Marriage blessings for the happy couple on their wedding day
You don’t have to be Irish to want your wedding filled with good luck messages of sentiment. With Irish blessings steeped in history to ancient Celtic times, these words often heard still in Irish weddings are fitting for other heritages; after all, wishing the just couple a life full of luck, happiness, and love as their embark on their journey together is wished for all wedding couples.
In this series of blogs focusing on “the luck of the Irish”, we know that Ireland has some joyous customs that can be weaved into a modern-day wedding day and celebrations. Concentrating on the wedding ceremony itself, Irish blessings, sayings,quotes and proverbs bring festivity to your wedding celebration, enjoy these examples to incorporate into your wedding ceremony: -
Irish Blessings
Family Blessing by Jonathan Swift
“Love,life and happiness
May your troubles be few and
Your blessings many.
Length of life and sunny days
and may your souls not go homewards
until your own child falls in love
Health, Happiness....... and a little wealth never hurt
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 those that love us, love us
And for those who don't love us
may God turn their hearts.
And if God cannot turn their hearts,
may He turn their ankles,
so we may know them by their limping.
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 you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.
May the blessings of light be upon you,
Light without and light within.
And in all your comings and goings,
May you ever have a kindly greeting
From them you meet along the road.
May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.”
Traditional Irish Wedding Blessing to be Used at End of Wedding Service
“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.”
Celtic Wedding Blessing to be Recited at End of Wedding Service
“May you will feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter to the other.
May you feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
May there be no loneliness for you;
Though you are two persons, but there is one life before you.
May you go to your dwelling place to enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long together.”
Popular Spiritual Irish Wedding Toast
This very popular tribute is used at many Irish weddings:-
“May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the the sun shine warm upon your face; the rain fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand."
This one does have a strong message:
"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."
Tongue Twisting Irish Toast
This one will need a wee bit of practice to ensure it flows off the tongue:
"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!"
There’s More!
If you are looking for more Irish wedding breakfast toasts ideas,click here
Want to read more about how to have a lucky wedding, click here
Get Inspired To Find Your Wedding Vibe!
Sign up today for my newsletters full of wedding tips not to be missed!
Amanda-Louise is the creative director of her UK award winning business, Amanda-Louise Knight Weddings Proposals & Events. She provides advice to modern couples who want unforgettable weddings that set the tone about their celebrations and love.
Amanda-Louise is a current celebrant, and has been involved in the events industry for over 30 years. Her love for logistics, she is wedding and marriage proposal planner in the South West of England. A dog lover herself, she is owner of Somerset Wedding Day Dog Chaperone Service ensuring furry babies are included or cared for by her team.
She is mentor to other celebrants and venue consultant to her corporate business clients dedicating her time to helping them grow their own businesses.
And it all starts with making a date with Amanda-Louise!
Blog Disclaimer - the article is opinion based by the author only, the content is for information purposes only, and as such is not guaranteed. Whilst its intended to be accurate there may be some unintentional errors, mistakes or omissions and therefore may be subject of updating. In accordance with any advice articles should the reader wish to rely on this information, they do so at their own risk. Any prices quoted are accurate at time of writing content.
