Blessings from many Traditions
Apache 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, difficulties 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.
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Bahai
He is the Bestower, the Bounteous!
“Bahá’í marriage is union and cordial affection between the two parties. They must, however, exercise the utmost care and become acquainted with each other’s character. This eternal bond should be made secure by a firm covenant, and the intention should be to foster harmony, fellowship and unity and to attain everlasting life.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The pledge of marriage, the verse to be spoken individually by the bride and the bridegroom in the presence of at least two witnesses acceptable to the Spiritual Assembly is, as stipulated in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book):
“We will, all, verily, abide by the Will of God.”
He is the Bestower, the Bounteous!
Praise be to God, the Ancient, the Ever-Abiding, the Changeless, the Eternal! He Who hath testified in His Own Being that verily He is the One, the Single, the Untrammelled, the Exalted. We bear witness that verily there is no God but Him, acknowledging His oneness, confessing His singleness. He hath ever dwelt in unapproachable heights, in the summits of His loftiness, sanctified from the mention of aught save Himself, free from the description of aught but Him.
And when He desired to manifest grace and beneficence to men, and to set the world in order, He revealed observances and created laws; among them He established the law of marriage, made it as a fortress for well-being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in His Most Holy Book. He saith, great is His glory: “Enter into wedlock, O people, that ye may bring forth one who will make mention of me amid My servants. This is My bidding unto you; hold fast to it as an assistance to yourselves.” Bahá’u’lláh
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Buddhist
In the future, happy occasions will come as surely as the morning.
Difficult times will come as surely as the night.
When things go joyously, meditate according to the Buddhist tradition.
When things go badly, meditate.
Meditation in the manner of the Compassionate Buddha will guide your life.
To say the words ‘love and compassion is easy.
But to accept that love and compassion are
built upon patience and perseverance is not easy.
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Catholic Wedding Blessing
Holy Father, you created mankind in your own image
and made man and woman to be joined as husband and wife in union of body and heart
and so fulfill their mission in this world.
Father, to reveal the plan of your love, you made the union of husband and wife an image of the covenant between you and your people. In the fulfillment of this sacrament, the marriage of Christian man and woman is a sign of the marriage between Christ and the Church.
Father, stretch out your hand, and bless N., and N.
Lord, grant that as they begin to live this sacrament they may share with each other the gifts of your love and become one in heart and mind as witnesses to your presence in their marriage.
Help them to create a home together.
Give your blessing to N., your daughter, so that she may be a good wife and mother,
caring for the home, faithful in love for her husband, generous and kind.
Give your blessing to N., your son, so that he may be a faithful husband and a good father.
Father, grant as they come together to your table on earth, so they may one day have the joy of sharing your feast in heaven.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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God in heaven above please protect the ones we love.
We honor all you created as we pledge
our hearts and lives together.
We honor mother-earth - and ask for our marriage to
be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons;
We honor fire - and ask that our union
be warm and glowing with love in our hearts;
We honor wind - and ask we sail though life
safe and calm as in our father’s arms;
We honor water - to clean and soothe our relationship -
that it may never thirsts for love;
With all the forces of the universe you created,
we pray for harmony and true happiness as
we forever grow young together. Amen.
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Celtic Wedding Vow by Morgan Llywelyn
You cannot possess me for I belong to myself,
But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give
You cannot command me, for I am a free person,
But I shall serve you in those ways you require and
the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.
I pledge to you that yours will be the name
I cry aloud in the night and the eyes into which I smile in the morning.
I pledge to you the first bite of my meat and the first drink from my cup
I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care
I shall be a shield for your back and you for mine
I shall not slander you, nor you me
I shall honor you above all others, and
when we quarrel we shall do so in private and
tell no strangers our grievances
This is my wedding vow to you
This is the marriage of equals.
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Celtic Blessing: Blessed Be.
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. Amen.
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Christian Marriage Prayer
Lord Jesus,
grant that I and my spouse may have a true
and understanding love for each other.
Grant that we may both
be filled with faith and trust.
Give us the grace to live
with each other in peace and harmony.
May we always bear with one another’s weaknesses
and grow from each other’s strengths.
help us to forgive one another’s failings
and grant us patience, kindness, cheerfulness
and the spirit of placing the well-being
of one another ahead of self.
May the love that brought us together
grow and mature with each passing year.
Bring us both ever closer to You
through our love for each other.
Let our love grow to perfection.
Amen.
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I Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 (NIV) |
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Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not delight in evil And now these three remain: But the greatest of these is love. |
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Eskimo Love Song
You are my husband
My feet shall run because of you
My feet dance because of you
My heart shall beat because of you
My eyes see because of you
My mind thinks because of you
And I shall love because of you.
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Hindu Marriage Poem
You have become mine forever.
Yes, we have become partners.
I have become yours.
Hereafter, I cannot live without you.
Do not live without me.
Let us share the joys.
We are word and meaning, unite.
You are thought and I am sound.
May the nights be honey-sweet for us.
