BENEDICTIONS AND GOOD WISHES: GENERAL EXAMPLES
(SECULAR MODERN)
1. Go into the world and fulfill your lives. Hold fast your ideals. Give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one another that you may grow. May the love you hold for each other, now sealed in marriage, continue to mature, that your life together may be a source of strength and inspiration to the community of your family and to the wider circle of the world.
(SECULAR ROMANTIC)
2. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you.
(SECULAR ROMANTIC)
3. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women long. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home that they establish be such a place of sanctuary that man will find there a friend. And may their two rings symbolize the spirit of undying love in the hearts of both of them.
(SECULAR ROMANTIC)
4. From this day forward may you laugh together, and plan together... May you find your favorite places, and go together... May you enjoy the sunshine, and the rain, being alone together, and in crowds together... From this day forward together, may you love!
(SECULAR ROMANTIC - BLESSING OF LIGHT: CAN BE USED IN A CEREMONY WITH A UNITY CANDLE)
5. May the blessing of light
Be with you always
Light without and light within.
And may the sun shine
Upon you and warm your heart
Until it glows
Like a great fire
So that others may feel
The warmth of your love
For one another.
(SPIRITUAL MODERN)
6. We share with ________________ and _________________ their happiness. May they bring their best to their marriage. Thus shall their contentment be made lasting... and they will be truly united, not merely by the form and words of this ceremony, but by their hopes and joys, their sharing of the burdens life will bring, and by the happy and mysterious merging of their spirits. May love bless this union, and make its days constantly increase in joy and satisfaction.
(SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS ROMANTIC)
7. May the wings of angels uphold you through all the life of your love; may you live forever in happiness with one another. May your hearts be full; may your lips stay sweet. May your love grow strong; and may you live long and happily in one another's arms.
(RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL MODERN)
8. May the God you worship be a blessing and a support to your lives. May the God you honor help make your lives gracious and good. May the God you serve be a light in your lives and bring you peace.
(RELIGIOUS MODERN)
9. Because you can rest in the comfort of knowing that you are chosen through one another to serve the highest purposes of love... depart in peace, recognizing that what you undertake together will bring you great joy, and that the love you share can truly help to change the world. Now go forth from this place with jubilation in your hearts and gladness in your feet. Amen.
(RELIGIOUS MODERN)
10. May all that you have already become, which has brought you to this day, and all you will become as a consequence of it, in the lifelong joining of your hearts and minds, continue to show you your purpose. May you always be brought most beautifully and steadfastly into the presence of yourselves and of one another, and may you live long and happily fulfilling all that you are. Amen.
(RELIGIOUS MODERN - IRISH BLESSING)
11. May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be ever at your back
May the good Lord ever keep you
In the hollow of His hand
May your hearts be warm as your hearthstone
And may God bless you always
(RELIGIOUS/CHRISTIAN TRADITIONAL)
12. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you. The Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that you may so live together in this life, and that in the world to come you may have life everlasting. Amen.
(RELIGIOUS/CHRISTIAN TRADITIONAL)
13. Let us pray...
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
May God be with you and help you to grow together. May the Lord bless and keep you. May the Lord cause his face to shine upon you. May the Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace.
BENEDICTIONS AND GOOD WISHES: CULTURAL EXAMPLES
(SECULAR IRISH-CELTIC)
14. 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.
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.
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.
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
(SPIRITUAL CELTIC)
15. 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.
May the light of friendship guide your paths together,
And when eternity beckons,
at the end of a life heaped high with love,
May the good Lord embrace you
with the arms that have nurtured you
the whole length of your joy-filled days.
May the gracious God hold you both in the palm of His hands.
And, today, may the Spirit of Anam Cara
find a dwelling place in your hearts.
(SECULAR NATIVE AMERICAN)
16. The following is a Navajo song combined with an Apache incantation.
May you walk in beauty. Beauty before you. Beauty behind you. Beauty above and below you. May you have the strength of eagle's wings, the faith and courage to fly to new heights, and the wisdom of the universe to carry you there. May the sun bring you energy by day. May the moon softly restore you at night. May the rain wash away your worries, and the breeze blow new strength into your being. And all the days of your life, may you walk gently through the world and know its beauty.
