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." Perhaps you are an ordained minister who knows the privilege and importance of including a special wedding prayer during the ceremony. Or maybe you are a friend or family member who knows the couple personally and has been invited to say a blessing over the couple on their special day. There is something incredibly meaningful to acknowledge the holiness of the marriage covenant and to ask the Lord's hands of guidance over the bride and groom.
Whether you are looking for a wedding prayer to open the ceremony or a closing prayer to celebrate the joyous union, here we have gathered some of our favorite wedding prayers and blessings 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
Wedding Prayers to Bless a Marriage
Use one or several of these heartfelt wedding prayers to bless the newlywed couple with a lifetime of faith and love for each other and for God. Incorporate powerful scriptures about marriage to enrich the ceremony and offer traditional wedding prayers that emphasize devotion and patience. These prayers and scriptures will help to honor the sacredness of their union and inspire the newlyweds for years to come.
Short and Simple Wedding Prayers
Blessing Over New Marriage
Dear God, bless this beautiful day that starts the married life of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name]. Surround them with love from family and friends, and with Your love that never ends. May they cherish each other and grow together, and may their life be filled with richness and joy. Thank you for bringing them to each other and for guiding them to this moment. May their love always be as radiant as it is today. Amen.
Prayer for Union
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. - David Willis
Short Opening Prayer for Wedding Day
Heavenly Father, Thank You for this beautiful day and the love that brings us together. We ask for Your blessing upon this couple as they begin their journey as husband and wife. Bless this wedding day with joy, peace, and cherished moments. Fill their hearts with love, their marriage with grace, and their home with Your presence. May Your guidance be with them always. Amen.
Simple Closing Prayer for Wedding Day
Dear Lord, Thank You for this joyous celebration of love and commitment. We are grateful for Your presence, blessings, and the love shared today. As this couple begins their journey together, may You guide them in faith, strengthen their bond, and fill their hearts with peace and joy. Bless their marriage with love that endures and a life filled with Your grace. Amen.
Prayer for Bride
Dear Lord, Bless this beautiful bride on her wedding day. Fill her heart with joy, her marriage with love, and her future with Your grace. Guide her and her spouse in faith, patience, and kindness as they begin this journey together. May their love reflect Your everlasting love. Amen.
Prayer for Groom
Dear Lord, Bless this groom on his wedding day. Fill his heart with love, his mind with wisdom, and his marriage with Your grace. Guide him to lead with kindness, faith, and strength as he embarks on this journey with his beloved. May their love reflect Your divine love. Amen.
Opening Ceremony Wedding Prayer
Heavenly Father, We gather here today in the beauty of Your creation and the warmth of Your love to celebrate the union of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] in holy matrimony. We are grateful for the paths that have led them to each other and for the journey that unfolds before them.
Bless this joyous day, O Lord, with Your presence and Your peace. As [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] exchange their vows and share their rings, let their hearts be united in Your divine love. May their love for each other be a reflection of Your grace and a source of strength as they walk together through life.
Guide them with wisdom, protect them with Your strength, and bless them with a deep and abiding joy. May their home be a haven of blessing and a place of peace. As we witness their vows today, inspire us all to love more deeply, cherish more fondly, and live more intentionally in Your light.
We ask all this in the name of Jesus, who taught us the meaning of love. Amen.
Opening Prayer - Gratitude and Blessing
Heavenly Father, We come before You with hearts full of gratitude as we gather to witness the union of [Bride] and [Groom]. We thank You for the love that has brought them together and for the blessing of this day. As they stand before You and their loved ones, we ask for Your divine presence to envelop them.
Guide their hearts as they make their vows to one another. May Your love and grace be the foundation upon which they build their lives together. Bless this ceremony with Your peace and joy, and let Your spirit fill this space with the warmth of Your presence. May this day be a reflection of Your love and a celebration of the beautiful journey that lies ahead. In Your holy name, we pray, Amen.
Opening Prayer - the Sacred Gift of Marriage
Gracious God, We gather here today with hearts full of gratitude as we celebrate the sacred gift of marriage. We thank You for the beautiful bond that [Bride] and [Groom] are about to enter, a bond that reflects Your divine love and purpose.
Lord, we recognize marriage as a precious gift from You, a holy union where two lives become one in love and commitment. We are deeply thankful for this sacred moment and for the love that has brought [Bride] and [Groom] to this day. May their marriage be a testament to Your grace and a reflection of Your everlasting love.
