Opening Prayer #1

Let us begin by welcoming the presence of God within each of us.

As we lift into the loving that joins us together as  one, let us surround Bride and Groom with our love, our prayers, and our best wishes for them on this, their wedding  day, and throughout their journey together as Marriage Partners.

For those wanting a prayer with no mention of God, the word “God” in the first paragraph of Opening Prayer #1 can be replaced with the word “love.” Another ecu– menical prayer could be as follows.

 Opening Prayer #2

Beloved God, we welcome your presence in our hearts today. We have come together as a community of family and  friends to witness and bless the vows of Bride and Groom and the beginning of their journey together as Partners in Marriage.

We ask that you bless them with a loving, healthy, and happy marriage.

We also ask for a blessing of renewal, devotion, kindness, and  loving for each of us present, that we may demonstrate our love for you through our love of each other in all of our partnerships and family relationships.

Others may want to address God directly, declaring their intentions and asking for God’s guidance and blessing for the Couple, as in the following prayer.

 Opening Prayer #3

Beloved God, we welcome you and are so grateful for your presence here with us today.

We have come here as a community of family and friends to love and support Bride and Groom, to witness their entrance into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage, and to celebrate the beginning of their journey together as Marriage Partners.

We are here because we love Bride and Groom. We rejoice that they have found each other and that through each other, they have come to know the power of love as they have never known it before.

We celebrate this union of their hearts, minds, bodies, and souls and wish them great joy.

We ask, Beloved God, that you guide and bless Bride and Groom with a loving, healthy, and happy marriage.

We ask that through this union they may come to know you more deeply.

A more Christian version of the final portion of this prayer might be as follows.

Opening Prayer #3a

We call forward and stand in the light of the Holy Spirit and the light of the Christ within each of us.

We join together in support of Bride and Groom and ask, as a community gathered in your name, Beloved God, that as you gladdened the wedding in Cana of Galilee by the presence of your Son, so,  by  his  presence  now, bring your joy to this wedding and bless Bride and Groom with a loving, healthy, and happy marriage.

Amen.

Opening Prayer #4

Let us come into the quiet of prayer. Beloved and Eternal God, we are here to celebrate the marriage of Bride and Groom. We pray that they each may find a depth of kindness, caring, and joy through this union that will serve as a safe haven for them as they journey through their lives together.

We also pray that together they may build a life that brings them balance, health, and great learning as they venture through the trials and triumphs to come.

May they strengthen their bond of love and find a gentle  peacefulness in being together hand in hand.

And  finally, Beloved, for those of us who are here with our partners today, we ask for a blessing of renewal and devotion to the vows we have made.

May we comfort each other with our love today and every day.

God bless us all.

Opening Prayer #5

Let us lift our hearts together as one in jubilant celebration of the marriage union we are about to witness between Bride and Groom.

As they enter into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage, we are blessed to witness the magnificence of their love, their open hearts, and their vibrant and willing spirits.

Inspired by their love, let each of us rededicate ourselves to the loving relationships in our own lives.

May we all be enriched for having shared this day  together.

Opening Prayer #6

Lord God, we call forward the presence of the Holy Spirit and the light of  Christ to fill us, surround us, and lift us into a communion of loving as we witness and bless the marriage of Bride and Groom.

Beloved God, we honor your presence within each of  us. We know you through the divine spark of your  loving, your wisdom, and your truth within our hearts, where you reside in pure and perfect love.

Through our love and with Spirit’s blessing we extend to you our prayers and best wishes for Bride and  Groom on this, their wedding day, and throughout their journey together as Partners in Marriage.

The following Opening Prayer is from The Book of Common Prayer.

 Opening Prayer #7

Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of these two individuals in Holy Matrimony.

The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first  miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people.

Into this holy union Bride and Groom now come to be joined.

The union of Marriage Partners in heart, body, and mind is  intended  by  God  for  their  mutual  joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and  adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord.

Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.

Opening Prayer #8

Dearest and beloved God, we pray for Bride and Groom as they enter into the sacred vows of marriage, that they may live according to their promises each to the other and that they may create a marriage that is filled with joy and tenderness.

We pray that they may enter into the deepest mysteries and wonders of love and  therein create a safe haven in their hearts for each other.

May they know the peace that comes from truly being received and known and accepted by another.

May their love for each other enrich them as individuals and provide a safe and loving  environment for the family they are creating through this union.

Guide them and bless them, Beloved, that they may know that there is nothing more priceless than the gift of loving one  another as they journey through life side by side.

When a marriage results in the creation of a new family because the spouses have children from previous marriages, some couples like to include or somehow acknowledge the children in the ceremony. The following Opening Prayer is an example of how that can be done.

Opening Prayer #9

Beloved God, we are gathered here, uniting our hearts as  one in support and celebration of Bride and Groom as they enter into the sacred and joyous covenant of  marriage.

We ask you to bless the family created by this union as Bride’s daughter, Child 1, and Groom’s son, Child 2, join with them in the creation of a new family.

We ask that you guide and bless each of them in loving and honoring one another and in building and strengthening a family unit that will be a safe and nurturing haven for them all.

Help them to find the balance and harmony of their individuality and their shared life.

We ask that your light and grace be extended to each of them, that they may know you and welcome you in their lives each and every day.