Crafting A Wedding Blessing: A Guide To Writing A Heartfelt Tribute

Wedding blessings are a long-standing tradition, often an integral part of many ceremonies. They can be religious or non-religious, and are usually given during the wedding ceremony or at the reception before dinner. They can be as simple as a few words of well-wishes, or be more lengthy and emotional. Wedding blessings are a way to offer support and well wishes for the couple's future together.

Religious blessings

Religious wedding blessings are a wonderful way to celebrate a couple's union and ask for divine protection and guidance. Here are four to six paragraphs with ideas and examples for religious wedding blessings:

Christian Wedding Blessings

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

"Rejoice in your love for each other! May God bless you now and always."

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

"May God bless you both abundantly in love, joy, and happiness."

"We are praying that God guides you in your new adventure. May He pour out His blessings on you both."

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

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, who created humanity in Your image, in the likeness of Your 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. Blessed are You, Lord, who causes the groom and bride to rejoice."

Catholic Wedding Blessings

"Lord, bless this beautiful couple with love and hope. 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 and on this their wedding day."

"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."

"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."

Hindu Wedding Blessings

"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."

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 for all, so tender, kind, and mild."

"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."

Non-religious blessings

Non-religious wedding blessings are a wonderful way to celebrate a couple's union without invoking specific religious beliefs or traditions. They can be recited by family members, friends, or officiants, and offer a heartfelt way to share in the joy of the wedding ceremony.

"Untitled" 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.

"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.

"Union" by Robert Fulghum

> 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.

"A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway

> At night, there was the feeling that we had to come home, feeling no longer alone, waking in the night to find the other one there, and not gone away; all other things were unreal. We slept when we were tired and if we woke the other one woke too so one was not alone. Often a man wishes to be alone and a woman wishes to be alone too and if they love each other they are jealous of that in each other, but I can truly say we never felt that. We could feel alone when we were together, alone against the others. We were never lonely and never afraid when we were together.

"Love" by Roy Croft

> I love you, Not only for what you are, But for what I am when I am with you. I love you, Not only for what You have made of yourself, But for what You are making of me. I love you For the part of me That you bring out; I love you For putting your hand into my heaped-up heart And passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can't help dimly seeing there. And for drawing out into the light all the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite far enough to find. I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, And more than any fate to make me happy. You have done it Without a touch, Without a word, Without a sign. You have done it By being yourself.

Cultural blessings

Native American Blessings

Native American wedding blessings are often filled with environmental significance and a reverence for the land, nature, and celestial bodies. Here are a few examples:

• "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." (Apache Blessing)
• "Great Spirit, give us hearts to understand never to take from creation's beauty more than we give, never to destroy want only for the furtherance of greed, never to deny to give our hands for the building of Earth's beauty. Give us hearts to understand that as we care for her, she will care for us." (Native American Prayer)
• "As I walk, the universe is walking with me. In beauty, it walks before me, behind me, below me, and above me. Beauty is on every side. As I walk, I walk with Beauty." (Traditional Navajo Prayer)

Irish Blessings

Irish wedding blessings are steeped in tradition and symbolism. Here's an example:

"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."

German Blessings

In German culture, wedding blessings are often led by a priest or minister. Here's an example:

"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.")

Italian Blessings

Italian wedding blessings are typically short and to the point. An example is:

"Dio li fa e poi li accoppia." ("God makes them, and then joins them.")

Hindu Blessings

A Hindu wedding blessing often involves 7 particular blessings, known as Saptapadi or "The Seven Steps". During the ceremony, the couple takes seven steps around a holy fire, and 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 be blessed with long lives."

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

These are just a few examples of cultural wedding blessings. Feel free to draw inspiration from these or research further to find blessings that resonate with you and your partner's cultural background.

Blessings from family

As a family member, you can give blessings in the form of religious scripture, casual wishes, funny anecdotes, emotional passages, and more. Here are some examples to inspire your wedding blessing:

Religious Blessings

If the couple has a strong religious faith, you can incorporate this into your blessing. Here are some examples:

• “May your marriage be blessed!”
• “Love is the greatest blessing.”
• “Wishing you a marriage as strong as your faith.”
• “May the One who brought you together bless your marriage, enrich your lives and deepen your love throughout the years.”
• “May God bless, keep and guide you the rest of your lives. Happy Wedding Day!”
• “May God bless the two of you abundantly in love, joy, and happiness.”
• “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”

Casual Blessings

If you are not very close to the couple, or if you prefer a more relaxed approach, a casual blessing may be more suitable. Here are some examples:

• “Your wedding day will come and go, but may your love forever grow.”
• “May the love and happiness you feel today shine through the years.”
• “Wishing you joy, love, and happiness on your wedding day and as you begin your new life together.”
• “Thank you for letting us/me share in this joyful day. We/I wish you all the best as you embark on this wonderful union.”
• “Best wishes on this wonderful journey, as you build your new lives together.”