(SPIRITUAL NATIVE AMERICAN)
17. The following Native American Blessing is a Navajo song combined with an Apache prayer.
May you walk in beauty. Beauty before you. Beauty behind you. Beauty above and below you. May you have the strength of eagle's wings, the faith and courage to fly to new heights, and the wisdom of the universe to carry you there. May the sun bring you energy by day. May the moon softly restore you at night. May the rain wash away your worries, and the breeze blow new strength into your being. And all the days of your life, may you walk gently through the world and know its beauty.
(SECULAR NATIVE AMERICAN)
18. Now you will feel no rain...
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold...
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness...
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies...
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place
to enter into the days of your togetherness...
And may your days be good and long upon the earth!
BENEDICTIONS AND GOOD WISHES: RELIGION EXAMPLES
(BUDDHIST TRADITIONAL)
19. May you know happiness and the source of happiness. May you know peace, as everyone wishes to know peace. May you be free from suffering, and be strong and healthy. May you be safe and protected from inner and outer harm. Go now in loving kindness and compassion. And Sarva Mangalam... May everything in your life be auspicious.
(CATHOLIC TRADITIONAL)
20. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have everlasting life. Amen.
(CHRISTIAN MODERN)
21. Dear Lord, we pray that you will bless ________________ and ________________ as they begin their new journey together. In all the experiences of life, may they always stay close to You and to each other as they share the joys and blessings, as well as the trials and heartaches. Help them to honor and keep the promises made here today, and remind them daily of Your great love for them so they, in turn, may reach out in love to others. Give them such love and devotion that each may be to the other a strength in need, a comfort in sorrow, a counselor in difficulty, and a companion in joy. Amen.
(HINDU TRADITIONAL)
22. May perfection prevail on all. May peace prevail on all. May contentment prevail on all. May auspiciousness prevail on all. Peace be in the heavens, in the sky, and on earth, May peace come to you ________________ & ________________, and to us all.
(MUSLIM TRADITIONAL)
23. May these vows and this marriage be blessed. May this marriage be full of laughter, every day a day in paradise. May this marriage be a sign of compassion, a seal of happiness here and hereafter. May this marriage have a fair face and a good name, and may God grant you health, success and prosperity.
BENEDICTIONS AND GOOD WISHES: SEASONAL EXAMPLES
(SECULAR AUTUMN OR SPRING)
24. May you find constant reward and challenge as you pursue the ongoing adventure of learning who you are as a couple and where you want to go together. May you always have a special sense of your mission in life together, and may you never tire of the endless possibilities of exploring your shared existence. May you dare to dream dreams not yet dreamt. And may your love grow like a beautiful tree, sending roots deep and branches high, with new beauty in every season of your life.
(SPIRITUAL SPRING)
25. ________________ and ________________, may the spirits watch over you as long as the grass grows and the rivers flow.
(SECULAR SUMMER)
26. We wish you the best of luck in your marriage as you create a new home together. May your hearts be filled with the happiness of hope. May all of your dreams come true. And may the summer sun forever shine upon you and warm your hearts until they glow like a great fire so that others may feel the warmth of your love for one another.
(SPIRITUAL SUMMER)
27. May God bless your marriage as you create a new home together. May your hearts be filled with the happiness of hope. May all of your dreams come true. And may the summer sun forever shine upon you and warm your hearts until they glow like a great fire so that others may feel the warmth of your love for one another.
(SECULAR WINTER - MODIFIED VERSION OF THE APACHE BLESSING)
28. Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness. You are two bodies, but there is one life before you, and one home. You will take each others hand and you'll turn together to look at the road you traveled to reach this---the hour of your happiness. It stretches behind you and the future lies ahead. A long and winding road, whose every turn means discovery, old hopes, new laughter, and shared tears. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and may your days together be good and long upon the earth. The adventure has just begun!
(SECULAR WINTER)
29. ________________ & ________________, may you always see and encourage the best in each other. May the challenges life brings you make your marriage grow stronger. May your love be as beautiful on each day you share as it is on this beautiful winter day of celebration. And may you always be each other's best friend and greatest love.
(SPIRITUAL WINTER)
30. Beloved God, source of warmth, light, and love, pour your grace down upon ________________ and ________________, that they may fulfill the vows that they have made today. ________________ and ________________, may you endlessly delight one another. May you love and fulfill each other always. May you always see in each other the face of God. Go in peace. Live in joy.
BENEDICTIONS & GOOD WISHES: FROM AROUND THE WEB