5 Opening Prayers for a Wedding Ceremony
An opening prayer sets the tone for a wedding. It gathers everyone in the room ( family, friends, and the couple at the center) and reminds them that love began long before this day. Scripture tells us that we love because God first loved us, and marriage is one of the clearest places that love becomes visible. The opening prayer is an invitation for God to shape this moment, steady the couple’s hearts, and anchor their promises in something deeper than their own strength.
Each prayer below draws from themes already woven through wedding sermons made available on this site: covenant, self-giving love, Christ at the center, and the hope that God will hold what the couple cannot. These can be used exactly as written or adapted for any ceremony.
Opening Prayer 1 — Centered in God’s Love
Gracious God,
We gather in your presence with gratitude. You are the One who teaches us to love, who calls us into community, and who binds our lives together with mercy. As this couple stands before you, steady their hearts. Let your Spirit fill this room with joy that runs deeper than excitement and peace that outlasts the moment. Shape the vows they make today so that their life together reflects the love Christ has shown the world. In your holy name we pray, Amen.
Opening Prayer 2 — A Prayer for Covenant and Promise
Holy God,
You have walked with us from the beginning, calling us to faith, hope, and love. Today we witness two people offering themselves to one another in covenant. Bless what they bring. Strengthen what is fragile. Deepen what is good. As they speak their vows, let your faithfulness surround them. Where there is joy, enlarge it. Where there is fear, calm it. Where there is uncertainty, guide them. May this ceremony honor you and reflect your steadfast love. Amen.
Opening Prayer 3 — Asking God to Hold the Day
God of compassion and joy,
Thank you for this moment. Thank you for the lives that have shaped this couple and the people who have gathered to support them. As we begin this ceremony, hold this day in your hands. Let laughter rise easily. Let tears fall freely. Let love speak clearly. May your Spirit weave together every part of this service so that what begins here grows into a marriage marked by grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Opening Prayer 4 — Blessing the Gathering and the Future
Lord of all,
We stand in awe of the love that brings two people together and of the journey that led them to this place. Bless this gathering. Bless the families represented here. Bless the promises about to be spoken. Go before this couple and prepare their path. Walk beside them when the road is uncertain. Carry them when the burdens are heavy. Let this ceremony be a witness to your goodness and a beginning filled with hope. Amen.
Opening Prayer 5 — Christ at the Center
Loving God,
You have shown us what love looks like in Jesus Christ — patient, gentle, self-giving. As we begin this wedding ceremony, place that love at the center. Let it guide the words spoken, the commitments made, and the life this couple builds together. Draw each person here into gratitude for the gift of love and the joy of witnessing this union. Make this a sacred moment, held and blessed by you. Amen.
See Also
Christian Wedding Ceremony Script
Wedding Ceremony Script for Officiants
Christian Wedding Ceremony Order and Outline
5 Opening Prayers for a Wedding Ceremony
4 Closing Prayers for a Wedding Ceremony
12 Bible Verses for a Wedding Ceremony
10 Scripture Readings for a Wedding
Wedding Vows for a Christian Ceremony
Declaration of Intent for a Christian Wedding
Wedding Sermon: Love as Christ Loved the Church
Wedding Sermon on 1 Corinthians 13
