Wedding Prayer

We’ve just completed a season of weddings with two of them being this past weekend. The weather was perfect, for both were outdoors – a dicey factor anywhere, and an additional stress for mothers-of-bride who can be especially or insanely? obsessed with the perfection of details.  All of the weddings were unique and beautiful from the easy-going bride who said, “whatever” to the one who said, “No one is ‘giving me away’ I’m giving Myself away!” The last wedding reflected an unusually strong (having survived challenges that would capsize most of us) and glorious bride who wanted the traditional Anglican ceremony and chose a deep red color for her gown.  

Denis included this wedding prayer for the couple with slightly altered words from the original.

This blessing is full of reminders I need often – not just on Wedding Days. That night as we lay in bed together, I asked him to pray it again – for us – for Denis and Margie.

Eternal God,

Creator and preserver of all life, author of salvation, and giver of all grace:

Look with favor upon the world you have made, and for which your Son gave his life, and especially upon this man and this woman whom you have made one flesh.

Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy. Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other's forgiveness and yours.

Make their life together a sign of Christ's love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair.

Grant that all of us here will know something of your grace, O Father, who with your Son, and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns in perfect unity, now and forever.

            We ask you to bless this marriage, and these two who form a family in the name of Jesus.

            Amen.