Introduction
You need to pray for a couple on their wedding day and the words will not come? Here you will find fifteen prayers addressed to God, sorted by moment: the ceremony, the meal, the card. Choose the one that sounds like you, read it aloud to check that it rings true, then adapt it if you wish. Each text can be used just as it is.
Prayers for the wedding ceremony
These prayers suit the pastor, a relative or a witness invited to pray in front of the congregation. They are short enough to be read without too much paper and simple enough for everyone to say amen.
"Lord, we are gathered before you for these two who commit themselves today. You have led them to one another. Bless their promises, keep their words, and make this day the first of a long story lived under your gaze. Amen."
"Father, you established marriage and you know how much patience, forgiveness and faithfulness it asks. Give this couple the strength to keep their vows in easy days and in hard ones. May your love remain their foundation."
"Lord Jesus, be present in the midst of this ceremony as you were at the wedding in Cana. May the joy of this day never fade. Fill this home that is beginning with your peace, and let it become a place where you are known."
"Faithful God, we entrust this man and this woman to you. You have called them to become one while remaining themselves. Teach them to listen to each other, to serve each other and to forgive quickly. May they walk with you, day after day. Amen."
"Lord, before this congregation, we ask your blessing on this marriage. Protect them from whatever would seek to divide them, whether time, money or pride. Keep their hearts tender toward one another, and make them a testimony to your faithfulness."
Blessing prayers for the wedding meal
At the meal, the prayer should stay brief: the guests are hungry and the mood is joyful. Half a minute is enough, and you can slip in a word of thanks for the food and for the bride and groom.
"Lord, thank you for this meal and for those who prepared it with such care. Thank you most of all for these two newlyweds whom we love. Bless this table, bless every guest, and may the joy of this day last long after the last slice of cake. Amen."
"Father, you are the one who gives bread and wine and who loves to see his children rejoice together. We thank you for this celebration. Bless the food we are about to share, and bless the couple seated at this table of honor."
"Lord, before we sit down to eat, we want to say thank you. Thank you for the love of these newlyweds, for the families gathered, for the friends who came from far away. May this meal be a time of laughter, memories and peace. Amen."
"Good God, one day you invite us to your great table. In the meantime, today we taste a foretaste of that joy. Bless this meal, bless the cooks, and bless this young couple beginning their life together. May they never go hungry for your presence."
"Lord, we raise our glasses with you in mind. You have put joy in the hearts of these newlyweds, and we are witnesses of it. May every year to come be marked by your goodness. Keep them united, keep them happy, keep them turned toward you."
Prayers to write in a wedding card
In a card, you speak to the newlyweds and pray for them in the third person, or you tell them that you are praying for them. These texts can be copied out by hand, which is what gives them value.
"Dear newlyweds, I pray that God will keep your love alive through the years. May he give you gentleness in your words, patience in your silences and much joy in the little things of daily life. I am happy to be a witness of your union."
"To you both, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make your home a place where people feel welcomed, heard and loved. And when heavier moments come, may he remind you that you are never alone in this adventure."
"Lord, I entrust to you this couple I love. Keep them attentive to each other, honest in their conversations, united in prayer. May they discover together that your faithfulness never grows tired. This is the wish I lay before you today for them."
"I wish you a marriage built on the rock. May Christ be the center of your home, may he teach you to love each other as he loves us, steadily and without keeping count. You are in my prayers, today and in the years to come."
"May God grant you what we cannot offer you: a deep peace, a love that is renewed and a closeness that grows. I will pray for you on your wedding day, and then on the days after, when no one is thinking of it anymore. With all my affection."
Verses to weave into your prayer for the newlyweds
These passages are easy to read during a ceremony or to copy at the bottom of a card. The exact text is inserted automatically.
Genesis 2:24
"Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh."
The founding verse of marriage. It fits very well at the opening of a ceremony, when we recall what it means to be united. Read all of Genesis 2.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
"If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
The image of the threefold cord is often used to say that God is the third strand of the couple. It slips easily into a card. Read all of Ecclesiastes 4.
Numbers 6:24
"Yahweh bless you, and keep you."
The beginning of the priestly blessing, ideal for closing a blessing prayer over the newlyweds. Read all of Numbers 6.
Numbers 6:25
"Yahweh make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you."
The continuation of this blessing, which speaks of grace and of light on the face. It can be read together with the previous verse. Read all of Numbers 6.
Colossians 3:14
"Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection."
A verse about the love that binds everything else together, very fitting for speaking about a couple's daily life. Read all of Colossians 3.
How to write your own prayer for the newlyweds
Start by giving thanks. Thank God for this couple, for what you have seen in them, for the day you are living. A prayer that begins with gratitude puts everyone at ease.
Pray for concrete things: patience, forgiveness, health, unity, shared faith. Avoid formulas that are too vague, they pass by without touching anyone.
Speak simply, as you usually speak to God. Talk to him naturally, without searching for fine phrases. The newlyweds will remember your sincerity far more than your vocabulary.
Keep it short, between thirty seconds and two minutes aloud. End with amen so that the congregation can join in your prayer.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pray for newlyweds?
Thank God for the couple, then ask him to bless them, to keep them united and to help them love each other for the long haul. Speak in your own words, staying simple and concrete. A sincere thirty-second prayer is worth more than a long speech.
What prayer should you say during a wedding ceremony?
A short prayer that entrusts the couple's vows to God, asks for his protection over their home and reminds everyone that marriage rests on love and faithfulness. The first five texts on this page are made for that.
Can you pray before the wedding meal?
Yes, it is a beautiful Christian tradition. Give thanks for the food, for the newlyweds and for the guests, then bless the meal. A few sentences are enough, so the guests are not kept waiting.
What should you write in a card for Christian newlyweds?
A short prayer or a wish of blessing, perhaps with a Bible reference. Tell them that you are praying for them: it is a gift few people give, and it lasts.
to take notes and ask questions.