Jewish weddings overflow with centuries-old blessings that speak to love, partnership, and the sacred bond between two souls.
These readings carry the weight of tradition while offering deeply personal moments that can transform your ceremony into something unforgettable.
Traditional Sheva Brachot: The Seven Wedding Blessings
1. Blessing Over the Wine (Borei Pri HaGafen)
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.”
This first blessing sanctifies the moment with wine, a symbol of joy and abundance.
2. Glory of Creation
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who created everything for His glory.”
It widens the lens from the couple to the entire created world, reminding everyone of life’s divine spark.
3. Humankind Created
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of humankind.”
This blessing celebrates the very act of human creation.
4. Humanity in the Divine Image
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who fashioned humanity in the Divine image and prepared for us everlasting life.”
It links marriage to the eternal potential of every human soul.
5. Joy of Zion
“Blessed are You, Lord, Who brings joy to Zion through her children.”
This blessing weaves your new family into the larger story of the Jewish people.
6. Joy of Groom and Bride
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has created joy and gladness, groom and bride, mirth, song, pleasure, delight, love, brotherhood, peace, and companionship.”
Often recited by a loved one, it names every emotion a wedding should stir.
7. Collective Celebration
“Blessed are You, Lord, Who gladdens the groom together with the bride.”
The finale ties your happiness to communal hope and future rejoicing in Jerusalem.
Ketubah Readings: The Marriage Contract as Poetry
8. Traditional Ketubah Pledge
“Be my wife according to the law of Moses and Israel. I will work, honor, feed, and support you in the custom of Jewish men.”
Centuries old, these words still resonate with their promises of protection and respect.
9. Contemporary Ketubah Vow
“We commit to nurture each other’s dreams, to share in life’s joys, and to shoulder its burdens as equal partners.”
Modern texts blend timeless duty with mutuality and shared growth.
Psalms & Biblical Passages for Wedding Ceremonies
10. Psalm 128 – Blessing of the Home
“Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. You shall enjoy the fruit of your labor; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.”
A realistic portrait of domestic bliss grounded in shared effort and faith.
11. Song of Songs 6:3 – Timeless Love
“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”
Perhaps the most quoted Hebrew verse on wedding rings, it unites body and spirit in one line.
Blessings from the Talmud & Rabbinic Literature
12. Divine Presence Between Partners
“When husband and wife are worthy, the Divine Presence rests between them.”
Love becomes a daily act of sacred service.
13. Joy Through Partnership
“A person without a spouse lives without joy, without blessing, without goodness.”
Partnership is portrayed not as loss of self but as completion.
Modern Hebrew Poetry & Blessings
14. Yehuda Amichai – “The Place Where We Are Right”
“From the place where we are right, flowers will never grow in the spring.”
Amichai reminds us that humility and listening sustain a marriage.
15. Rachel – “Perhaps It Was Nothing but You”
“Perhaps all the loveliness was only because of you.”
A tender acknowledgment that ordinary life becomes luminous through love.
Blessings for Blended Families & Second Marriages
16. Blessing of Renewal
“Blessed are You, God, who renews our days and makes all things new.”
Speaks to the courage of loving again after loss.
17. Welcoming Children into the New Family
“May this home be a shelter of peace, where every child is seen, cherished, and loved.”
A promise to honor the expanded circle created by your union.
Interfaith Wedding Adaptations
18. Universal Blessing of Ever-Growing Love
“May you be blessed with love that deepens each day and with a partnership that lifts the hearts of all who witness it.”
A bridge blessing—rooted in Jewish language yet open to every faith.
Seasonal & Holiday-Themed Wedding Blessings
19. Rosh Hashanah – Book of Life Blessing
“Write us in the Book of Life—for blessing, for peace, and for good sustenance.”
Perfect for autumn weddings, invoking renewal and a sweet year together.
20. Passover – From Narrowness to Freedom
“In every generation, each person must see themselves as if they personally went out from Egypt.”
A metaphor for marriage’s power to expand our capacity for joy and growth.
Personalizing Traditional Blessings
21. A Personalized Sheva Brachot
“Blessed are You, God, who brought Sarah and David together through their shared love of terrible puns and excellent bagels.”
Add a dash of personality while honoring age-old structure.
Incorporating Family Traditions & Regional Customs
22. Sephardic Melody over the Final Blessing
“May the One who gladdens groom and bride gladden these loved ones beneath their canopy of joy.”
Chanted in a centuries-old Ladino tune, this connects you to Sephardic ancestry.
23. Ashkenazi Parental Blessing
“May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh; may He bless you and keep you.”
Often recited by parents just before the ceremony concludes.
Additional Biblical Blessings
24. Ruth 1:16 – Journey Together
“Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
A vow of steadfast companionship across every landscape of life.
25. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – Strength in Union
“Two are better than one, for they have a good reward for their labor… a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
A timeless reminder that shared effort and faith make a marriage resilient.