Prayers for a Wedding – The 22 Most Beautiful Prayers

Blessings in the form of intercessions are a symbol of the bond between your church congregation and you as the bride and groom. Intercessions allow you to remember others during the ceremony, and this type of blessing is a beautiful way to share kind thoughts and wishes with the bride and groom.

Do you prefer a civil wedding or an independent wedding ceremony? In either case, your guests’ wishes can be incorporated into the ceremony. Or do you simply have little to no idea what intercessions and blessings might sound like? And are you also unsure who is responsible for writing and delivering them—let alone when they should be presented? We have all the information and plenty of inspiration—even in the form of intercessory prayer templates—for you!

Who offers the intercessions?

Intercessions are—especially in a church setting—a lovely way to honor the bride and groom with loving words and blessings. But who delivers the intercessions? The decision is usually up to the bride and groom or the witnesses. Most often, close relatives—such as a brother, sister, or sister-in-law—are chosen. Parents are also often delighted when they can play an active role in shaping the church service or ceremony. Important: Ask your preferred candidates for the intercessions well in advance whether they feel comfortable speaking in front of the entire wedding party. Not everyone is cut out to read intercessions in a church or under a wedding arch. However, there are always people who are naturally gifted at speaking in front of an audience—they are the ideal choice for delivering your wedding prayers. These individuals speak clearly and articulately and craft their prayers with a personal touch. If you ask around among your relatives and friends, you’ll quickly find out who’s suited to deliver the wedding prayers. Another tip from us: Give (your) children a voice! A prayer recited by a child from your extended family will melt the hearts of the wedding guests—and yours as well.

Prayers of Intercession During the Wedding Ceremony: The Order of Service

In the Catholic Church, a wedding is celebrated as either a Mass or a service of the Word. The former is longer than the service of the Word and can only be conducted by a priest. After the solemn opening, including the procession and the prayer of the day, the service of the Word begins with readings and other elements. The official wedding ceremony is usually followed by the Creed, and then comes the big moment for those reciting the intercessions: They are called to the ambo, the lectern to the left of the altar, where they may recite their intercessions.

At the beginning of an intercession in the Catholic Church, a phrase such as “Dear God” or “Lord” is usually used; however, what is most important for those reciting the intercessions is knowing how to conclude them. After the intercessions, those leading them should allow for a brief pause so that those attending the service can say “We pray that you may hear us” or a traditional “Amen.” Not every diocese follows this practice exactly, but for the most part, this is still the customary procedure during a church wedding. In non-denominational wedding ceremonies, there is often just a brief pause or a short verse of a hymn is sung.

After the intercessions, the Eucharistic celebration begins, followed by the conclusion with a blessing hymn and the recessional. As you can see, those leading the intercessions are an important piece of the wedding ceremony puzzle and a link between the wedding ceremony and the Eucharistic celebration.

How do I write a prayer of intercession?

If we’re again assuming a Catholic wedding ceremony, you or your witnesses can work with the priest to narrow down topics that fit with the rest of the service. Often, a priest already has a collection of prepared intercessions. You can confidently use these intercessions as a starting point and rephrase them to suit your preferences.

Of course, the most beautiful intercessions are those written by the speakers themselves. Personal and phrased in your own words—that’s always what resonates best with the audience! Intercessions can highlight wonderful experiences the couple has shared, the arrival of new family members, or even loved ones who, sadly, are no longer among the guests. The approach to intercessions can be very diverse and creative; don’t let yourself be limited by pre-written intercessions, but dare to formulate your own—or encourage your speakers to do exactly that.

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The Program Booklet & Intercessions

With a beautifully designed program, you’ll always have the ceremony schedule and the intercessions for the wedding right at your fingertips. This isn’t just a lovely keepsake for the wedding guests, but also an important guide for everyone who needs to know the exact order of the wedding ceremony—including those leading the intercessions. In addition to the wedding ceremony order of service and song lyrics, other essential content can be included in the booklet, such as the couple’s wedding vows. You can find specific information on what belongs in a wedding ceremony booklet in our blog post on the topic:

Tip:Stationery designers know exactly how to create an ideal and thoughtfully designed layout for a program booklet—reach out to them; they’ll be happy to help you achieve a cohesive design.

Templates for Wedding Intercessions

Every now and then, we all reach into our bag of tricks when it comes to phrasing and use a template. That’s perfectly fine when it comes to intercessions, too. We’ve put together a selection of intercession templates for you. Our tip: Take the time to rephrase each intercession slightly or make it a little more personal by adding a short note of your own.

