A sending forth
The Wedding Ceremony Benediction and Closing Blessing
The wedding ceremony benediction and closing blessing bring the ceremony to its conclusion. It is the act of bestowing a blessing, good wishes, and energy for a future filled with happiness for the married couple.
A benediction may be religious, spiritual or entirely secular. It can be offered by the officiant, spoken as a prayer, or expressed as simple words of encouragement for the couple and the life they are beginning together.
Immediately following the benediction is usually the Recessional, the joyful moment when the newly married couple and wedding party leave the ceremony space and the celebration begins.
The officiant may invite family and friends to stand before offering the benediction. This can be especially effective because it naturally prepares everyone for the Recessional while giving the closing words a sense of importance and completion.
The quick version
- The benediction is a closing blessing of good wishes, and it can be religious, spiritual or secular.
- It usually comes near the very end, after the pronouncement and just before the Recessional.
- Not every ceremony needs one, since for some couples the pronouncement and kiss are the perfect ending.
- A few carefully chosen words are plenty to send the couple off with hope.
- Inviting everyone to stand first helps prepare the whole room for the Recessional.
In this guide
What is a wedding benediction?
A wedding benediction is a blessing or expression of good wishes offered near the end of the wedding ceremony. It sends the couple into married life with words of hope, encouragement, love and, in a religious ceremony, God’s blessing.
The word benediction literally means “good words” or “speaking well.” That is a helpful way to think about its purpose. These are some of the final words spoken over or to the couple before they leave the ceremony as newlyweds.
A benediction does not have to be religious. Depending on the couple and the ceremony, it may take the form of a prayer, a spiritual blessing, a traditional blessing, or simply a few meaningful words wishing the couple well in the years ahead.
The best closing blessings are usually not long. A few carefully chosen words can bring together the meaning of the ceremony and leave the couple, and those gathered with them, with a sense of hope for the life that lies ahead.
The best closing blessings are usually not long.
Where does the benediction go in the wedding ceremony?
The benediction usually comes near the very end of the ceremony, after the couple has exchanged vows and rings and, in most ceremonies, after they have been pronounced married.
A typical sequence might be:
Exchange of Vows → Exchange of Rings → Pronouncement → Benediction or Closing Blessing → Recessional
There is no requirement that every wedding ceremony include a benediction. For some couples, the pronouncement and kiss provide the perfect conclusion. For others, especially in religious or spiritual ceremonies, a final blessing provides a meaningful moment before the couple walks back up the aisle.
The officiant may invite everyone to stand before offering the benediction. This can create a natural transition into the Recessional and allows family and friends to participate in the closing moment simply by standing together in support of the couple.
Whatever form it takes, the benediction should feel like a sending forth: not simply the end of the ceremony, but a few final words for the marriage that is just beginning.
Whatever form it takes, the benediction should feel like a sending forth: not simply the end of the ceremony, but a few final words for the marriage that is just beginning.
The blessing I would choose
I've stood at the front of a lot of weddings, but that was long ago, and I've forgotten most of the words I used. If I were standing in front of a couple this Saturday, this is the blessing I would close with.
It doesn't pretend marriage will always be easy. It admits life will bring hard days, and then it reminds the couple that love is something they will keep choosing. After more than fifty years of marriage, I know that's the truth of it.
A Wedding Benediction: For All the Days to Come
Spoken by the officiant, looking toward the couple.
May the love that brought you to this moment be the love that carries you through all the years to come.
May you never lose the wonder of having found one another, nor take for granted the quiet miracle of being known, understood, and loved.
May your home be a place of welcome, where laughter comes easily, where kindness is freely given, and where each of you finds the freedom to be fully yourself.
When life is generous, may you remember to be grateful.
When life is difficult, may you remember that you do not walk alone.
May you have the wisdom to listen, the courage to forgive, and the grace to begin again whenever beginning again is needed.
And may you come to understand that the deepest love is not found only in life's extraordinary moments, but in a thousand ordinary acts of tenderness, patience, and care.
And when you look back upon this day, many years from now, may you smile, not simply because it was the day you promised to love one another, but because of all the ways you kept that promise.
Go forward together, with joy in your hearts, hope for the journey, and love enough for all the days to come.
How I'd say it
- Slow down for the last three paragraphs. Take a breath before "And when you look back upon this day."
- Look right at the couple for the final sentence, not at your paper.
- For a Christian ceremony, begin with "May God bless you" and close with "Amen."
May you smile, not simply because it was the day you promised to love one another, but because of all the ways you kept that promise.