May the mornings be honey-sweet for us.
May the plants be honey-sweet for us.
May the earth be honey-sweet for us.
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Hindu
Let us take the first step to provide for our household
a nourishing and pure diet, avoiding those foods injurious to healthy living.
Let us take the second step to develop physical, mental and spiritual powers.
Let us take the third step to increase our wealth
by righteous means and proper use.
Let us take the fourth step to acquire knowledge,
happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust.
Let us take the fifth step, so that we be blessed
with strong, virtuous and heroic children.
Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.
Finally, let us take the seventh step and be true companions
and remain lifelong partners by this wedlock.”
We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever.
Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours.
Hereafter, I cannot live without you.
Do not live without me. Let us share the joys.
We are word and meaning, united.
You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us;
may the morning be honey-sweet for us;
may the earth be honey-sweet for us and the heavens
be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us;
may the sun be all honey for us;
may the cows yield us honey-sweet milk.
As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable,
as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable,
so may our unions be permanently settled.
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When two people are at one in their inmost hearts,
they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze.
And when two people understand each other
in their inmost hearts,
their words are sweet and strong,
like the fragrance of orchids.
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Irish Blessing Traditional
May the road rise 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.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
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Irish Wedding Vows
I, <bride/groom>, now take you, <bride/groom>, to be my <husband/wife>.
In the presence of God and before these witnesses
I promise to be a loving, faithful and loyal <husband/wife> to you,
for as long as we both shall live.
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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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Jewish Seven Wedding Blessings (Contemporary)
May your marriage enrich your lives.
May you work together to build a relationship of substance and quality.
May the honesty of your communication build a foundation of understanding, connection, and trust.
May you respect each other’s individual personality and philosophy, and give each other room to grow and fulfill each other’s dreams.
May your sense of humor and playful spirit continue to enliven your relationship.
May you understand that neither of you is perfect: you are both subject to human frailties: and may your love strengthen when you fall short of each other’s expectations.
May you be “best friends”, better together than either of you are apart.
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Kahlil Gibran on Marriage From Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet
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 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 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.
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MARRIAGE BLESSING
Bless their marriage, O God, as they begin their journey down the road of life together.
We don’t know what lies ahead for the road turns and bends. But help them to make the best of whatever comes their way.
Help them to continue to enjoy each other as they did when they first met. Help them to realize that nothing nor no one is perfect and to look for the good in all things and all people including themselves.
Help them to respect each other’s likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs, hopes and dreams and fears even though they may not always understand them.
Help them to learn from each other and to help each other to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Help them to realize that no matter what happens to them they will hold on to each other and know that things have a way of working out for the good.
Help them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation on which they can build their lives.
But most of all, dear God, help them to keep lit the torch of love that they now share so that by their loving example they may pass on the light of love to their children and to their children’s children forever. Amen.
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Native American Prayer
O Great Spirit, whose breath gives life to the world, and whose voice is heard in the soft breeze:
We need your strength and wisdom.
Cause us to walk in beauty.
Give us eyes ever to behold the red and purple sunset.
Make us wise so that we may understand what you have taught us.
Help us learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
Make us always ready to come to you with clean hands and steady eyes, so when life fades, like the fading sunset, our spirits may come to you without shame.
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NATURE BLESSING
Deep peace of the earth be to you. May serenity and strength be with you.
Deep peace of the air to you as you breathe its goodness.
May the wisdom of old flow to your ears.
Deep peace of the sun to you. May you feel its warmth on your faces and in your hearts.
Deep peace of the waters to you.
May the streams of your lives flow unimpeded and the stillness of the deep pool reflect in your souls.
Infinite peace to you all, now and forever
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Nondenominational Marriage Prayer
Dear God,
We forget sometimes that marriage started in Your mind, that it is indeed a “heavenly” idea. Make our eyes sensitive to all the good You’ve given in our marriage, and help us to be spouses who bring You glory. We thank You for bringing us together. We do believe, Lord, that we are one!
Amen.
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Numbers 6:22-27
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”
REFLECTION OF SOULS
The love of God, unutterable and perfect, flows into a pure soul the way light rushes into a transparent object.
The more love we receive, the more love we shine forth; so that, as we grow clear and open, the more complete the joy of loving is.
And the more souls who resonate together, the greater the intensity of their love for, mirror like, each soul reflects the other.
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God in heaven above please, bless BRIDE and GROOM with your love and grace, as they begin their life together.
*****************************Rumi
In One Another’s Souls |
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The moment I heard my first love story I began seeking you,
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Salish marriage blessing
Now for you there is no rain, for one is shelter to the other.
Now for you the sun shall not burn, for one is shelter to the other.
Now for you nothing is hard or bad, for the hardness and badness is taken by one for the other.
Now for you there is no night, for one is light to the other,
Now for you the snow has ended always, for one is protection for the other.
It is that way, from now on, from now on. And now there is comfort.
Now there is no loneliness. Now forever, forever, there is no loneliness.
