Christian Weddings
Christian Wedding Prayers and Blessings
Christian wedding prayers and blessings for every moment: original prayers, 1662 Book of Common Prayer texts, a ring blessing, intercessions and grace.
Prayer runs through a Christian wedding from start to finish: an opening prayer, prayers for the couple, a blessing of the rings, the Lord's Prayer, a final blessing and grace at the reception. Below you will find original prayers you are free to use or adapt, classic public-domain prayers from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, and a simple method for writing your own. Share your choices with your officiant so they fit your church's order of service.
Key takeaways
- Prayers commonly appear at the opening, around the vows and rings, before the closing blessing and at the reception meal.
- The 1662 Book of Common Prayer is in the public domain and offers beautiful traditional wording for wedding blessings.
- Catholic weddings use the Nuptial Blessing from the Church's rite, but couples can often help write the intentions for the Universal Prayer.
- Inviting family members to pray is a meaningful way to honor them; give them the text well in advance.
Where prayers fit in the ceremony
Most Christian ceremonies include prayer at several points. The exact places depend on your tradition and officiant:
- Opening prayer (invocation). Asks God's presence and blessing on the gathering.
- Prayer for the couple. Before or after the vows, asking God to strengthen the marriage.
- Blessing of the rings. The officiant asks God to bless the rings as signs of the vows.
- Prayers of the people or intercessions. Short petitions for the couple, their families and the world.
- The Lord's Prayer. Often prayed together by everyone.
- Nuptial blessing or prayer over the couple. A solemn blessing, sometimes with family laying hands on the couple.
- Benediction. A closing blessing as the couple is sent out.
- Grace at the reception. A blessing over the meal and the celebration.
Original wedding prayers you can use
The prayers in this section were written for this guide. Use them as they are, or adapt the wording and names.
Opening prayer
Gracious God, we gather in your presence with joy and thanksgiving. Thank you for the love that has brought [Name] and [Name] to this day, and for the family and friends who surround them. Be with us now. Open our hearts to your Word, bless the promises that will be made here, and fill this place with your peace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Prayer for the couple
Loving Father, we lift up [Name] and [Name] to you. Give them patience when days are long, humility when they disagree, and quick forgiveness when they fall short. Let their home be a place of welcome, prayer and laughter. Teach them to serve each other as Christ served us, and keep them faithful to you and to one another all their lives. Amen.
Blessing of the rings
Lord God, bless these rings. May they be signs of the vows [Name] and [Name] make today, reminders of a love that has no end, and symbols of your faithfulness, which never fails. May they who wear them live in peace with you and with each other. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer from the parents
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of our children and for the families joined today. We release them into this new life with joy. Give us wisdom to support them without holding them back, and grace to welcome each other as one family. Bless their marriage, and let your love be at the center of their home. Amen.
Intercessions (prayers of the people)
A reader says each petition, and everyone responds.
For [Name] and [Name], that their love may grow deeper each year, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For their families, that they may be united in love and support, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For all married couples here, that they may be renewed in their own promises, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who cannot be with us today, and for loved ones who have died, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
Closing benediction
Go now in the peace of Christ. May God the Father surround you with his love, God the Son walk beside you on every road, and God the Holy Spirit fill your home with joy, today and all your days. Amen.
Traditional prayers from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer
These texts come from the Form of Solemnization of Matrimony in the Church of England's 1662 Book of Common Prayer, which is in the public domain. Their older English can be printed in your program as written.
Prayer for the couple (said after the ring is given)
O eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life; Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge,) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing after the pronouncement
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
The 1662 prayer book gives the Lord's Prayer in this form:
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Many churches use slightly different wording, such as "who art in heaven" or "debts" and "debtors," and many Protestant churches add "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever." Print the version your congregation uses so guests can pray together.
A biblical blessing: Numbers 6:24-26
The priestly blessing from the book of Numbers is a favorite closing blessing. Quoted from the King James Version (KJV):
"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26, KJV)
Prayers for the reception
Grace before the meal
Lord, thank you for this day, for this food and for every hand that prepared it. Thank you for [Name] and [Name] and the love we celebrate tonight. Bless our conversation, our laughter and our dancing, and let this table be a foretaste of the joy you have for us. Amen.
A short toast blessing
May the God who began this good work in you carry it on to completion. To [Name] and [Name]!
The last line echoes Philippians 1:6. For more Scripture to read or print, see our list of 50 Beautiful Bible Verses for Wedding Ceremonies.
How to write your own wedding prayer
If you have been asked to pray, a simple four-part structure keeps your prayer focused and around one minute long:
- Address God. "Gracious God," "Heavenly Father" or "Lord Jesus."
- Give thanks. For the couple, their story, their families and this day.
- Ask. For specific blessings: patience, faithfulness, joy, a welcoming home.
- Close. "In Jesus' name," "Through Christ our Lord," followed by "Amen."
Keep sentences short so they are easy to hear in a large room, and avoid inside jokes. Print your prayer in large type and practice reading it aloud.
Inviting family members to pray
Asking a grandparent, parent, godparent or friend to pray is a lovely way to honor them. Tell them which moment their prayer belongs to, how long it should be and whether they will read a set text or write their own. Send the text two to three weeks before the wedding, and confirm with your officiant that guest prayers are welcome.
Plan it in WeddingOS: invite family members into your shared plan, assign each person their prayer or reading, and use comments to share drafts and final texts. Create your free wedding plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good opening prayer for a Christian wedding?
A good opening prayer thanks God for the couple and the gathering, asks God's presence and blessing on the ceremony, and closes in Jesus' name. Keep it to about a minute. The original opening prayer in this guide can be used as written or adapted.
Can we write our own prayers for a Catholic wedding?
The priest's prayers, including the Nuptial Blessing, come from the Church's official rite. Many parishes invite couples to help write the intentions for the Universal Prayer, and you can include personal prayers at the rehearsal dinner or reception. Ask your parish what is possible.
Who usually leads prayers at a Christian wedding?
The officiant usually leads the main prayers and the blessing. Family members or friends may lead the intercessions, offer a prayer for the couple or say grace at the reception. Your officiant can advise which prayers are suitable for guests to lead.
Is the Book of Common Prayer free to use at our wedding?
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer is widely treated as public domain outside the United Kingdom, and its wedding prayers are commonly printed in programs. If you are in the UK or reproducing it commercially, check the current rules. Your church may also have its own prayer book with approved wording.
How long should a wedding prayer be?
Most wedding prayers are about 30 seconds to one minute long when read at an unhurried pace. Longer prayers can work during the intercessions if several people share them. Shorter is usually easier for guests to follow.
Related guides
- Christian Wedding Ceremony Order: Traditional and Modern Examples
- 50 Beautiful Bible Verses for Wedding Ceremonies
- Christian Wedding Vows: Traditional, Biblical, and Personalized Examples
- Christian Wedding Anniversary Traditions and Blessings
- Christian Wedding Reception Planning: Complete Guide
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