Wedding benediction and closing blessing examples
The closing blessing can be one of the most meaningful moments of a wedding ceremony. It may be distinctly religious, quietly spiritual, or simply an expression of hope and good wishes for the couple as they begin married life together.
The following examples offer different approaches. You may use one as written or adapt the words to reflect the couple, their beliefs, and the spirit of the ceremony.
A traditional biblical blessing
Tap to read
The Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord shed the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Amen.
A blessing for joy, love and peace
Tap to read
O God, as we leave this place, bless (Name) and (Name).
Permeate deeply into their lives. Surround them with your love and your care. Fill them with your joy. May they experience peace and contentment. May your presence abound, and may you shed the light of your favor upon them.
Amen.
A blessing for family and friends
Tap to read
May we depart from this place knowing the love of friends, the love of family and the love of God.
Let our beings be filled with anticipation for the time when we will come together again.
Until that time, may the Spirit of God rest upon us and keep us mindful of the joy of the Lord.
Amen.
A secular closing blessing
Tap to read
As you leave this place and begin your married life together, may you carry with you the love and happiness that surround you today.
May you continue to find joy in one another, strength in times of difficulty, patience when the way is uncertain, and laughter throughout the years ahead.
May you give each other room to grow while never losing sight of what brought you together.
And may the love of family and friends who have gathered here today continue to surround and support you.
Go forward together with hope, with gratitude, and with love.
A Christian blessing for the couple and those gathered
Tap to read
Be with your daughter. Be with your son. Be with your people.
May we go forth to serve you and others.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A blessing for a long and happy life together
Tap to read
Envelop us in your presence.
Place your hand upon (Name) and (Name), and give them long days of life and happiness.
Make our hearts light as we celebrate this joyous day. Look with favor upon us, and dismiss us in your peace, we pray.
Amen.
A blessing for the journey ahead
Tap to read
And now may the love of God shine forth to light the way before us.
May we walk with wisdom and patience. May we be for each other as God has intended. And may we find in each new day the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A short Christian benediction
Tap to read
May the peace of God, which surpasses understanding,
the fruit of the Spirit of Christ,
and the fellowship of God's Son
be yours,
both now and evermore.
Amen.
Short wedding blessings
Sometimes one or two lines is all you need, especially for a short ceremony or a couple who'd rather not linger. Any of these can stand on its own.
- "Go in peace, go in joy, and go together."
- "May your love grow quieter and deeper with every year you share."
- "May the home you build be full of laughter, with the door always open to the people you love."
- "Whatever the road ahead, may you always find your way back to each other."
- "May the love we've witnessed here today be the love you live every day after."
- For a Christian ceremony: "May God bless you and keep you, today and all your days together. Amen."
- For a ceremony of more than one faith: "May the Holy One, by whatever name you know, bless this marriage and the home it makes."
A traditional Irish blessing
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
From the blessing to the recessional
The last thirty seconds of a ceremony are where officiants most often fumble, because nobody plans them. Here is a simple way to end cleanly.
"Would you all please rise."
Give the blessing. Then, after a short pause:
"Family and friends, it is my joy to present to you, for the first time as a married couple, (Name) and (Name)."
- Cue the music before you speak the last line. Agree on the cue with your musician at the rehearsal so the recessional starts the moment you finish.
- Step aside. Move out of the center as you present the couple, so the photographer gets the two of them, not you.
- Let them go. Don't add one more thought. The ceremony is over, and the celebration has begun.
Next comes the recessional. And if you haven't planned how the ceremony begins, see the wedding processional order.
Putting the closing of your wedding ceremony together
The benediction is only one part of bringing your ceremony to a meaningful conclusion. For help arranging the vows, exchange of rings, pronouncement, blessing and other parts of the service, see our complete wedding ceremony script guide.
Questions couples ask
How long should a wedding benediction be?
Usually under a minute. A closing blessing works best short, because it comes right after the emotional high point of the pronouncement and everyone is ready to celebrate.
Who gives the closing blessing?
Usually the officiant. But a parent, grandparent, or a friend of faith can be invited to give it. That can be a lovely way to include someone special.
Do we need a benediction if our wedding isn't religious?
No. Many couples end with the pronouncement and the kiss. But a non-religious closing blessing, a few words of good wishes, gives the ceremony a warm ending without any religious language.
Where does the benediction go?
Near the very end, after the vows, rings and pronouncement, and just before the recessional. Many officiants invite everyone to stand for it.