have come together into the house of the church so that in the presence of the church’s minister and the community, your intention to enter into marriage may be strengthened by the Lord with a sacred seal.

ADDRESS AND STATEMENT OF INTENTIONS [Name] and [Name], have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?

 [Couple] I have

Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?

[Couple] I am

 EXCHANGE OF CONSENT I, [NAME], take you, [NAME], to be my [wife/husband]. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life.

[Partner two repeats this vow.]

BLESSING AND GIVING OF RINGS Bless, O Lord, these rings which we bless in your name. So that those who wear them may remain entirely faithful to each other, abide in peace and in your will, and live always in mutual charity. Through Christ our Lord.

[Priest sprinkles wedding rings with holy water, then hands them to each partner.]

[Name], receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit.  

[Places ring on partner’s finger]

[Partner two repeats this vow and places ring on partner’s finger.]

PRAYER Priest leads congregation with the Lord’s Prayer.

COMMUNION Priest performs communion, starting with the married couple. 

PRONOUNCEMENT By the power vested in me by the state of [State], I now pronounce you husband and wife.

The best place to find ideas for your very own wedding ceremony script is, you guessed it, the internet. From wedding videography on YouTube to bridal blogs, wedding planning sites, and of course, Brides , there is certainly no shortage of inspiration.

Traditionally, a wedding script begins with the officiant seating the guests and thanking them for bearing witness to the marriage of the couple. While religious ceremonies may begin with a bible verse or another custom, a more modern approach may start the ceremony with a story of the couple.

While the format for your wedding ceremony script largely depends on how religious the occasion is, there are a variety of ways to make it personal to you as a couple. Incorporate guests who are taking witness to your marriage or include a story of how you met followed by a time where you rose above a challenge together to add a personal touch to the proceedings.

The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Guide

• A Guide to Wedding Ceremony Order
• Who Walks Down the Aisle and When
• Everything to Know About Your Ceremony Exit
• currently on Writing Tips From Experts
• How to Create a Unique Wedding Ceremony
• How Long Should the Ceremony Last?
• Tips for Writing the Perfect Program
• Seating: Who Sits Where?
• Modern Ways to Walk Down the Aisle
• What Is a Unity Ceremony?
• Creative Ideas to Personalize Your Ceremony
• Questions to Ask Your Officiant
• How Much Does an Officiant Cost?
• How to Lead a Wedding Ceremony
• How to Write Your Own Vows
• Who Traditionally Goes First?
• Quotes About Love to Get You Started
• Traditional Vows to Inspire Your Own
• Unique Vow Ideas From TV Shows and Movies
• Should You Exchange Vows Before the Ceremony?
• The Best Vow Books to Keep Your Love Alive
• How to Choose Music for Your Ceremony
• Blessings and Prayers From Different Cultures and Religions
• The Best Songs to Play While Guests Arrive
• Non-Religious Readings We Love
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The Crackdown on ‘Misinformation” and Speech in the U.K.

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Think before you post! 📲✋ Content that incites violence or hatred isn’t just harmful – it can be illegal. The CPS takes online violence seriously and will prosecute when the legal test is met. Remind those close to you to share responsibly or face the consequences. pic.twitter.com/5gxnUH02yw — Crown Prosecution Service (@CPSUK) August 7, 2024

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LORD GOD PLEASE MAKE. THE RISE OF TOTALITARIANISM FAIL DRASTICALLY, STUNNINGLY EXTREMELY SOON! LET THE DISEASES STRIKE THE ELITES THAT ARE MURDERING US DAILY AND BYNTHE MILIONS, THROUGH DISEASE THEY CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE, ABROTIONS, BANKERS WARS (ALL WARS ARE BANKERS WARS.) TREASON, HELP US SURVIVE TO SPREAD YOUR WORDS, YOUR GOOD NEWS. I ASK IN JESUS’ NAME AMEN

Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that Your will be done. I ask that those in power repent and change their ways to do what is truly good and right. But, if they refuse, I ask that they are cast down and removed. Evil leaders are a torment to the people. Please raise up men and women who will do what is good and right and bring honor and glory to Your Name! Please awaken brothers and sisters around the world so that we may be salt and light to this dark and corrupt world. Help us share the Gospel to those around us, so that they will hear the Good News and be saved. Thank You so much for all the blessings You have given us every single day. Thank You for Your love, guidance, protection, and provision. Thank You, Father! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Abba, please have mercy upon Your children, my brothers and sisters in the UK. Give them courage, wisdom and discernment to deal with the evil rising up in their nation. May we not hit the mute button, when You are urging us to speak. But may we also do as Yeshua did – speak only what we hear You speak, Abba. When the apostles were warned “not to speak any more to anyone in Yeshua’s name”, Peter and John’s response was “You must judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God. As for us, we can’t help talking about what we have actually seen and heard.” Acts 4:17-20 We must learn to stand fast in our convictions. Rev. 14:12 – “This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people, those who observe His commands and exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness.” This time is fast approaching, and we need to prepare now while the opposition is not as great as it will be.

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Groom Kicks Best Man Out of Wedding After He Proposes During His Speech

"He said he thought it would be a great surprise. I told him he was selfish and inconsiderate," the groom wrote in a post on Reddit

Erin Clack is a Staff Editor for PEOPLE. She has been writing about fashion, parenting and pop culture for more than 15 years.

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A groom was forced to "fire" his best man after he stole the spotlight at his wedding by proposing to his girlfriend during his speech.

In a recent post on Reddit's popular "Am I the A------?" forum, the 30-year-old groom recounted how his best man John — whom he described as his "closest friend since childhood" — ruined what "was supposed to be the happiest day" of his life. He wrote that he and his wife had a "beautiful" ceremony, followed by an "even better" reception. But things took an unfortunate turn when it was time for John to take to the microphone and deliver his best man speech.

"At first, it was full of the usual jokes and heartfelt stories, which everyone enjoyed. But then, out of nowhere, he turned to his girlfriend and started talking about their relationship," the groom recalled of John's speech. "Before I knew it, he was down on one knee, proposing to her right there in the middle of my reception!"

He explained that the unexpected moment shocked him and his wife — and their guests. "The room went silent. I could feel my wife's hand squeezing mine tighter and tighter," the groom wrote.

John Slater/Getty

John's girlfriend said yes, prompting applause from the crowd. However, the groom was left "fuming" and feeling completely upstaged by his friend.

"I felt like my special day had been hijacked. Instead of celebrating our marriage, everyone was now focused on John and his fiancée," he wrote, explaining that he later confronted John and told him he'd been "out of line" to propose at his wedding.

"He said he thought it would be a great surprise and assumed I would be happy for him. I told him he was selfish and inconsiderate, and I ended up kicking him out of the reception," the groom wrote.

After the pair's confrontation, the groom received some feedback from his other friends that now has him wondering if he was "too harsh" with John. "Some of our mutual friends are saying I overreacted and that I should have let it slide for the sake of our friendship," he explained, before asking his fellow Redditors to weigh in on the situation.

"AITA [am I the a------] for firing my best man and kicking him out of my wedding for proposing during my reception?" he asked.

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The majority of commenters assured the groom he had every right to be upset by his friend's actions. "NTA [not the a------]! Talk about stealing someone’s thunder!!! That was your special day, and he robbed it from you!!" one person wrote.

"It's strange he would not ask you or even tell you he was thinking of proposing. Why would he think you would like that kind of 'surprise' at your own reception? Extremely selfish move," another person chimed in.

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Yet another person added: "I will never understand why people think a wedding is the right time to propose or announce some major life event like a pregnancy (unless it’s from the bride and groom). That’s a day to celebrate the people getting married, and that’s it!"

Still, several commenters advised the groom to take the high road and not destroy a lifelong friendship over the groom's thoughtless misstep.

"I know John’s intent was not to hurt you. You have every right to be mad but now it’s your obligation to forgive. Not sweep things under the rug like nothing happened but to choose to forgive John and set what he did aside for the sake of the years you’ve been friends," someone wrote. "I hope he apologizes to you and your new wife for his bad taste. But try to forgive him even if he doesn’t."

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