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11 Blessings for the Bride and Groom

• Lord, may (the bride) and (the groom) always be willing to listen to each other's thoughts and challenges.
• Dear God, grant the couple (last name) joy, courage, and good health as they journey through life. May they grow old together in contentment and happiness.
• Lord, grant (the groom) and (the bride) the serenity they need to face certain situations in married life. Help them see every challenge as an opportunity to grow together as a couple.
• Lord, we pray for the bride and groom, that they may find love, trust, and understanding for one another in their marriage.
• Dear God, strengthen these two people; let them look toward their future together with confidence and courage. Let them find joy in life’s little things and share that joy with those around them.
• We pray for the (number of children) children of this married couple, that they may continue to accompany their parents on this exciting journey and share wonderful experiences together as a family.
• Lord, bless their marriage and protect them from all dangers and obstacles. May their love grow and flourish for many years to come.
• We pray for the families and friends of the bride and groom, that they may always be there for them with advice and support and remain close to them in the future as well.
• We pray for all those who cannot be here today. May their thoughts and wishes be with the bride and groom, and may You grant them love and happiness.
• Lord, we thank you for all the beauty and abundance you bring into our lives. Continue to bless us with your love and protection, so that we may all live in peace.
• We ask you, Lord—grant the bride and groom an appreciation for nature. For it is our most precious treasure. Grant the bride and groom the ability to listen to others and truly see them. For what matters most is our connection with one another. Lord, let the bride and groom walk through life with open eyes!

11 Modern Intercessions That Reflect the Spirit of the Times

• Only when you give each other space and support each other's growth can you move forward as a couple.
  Stay close to each other, but always remain independent individuals. We hope you find the balance that’s right for you!
• We are grateful that we are able to celebrate a joyful festival today in the spirit of love. We have everything we need: our loved ones, wonderful places, and delicious food. Not everyone is as fortunate as we are. Let us therefore be humble and mindful of our privileges.
• Here’s what we wish for you: friends who are always by your side; family members who are always there to listen; coworkers who celebrate your successes with you; and children who remind you of a child’s perspective on the world.
• We are grateful for the opportunity we are given every day to be kind and to bring joy to others with a smile, a good deed, or kind words. Let’s all remember every day that each day brings new opportunities!
• “It doesn’t matter which path we take, as long as we walk it together.” That’s what Astrid Lindgren writes in one of her many children’s books. I think she’s right. And that’s what I want to share with you today: As long as you walk your path together, it will be the right one. You can count on that!
• No matter where you make your home—whether you're traveling or whether you want your home to be a specific place—we ask that you be able to provide a sense of home for one another, wherever you may be.
• We hope that you never lose that sense of lightheartedness in your life together. That you love each other with all your strengths and weaknesses, and that you overcome life’s challenges as a united couple.
• Dear Bride and Groom, an exciting and eventful time lies ahead of you. I’m not referring to your honeymoon (which I’m sure will be wonderful, too!), but to your married life: As a married couple, you’ll be able to share new experiences, broaden your horizons, and grow together. I sincerely hope that you’ll enjoy a wonderful time of shared growth.
• What we wish for you with all our hearts: joy in life, anniversaries, beautiful everyday moments, and plenty of unique experiences as a married couple. Keep rocking—we love you!
• “We are most alive when we’re in love.”—that’s a quote from the writer John Updike, and I think he’s right: When you love someone, you feel alive and full of energy. May this feeling of love for one another last forever for the two of you.
• Dear Mom, dear Dad—I wish you lots of colorful rainbows, glittery pearls, and plenty of cake for your wedding! I'm so happy that our family is now even bigger.

Now that you’ve had the chance to choose from 22 very different intercessions, you’ve surely jotted down one or two that speak to you. To make sure everything goes smoothly on your wedding day, we’ve put together a few tips on how to present the intercessions.

Tips for Wedding Intercessions

Whether you’re having a church wedding or a non-religious ceremony—as a couple, you’ll always have a meeting in advance with the officiant or pastor to go over the order of the ceremony. This means that, if you wish, you can still adjust the timing of the intercessions. The standard practice is for the pastor or officiant to announce when it’s time for the intercessions, so you don’t have to worry that your intercessors will miss their cue. It’s important to ensure that a height-adjustable microphone is set up for the readers in advance and that everyone either has their intercessions with them, has them ready at the front, or can read them from the church program.

Prayers of Intercession as an Emotional Element of the Wedding Ceremony

The prayers of intercession are certainly one of the elements of the wedding ceremony that can be made very personal and emotional. Take advantage of this opportunity and have your witnesses, friends, and loved ones write their own prayers of intercession. To help them, you’re welcome to share our suggested prayer ideas with them.