We ask for Your blessings upon their union, that it may be a source of joy, strength, and mutual support. Help them to honor the sacredness of this covenant, cherishing each other and nurturing their relationship with respect and devotion. Guide them through life’s journey together, and let their marriage be a beacon of hope and love to those around them.
Thank You for this day and for the lifelong adventure that [Bride] and [Groom] are about to embark upon. May Your love be the foundation of their marriage, and may they always find comfort and inspiration in Your presence. In Your holy name, we pray, Amen.
Traditional Christian Wedding Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for gathering us here on this blessed day to witness the union of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] in holy matrimony. As they step into this new chapter of their lives, we ask for Your guidance and blessings. May their love be nurtured by Your wisdom and sustained by Your strength. Let this ceremony be a testament to the love they share and the faith they hold. Through Your grace, may their journey together be filled with joy and devotion. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Prayer for Long-Lasting Love
Gracious God, On this joyful occasion, as we celebrate the union of this man and woman, we are guided by the words of 1 Corinthians 13, reminding us of the true nature of love. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Lord, bless this couple with such love; a love that is patient, kind, and humble. A love that rejoices in the truth and bears all things. May their love for each other reflect Your divine love, enduring all things and never failing.
As they build their life together, let their love be a testament to Your grace, flourishing and deepening with each passing day. May they continue to grow in understanding and respect for each other, their love serving as a beacon of hope and a source of strength. Bless their journey ahead, filled with shared dreams and mutual aspirations. Let their love be a lasting foundation that guides their actions and decisions. In Your holy name, we pray, Amen.
Two are Better than One Wedding Prayer
Father God, help us to never forget your wisdom found in Ecclesiastes that two are better than one. Bless this mis marriage and let them always remember that they can accomplish more together, support each other, and lift each other up when times get tough.
Bless tjhem with a partnership that is strong, warm, and enduring. May they always find comfort and happiness in each other’s arms, and strength in their unity when challenges arise.
God, weave Yourself into the fabric of their relationship, forming the unbreakable third strand in their bond. With You at the center, their marriage will grow stronger each day. May their love be a vibrant and renewing source of energy that they draw upon in their journey ahead. Bless them with laughter, joy, and peace as they build a life together. Amen.
A Prayer for Unity and Divine Guidance
Lord God, As we gather here today to celebrate the union of [Bride] and [Groom], we invite Your presence into this sacred moment. We are grateful for the love that has led them to this day and for the promise of their future together. We ask for Your guidance and blessings on this marriage, that it may be strengthened by Your wisdom and grace. May [Bride] and [Groom] find unity in their shared faith and in each other’s hearts. Surround them with Your love and protection, and grant them a life filled with joy, patience, and understanding. Let this ceremony be a joyful beginning to a lifelong journey of love and commitment. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Wedding Blessing of Faith and Commitment
Heavenly Father, We gather to celebrate the marriage of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name], and we ask for Your divine blessing on their marriage. May their commitment to each other be strong and unwavering, grounded in faith and love. Help them to honor each other in all they do, and to grow together in Your grace. Let their relationship be a source of strength and encouragement, as they navigate life’s journey hand in hand, with You at the center of their hearts. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Catholic Wedding Prayer
Heavenly Father, We come before You today to celebrate the sacred union of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] under Your divine providence. In the presence of this congregation and through the sacrament of marriage, they pledge themselves to a lifetime of faith, hope, and love. We ask You, Lord, to bless their union with the grace of the sacrament, just as You sanctified the wedding at Cana.
Pour out Your blessings upon them, that they may be a sign of Christ's love to each other and to the world. Grant them the wisdom to cherish the joys of their life together, the strength to bear its challenges, and the faith to persevere in love. May their love grow deeper each day, and may they build a family rooted in faith and abundant in compassion.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Irish Wedding Prayer
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, who has created the joy of our hearts.
In the soft light of this day, we gather to witness the union of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name]. With hearts full of joy, we ask You to be with them on this sacred journey of marriage. May their love, like the rolling waves of the sea, be a perpetual force of nature; constant and enduring.
Bless them with the laughter of the morning sun and the tranquility of the evening stars. May their hearts be a refuge for each other, the warmth of their hearth welcoming to all. Grant them patience, kindness, and understanding as they weave their lives together.
May the road rise up to meet them, may the wind be always at their back, and may the sun shine warm upon their faces. And until we meet again, may God hold them in the palm of His hand. Amen.
Bible Verses to Pray on Your Wedding Day
"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." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-13
"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." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
"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." - Romans 12:9-18
Read more: 25 Wedding Bible Verses to Bless a Marriage with God's Word
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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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