28 Irish Wedding Blessings and Prayers for Your Ceremony

Of all life's many milestones, getting married is one of the most significant. In addition to solidifying your love for your partner, making your union official and legal in front of everyone you love, for the majority of people (though certainly not all!), a wedding serves as the catalyst to additional milestones to come, like buying a home and starting a family. If you're looking for ways to make this already meaningful celebration even more special, consider adding an Irish blessing to some part of the day. Though they're especially apt if you or your partner have an Irish background, any couple can work an Irish blessing into their big day. The Irish, with their rich history of storytelling and poetry, have an array of prayers, blessings, and sayings that work for just about any ceremony or reception.

If you are Irish, though, including a well-loved blessing or prayer in your ceremony or reception is a nice way to pay homage to your heritage. Just select your blessing with care and keep the more lighthearted verses for after the wedding, advises wedding planner Nora Sheils. “While many Irish blessings may not be appropriate for a ceremony, they do add some humor to a reception!”

Read on for more about Irish blessings and prayers with some advice from a top wedding planner. 

Irish Marriage Blessings and Prayers

If you want to personalize your wedding ceremony with a meaningful blessing, prayer, or reading, we love the idea of including one of these classic Irish options. Here, we're sharing a collection of different Irish blessings and prayers for your consideration—they can also be included on welcome signage or in your programs. 

Blessings

"May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace. May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase. May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past. May your hands be forever clasped in friendship and your hearts joined forever in love. Your lives are very special, and God has touched you in many ways. May his blessings rest upon you and fill all your coming days."

"May joy and peace surround you both, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now, and God bless you evermore. May you live your life with trust, and nurture lifelong affection. May your lifelong dreams come true for you, move ever that direction."

"In good times and bad times, in sickness and health, may they know that riches aren’t needed for wealth. Help them face problems they’ll meet on their way—God bless this couple who marry today. May they find peace of mind comes to all who are kind, may the rough times ahead become triumphs in time, may their children be happy each day—God bless this family who started today. As they go, may they know every love that was shown, and as life it gets shorter may their feelings grow. Wherever they travel, wherever they stay, God bless this couple who marry today."

"May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!"

"May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow
May the soft winds freshen your spirit
May the sunshine brighten your heart
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you
And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
and the rain fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again my friend(s)
May God hold you in the hollow (palm) of his hand."
—Traditional Celtic 

“May the embers from the open hearth warm your hands,
May the sun’s rays from the Irish sky warm your face,
May the children’s bright smiles warm your heart,
May the everlasting love I give you warm your soul.”
—Irish Wedding Vow

"Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play—
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song—
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!"

"May God grant you always a sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you, faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you."

Traditional Irish Wedding Ceremony Blessings

"May the meaning of this hour be fulfilled through the days and years to come.
May the love of this man and this woman, their unity of spirit,
grow deeper and stronger in the uncertainties and changes of life they will share.
Loving each other, may they love all persons. Trusting each other, may they learn to trust life. 
May their love reach out to the love of all, that their lives may bless all whose lives they touch. May they find comfort together in shared hours of shadow, as well as in the bright sunshine of joy. May they be to each other both strong and gentle.
May all who follow their lives with interest and affection have cause to rejoice not alone in their happiness, but in their brave and generous living which makes life beautiful and significant."

“May you always walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings Right beside your door.
May your troubles be less,
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness,
Come through your door.”

"May you have love that never ends,
lots of money, and lots of friends.
Health be yours, whatever you do,
and may God send many blessings to you!"

"May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness.
From this day forward."

"May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.
May your home be filled with laughter
May your pockets be filled with gold
And may you have all the happiness
Your Irish heart can hold.
May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
May luck be a friend to ye,
And be with ye in all yer days,
And may trouble be to ye,
A stranger, always."

“With the first light of sun- Bless you.
When the long day is done- Bless you.
In your smiles and your tears- Bless you.
Through each day of your years- Bless you."

“Happy is the bride that rain falls on
May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.
May the saddest day of your future
Be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship
And your hearts joined forever in love.
Your lives are very special,
God has touched you in many ways.
May his blessings rest upon you
And fill all your coming days.
We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand to hand.
Hark, O Spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this our Sacred Vow.”
— Traditional Irish Marriage Prayer

Single Line Blessings 

"May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward."

"May there be a generation of children on the children of your children."

"May you live all the days of your life."

"May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live."

"May the blessings of each day be the blessings you need most."

"May your joys be as bright as the morning, and your sorrows fade in the sunlight of love. "

"May good luck be with you wherever you go, and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow."

Blessings for the Reception

"May those who love us love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping."

"Here's to you and yours
And to mine and ours.
And if mine and ours
Ever come across to you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours!"

"May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load, may the mist of Irish magic shorten every road, may you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ere bestowed, and may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed."

"May you have a world of wishes at your command. God and his angels close to hand. Friends and family, their love impart, and Irish blessings in your heart."

Prayers

"By the power that Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me.
As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me.
As light to the eye,
as bread to the hungry,
as joy to the heart,
may thy presence be with me,
oh, one that I love,
’til death comes to part us asunder."

Excerpts from Saint Patrick’s Prayer:
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From the temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.