Opening Prayers

Opening prayers for your wedding ceremony.
​We gather here today in the name of Love. 

I perform a lot of semi-religious wedding ceremonies.  Often, an opening prayer might be the only Christian element added to an otherwise non-religious ceremony.  Here are some wonderful options. 

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Wedding Prayer 
by Robert Louis Stevenson

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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Grateful

​Let us be grateful 
for the capacity to see, feel, hear, and understand. 
Let us be grateful for this incredible gift of life. 
Let us be especially grateful 
for the ties of love which bind us together, 
giving dignity, meaning, worth and joy to all our days. 
This is indeed a day which the Lord has made. 
Let us rejoice in it and be glad, 
and let us count our many blessings.

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Marriage Prayer

Father in heaven, 
You ordained marriage for your children, 
and you gave us love. 
We present to You Bride and Groom, 
who come this day to be married. 
May the covenant of love they make be blessed 
with true devotion and spiritual commitment. 
We ask that You, God, 
will give them the ability to keep the covenant they have made. 
When selfishness shows itself, grant generosity; 
when mistrust is a temptation, give moral strength; 
when there is misunderstanding, give patience and gentleness; 
if suffering becomes a part of their lives, 
give them a strong faith and an abiding love. 
Amen.

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Opening Prayer 1

Heavenly Father, We gather to celebrate your gift of love, and its presence among us. We rejoice that these two people have chosen to commit themselves to a life of loving faithfulness to one another. We praise you, Lord, for the ways you have touched our lives with a variety of loving relationships, and we give thanks for Name and Name, and for the special love and friendship you have put in their hearts. Renew within us an affection and a loving spirit. Enrich our lives with the gracious gift of your love so that we may embrace others with that same love. May our participation in this celebration of love and commitment, give to us a new joy and responsiveness to the relationships that we cherish. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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Opening Prayer 2

Heavenly Father, Bless this marriage, as Name and Name begin their journey down the road of life together. We don’t know what lies ahead. But help them to make the best of whatever comes their way. Help them to hug each other often … laugh a lot, talk more, and argue less. Help them to continue to enjoy each other as they did when they first met. Help them to realize that nothing or 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 help each other grow mentally and emotionally. Give them peace of heart and strength of spirit so they may honor the vows they made here today. And may the promises they made inspire each of us who celebrates with them. Amen.

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Opening Prayer 3

God, as you join us today, we ask for your blessings upon this couple as they unite in marriage. Let all their days together be happy and all their words to each other be sweet. Though their paths are intertwined, let them be aware of each other’s separateness. Bless their home and allow it to be a place of joy and serenity. Remind them to nurture each other’s body with mutual love, honor and respect. Let their spirits dwell within. As they learn from one another, may they grow stronger as individuals and closer as a couple. And as their wedded life begins today with prayer, so may they continue it, praying for and with each other.  Amen.

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Opening Prayer 4

In acknowledgment of this holy purpose, and of the power of this occasion, let us pray.  Dear God, One who gives us the longing for love and the capability of loving, we give thanks to You for Name and Name, for their open hearts and willing spirits, and for the love that they embody here in our presence.  Be with them on this joyous occasion as two become one, and be with us, their witnesses, as we rejoice in what is said and witnessed here.  Amen.

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Opening Prayer 5

Let us go into prayer now as we close our eyes, resting in the quietness and the goodness within.  Heavenly Father we give thanks for the miracle of life that you bestow upon us on this glorious day. We give thanks as you weave the spirit of love throughout every heart, body, and mind within this gathering. May the blending of our hearts prepare us to remember the truth of Oneness as we bear witness to the sacred ceremony of marriage. May the radiance of joy on this special day, overflow with peace and harmony throughout the rest of Bride and Groom’s life together as husband & wife. And may peace and harmony continue to expand, bringing joy to their families and friends and to all others who enter their home and circle of life.   In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…Amen

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Opening Prayer 6

Family and Friends, this is a very sacred time for Name and Name, so – let us begin with prayer.  I invite you to close your eyes and turn within yourselves to the presence of God, and let us now realize that God’s richest blessings are being poured out on Name and Name. We see them both blessed with an abundance of all-good and see their minds illumined by divine wisdom, and your hearts quickened by divine love. And now – let us affirm these things in an awareness that we are in the living, loving indwelling presence of God. Amen.

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Opening Prayer 7

Gracious God, our hearts are filled with great happiness on this the wedding day of Name and Name. They come before you, pledging their lives and their hearts to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and help them to be sweethearts, helpmates, friend and guide, and together, may they meet the cares and problems of life more bravely.  May their home truly be a place of love and harmony where your Spirit is ever present. Bless their wedding day, we pray, and walk beside them, through all their life together. Amen.

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Opening Prayer 8

Lord God Almighty, Creator of the heavens and earth. Thank you for the gift of marriage and for all the joy and love that it brings us. We thank you for Name and Name. Thank you that you have brought them together for this special day and that you hold them safely in Your hands. We pray that you would richly bless them as they exchange their vows and their wedding rings, and from this day forward they would walk hand in hand into everything that you have destined them to be. We give our hearts and beings to You now in adoration and welcome Your Holy Spirit among us. Amen.

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Opening Prayer 9

God of Love, who gives us the longing for, and capability of loving, we give you thanks for Name and Name, for their open hearts and willing spirits, and for the example of love that they embody here in our presence. Be with them on this joyous occasion of showing their love and making their vows; and be with us, their witnesses, that we may all be changed by what is said and witnessed here. Amen.

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Opening Prayer 10

Thank you, God, for the beautiful bond of love that exists between Name and Name. Thank you for this wedding ceremony with family, friends and loved ones. We are grateful for your presence with us here today and for your divine blessing on this holy event, the marriage day of Name and Name.  Amen.

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Opening Prayer 11

Our Father, love has been your richest and greatest gift to the world. The love between two people which matures into marriage is one of your most beautiful types of love. Today we celebrate that love. May your blessing be on this wedding service. Protect, guide, and bless 
Name and Name in their marriage. Surround them and us with your love now and always,  Amen.

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Opening Prayer 12

Let us be grateful for the capacity to see, feel, hear, and understand. Let us be grateful for this incredible gift of life. Let us be especially grateful for the ties of love which bind us together, giving dignity, meaning, worth and joy to all our days.  This is indeed a day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice in it and be glad, and let us count our many blessings.

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Opening Prayer 13

Oh Lord, our hearts are filled with joy on this wedding day, as Name and Name come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may ever be true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding. Rid them of all pretense and jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other’s sweetheart, helpmate, best friend, and guide, so together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. May the home they are creating today truly be a place of love, peace, and harmony, where Your Spirit is always present. Bless this marriage we pray, and walk beside Name and Name throughout their lives together. We ask this in Jesus’ name.

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Opening Prayer 14

Faithful God, we dare to invoke Your name in this glad moment, because we know you are the Creator of humanity in your image and in all our diversity. You are the Author of love, the Source of passion, the Model of commitment. You stand with us, through all of life’s experiences, worries, defeats, and victories. So we pray for your presence now, confident that divine blessing comes to rest wherever hearts are woven together with fidelity and life. Bless this hour for Name and Name, and let Your peace uphold all who love them and who witness this sacred moment.  Amen.

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Opening Prayer 15

Heavenly Father, we gather here together because you have promised that wherever 3 or more are gathered in your name, you will be in the midst of them.  We ask for your presence here, as we join Name and Name in marriage. We ask your blessings over this ceremony as they make their vows to each other.  Stand by them throughout their marriage and fill them with your perfect love so that they may grow in their love for you and for each other throughout their marriage and their lives.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen. ​

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