Prayers for your wedding

When supporting you in something as important as marriage, your church will want to pray for you before, during and after your wedding.
Inside a church. A cross, a candle and some white flowers.

Quite simply, prayer is a conversation with God. Christians believe that God listens to and acts on our prayers, and also communicates with us when we pray. Christians believe prayer is powerful enough to change us and our world for the better.

Prayer before your wedding

Before your wedding, you will most likely have your banns read in your church. On these occasions, the whole church will pray for your forthcoming marriage and many couples not only like to be present to hear this, but also take part. It can be a moving and special occasion.

Lord,
the source of all true love,
we pray for (your names).
Grant to them
joy of heart,
seriousness of mind
and reverence of spirit,
that as they enter into the oneness of marriage
they may be strengthened and guided by you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

This is another example:

Lord, we pray that as (bride’s name) and (groom’s name) get ready for their wedding day,
not only would their love for each other grow stronger,
but they would become more and more aware of your great love for them.
Amen.

Prayer on your wedding day

Your service will certainly include prayers. Your Vicar will be very happy to help you develop prayers that have special and personal meaning for you and your family, as well as using traditional prayers for marriage. It is possible for one of your guests to read prayers during the service. If this is something you would like to happen at your wedding, talk to your Vicar about how it could be incorporated.

One type of prayer, called the Collect, is said by the Vicar:

God our Father,
from the beginning
you have blessed creation with abundant life.
Pour out your blessings upon (bride’s name) and (groom’s name),
that they may be joined in mutual love and companionship,
in holiness and commitment to each other.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

There is also a special moment in the service when the vicar asks for God’s blessing on your marriage. They will say:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
for you have created joy and gladness,
pleasure and delight, love, peace and fellowship.
Pour out the abundance of your blessing
upon N and N in their new life together.
Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts
and a crown upon their heads.
Bless them in their work and in their companionship;
awake and asleep,
in joy and in sorrow,
in life and in death.
Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that banquet
where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home.
We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

There is a choice of prayers that are said at the end of the service, this is one example:

May their marriage be life-giving and life-long,
enriched by your presence and strengthened by your grace;
may they bring comfort and confidence to each other
in faithfulness and trust.
Lord of life and love:
[everyone says] Hear our prayer

After your wedding

Your church will continue to pray for you if you ask them to.