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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
-Anon-
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-Robert Lewis Stevenson -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
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The way is long — let us go together
The way is difficult — let us help each other
The way is joyful — let us share it
The way is ours alone — let us go in love
The way grows before us — let us begin
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To Love Another Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)
For one human being to love another human being: that is perhaps the most difficult task that has been entrusted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation . . . Loving does not at first mean merging, surrendering, and uniting with another person–it is a high inducement for the individual to ripen . . . to become world in himself for the sake of another person; it is a great, demanding claim on him, something that chooses him and calls him to vast distances.
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Groom, Step 1:
O’ my beloved, our love has become firm by your walking one with me. Together we will share the responsibilities of the lodge, food and children. May the Creator bless noble children to share. May they live long.
Bride, Step 1:
This is my commitment to you, my husband. Together we will share the responsibility of the home, food and children. I promise that I shall discharge all my share of the responsibilities for the welfare of the family and the children.
Groom, Step 2:
O’ my beloved, now you have walked with me the second step. May the Creator bless you. I will love you and you alone as my wife. I will fill your heart with strength and courage: this is my commitment and my pledge to you. May God protect the lodge and children.
Bride, Step 2:
My husband, at all times I shall fill your heart with courage and strength. In your happiness I shall rejoice. May God bless you and our honorable lodge.
Groom, Step 3:
O my beloved, now since you have walked three steps with me, our wealth and prosperity will grow. May God bless us. May we educate our children and may they live long.
Bride, Step 3:
My husband, I love you with single-minded devotion as my husband. I will treat all other men as my brothers. My devotion to you is pure and you are my joy. This is my commitment and pledge to you.
Groom, Step 4:
O’ my beloved, it is a great blessing that you have now walked four steps with me. May the Creator bless you. You have brought favor and sacredness in my life.
Bride, Step 4:
O my husband, in all acts of righteousness, in material prosperity, in every form of enjoyment, and in those divine acts such as fire sacrifice, worship and charity, I promise you that I shall participate and I will always be with you.
Groom, Step 5:
O’ my beloved, now you have walked five steps with me. May the Creator make us prosperous. May the Creator bless us.
Bride, Step 5:
O my husband, I will share both in your joys and sorrows. Your love will make me very happy.
Groom, Step 6:
O’ my beloved, by walking six steps with me, you have filled my heart with happiness. May I fill your heart with great joy and peace, time and time again. May the Creator bless you.
Bride, Step 6:
My husband, the Creator blesses you. May I fill your heart with great joy and peace. I promise that I will always be with you.
Groom, Step 7:
O’ my beloved goddess, as you have walked the seven steps with me, our love and friendship have become inseparable and firm. We have experienced spiritual union in God. Now you have become completely mine. I offer my total self to you. May our marriage last forever.
Bride, Step 7:
My husband, by the law of the Creator, and the spirits of our honorable ancestors, I have become your wife. Whatever promises I gave you I have spoken them with a pure heart. All the spirits are witnesses to this fact. I shall never deceive you, nor will I let you down. I shall love you forever.
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United Methodist Hymnal
A responsive reading that incorporates popular wedding scriptures;
P: Pastor/Celebrant, C: Congregation
P: Let love be genuine and live in harmony;
hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.
Outdo one another in showing honor;
be humble and never conceited.
C: Love is stronger than death
and jealousy is cruel as the grave.
Floods cannot drown love
and wealth cannot buy it.
P: Put love above all else;
let Christ’s peace rule your hearts.
Always be forgiving,
as Christ has forgiven you.
C: Love is not jealous or boastful,
arrogant, rude or stubborn,
irritable, resentful or possessive.
Love is patient and kind.
P: Do not love in word or speech only;
love also in deed and truth.
Receive each other in sincerity,
find mercy and grow old together.
C: Love rejoices in the right;
it bears, believes, hopes and endures all things,
for love is faithful and endless.
P: When the lord builds the house,
the labor is never in vain.
C: Happy are those who take refuge in God;
those who serve the Lord are redeemed.
P: This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
C: And two shall become one in love, for we are members of Christ’s body.
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Voltaire
(1694-1778)
Sensual pleasure passes and vanishes in the twinkling of an eye, but the friendship between us, the mutual confidence, the delights of the heart, the enchantment of the soul, these things do not perish and can never be destroyed. I shall love you until I die.
What Greater Thing George Eliot (1819-1880)
What greater thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life-
to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow,
to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other
in silent unspeakable memories …
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Wedding Blessing by William Shakespeare
God, the best maker of all marriages,
combine your hearts in one,
your realms in one.
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Welsh Blessing
Wishing you
A house full of sunshine,
Hearts full of cheer,
Love that grows deeper
each day of the year.
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Disclaimer: I have found these Blessings from many various sources. I am not selling them, nor profiting from their listing. I have placed them on my site as a courtesy to others, to show the breadth of offerings in this category. If you wish to use these items, you must follow all copyright laws yourself, and/or obtain permission to use them, if that permission is necessary.