Funny Blessings

If you have a close relationship with the couple and want to bring some laughter to the occasion, try a funny blessing:

• “Thanks for inviting us/me to eat and drink while you get married. Congrats!”
• “Our marriage advice: Love, honour, and… scrub the toilet.”
• “Glad we/I got to break out our/my dance moves in honour of such a great couple. Lots of love to you both!”
• “Thanks for the free booze. Best wishes on a long, happy marriage!”

Emotional Blessings

If you want to share a more emotional blessing, here are some ideas:

• “A sweet new chapter in your lives has begun. Congratulations on taking that first big step to forever. I wish that your hearts will always be full of love and happiness. When there are obstacles that must be overcome, may you always have each other’s guidance and support.”
• “I have been impatiently waiting for this day to arrive, and now that it’s here, I don’t know what to feel. I always thought that we will grow old together and have parties every night at the old people’s home. But I also always knew that you will live a life of love and happiness with that special person, and you will have many loud and crazy kids and grandkids. You’re on your way to having that beautiful life, and I’m so happy that you are making it happen. I wish you a married life that fills you with pride, happiness, and inspiration. May your future be as bright and beautiful as the person you are. Congratulations and best wishes, my friend!”

Blessings from friends

Wedding blessings are a long-standing tradition for nuptials across countless different cultures and religions. They are often given by guests to the newlyweds during the ceremony or reception, but can also be given by a religious leader. Wedding blessings can be religious or non-religious, and can be given in the form of a prayer, a quote, or a simple wish of prosperity for the couple.

Emotional Blessings

Emotional wedding blessings are a great way to express your feelings and well-wishes for the couple. They can be a bit more lengthy and are ideal for speeches given by the best man or maid of honor during the reception.

> "I have been impatiently waiting for this day to arrive, and now that it’s here, I don’t know what to feel. I always thought that we will grow old together and have parties every night at the old people’s home. But I also always knew that you will live a life of love and happiness with that special person, and you will have many loud and crazy kids and grandkids. You’re on your way to having that beautiful life, and I’m so happy that you are making it happen. I wish you a married life that fills you with pride, happiness, and inspiration. May your future be as bright and beautiful as the person you are. Congratulations and best wishes, my friend!"

> "A sweet new chapter in your lives has begun. Congratulations on taking that first big step to forever. I wish that your hearts will always be full of love and happiness. When there are obstacles that must be overcome, may you always have each other’s guidance and support. When there are bills to pay, dishes to be washed, and kids to be fed, may you always have the other to boss around. Just kidding! No two people can do a better job at married life than you guys because you are fun, kind, loving, and patient. Married life will not always be a bed of roses, but I’m confident that you will do a phenomenal job. Best wishes to you, newlyweds!"

Funny Blessings

Weddings can be emotional, so a funny blessing can help to lift the mood and get a good laugh from the couple and guests.

> Thanks for inviting us to eat and drink while you get married. Congrats!

> Glad we got to break out our dance moves in honor of such a great couple. Lots of love to you both!

> Our marriage advice: Love, honor, and… scrub the toilet."

Short and Sweet Blessings

Short and sweet blessings are perfect for when you want to keep things simple and allow others to have a turn to speak. They are also a good option if you are not very close to the couple.

> Your wedding day will come and go, but may your love forever grow.

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

> Wishing you joy, love, and happiness on your wedding day and as you begin your new life together.

> Thank you for letting us share in this joyful day. We wish you all the best as you embark on this wonderful union.

> Best wishes on this wonderful journey, as you build your new lives together.

Religious Blessings

If the couple is religious, you may want to include a religious element in your blessing. This could be in the form of a Bible verse, a prayer, or a simple wish for God's blessing on their marriage.

> May your marriage be blessed!

> Love is the greatest blessing.

> Wishing you a marriage as strong as your faith.

> Sending you prayers for unending love and happiness.

> May God bless this marriage and may your love for each other continue to grow.

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

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