Church Wedding Wishes

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A church wedding is a sacrament in which a couple receives God's blessing on their life together. Crowns are held over the bride and groom, they exchange rings, stand on an embroidered towel and hold lit candles. By church rules, weddings are not held during fasts, over the Christmas season, in Easter week, or on the eve of Wednesday, Friday or Sunday. Below are short church wedding wishes, words from parents and godparents, messages for friends, wishes for a church wedding anniversary, poems and gift ideas. Other big moments — a new home, a new job, an engagement — are in our collection of wishes for life events.

More family celebrations: wedding day wishes, engagement wishes, christening wishes.

Short church wedding wishes

• Congratulations on your church wedding! May God's blessing be with you all your life.
• Congratulations on the sacrament of marriage! Love, faithfulness and harmony for many years.
• May the light of your wedding candles warm your home forever.
• God has joined your lives; cherish each other. Congratulations!

From parents and godparents

• Dear children, today you became husband and wife before God. We bless you with a happy life full of love, patience and children.
• Dear godchildren, we have prayed for you since childhood, and today we rejoice with you. May the Lord protect your family!

For friends

• Friends, congratulations on your church wedding! You make a beautiful couple, and we are so happy to see you glowing.
• May your union be as strong as faith and as warm as a wedding candle.

For a church wedding anniversary

• Happy church wedding anniversary! May the blessing you received that day keep protecting your family.
• My love, thank you for being together before God and people. Happy anniversary of our church wedding!

Heartfelt words

• A church wedding is not just a ceremony but a promise to love and cherish each other in joy and in sorrow. May you always have the strength to keep it.
• May your home become a little church where peace, love and understanding reign.

From godparents and wedding witnesses

• Dear newlyweds, today God united your hearts. As your godparents, we pray that your union is strong and your home full of love and children.
• As witnesses, we heard your vows. May they protect you in joy and hardship all your life.
• Congratulations on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony! Wishing you harmony, patience and a faith that never fades.

Church wedding poems

Before the Lord you said "I do",
The candles glow, the church bells ring;
May grace and love stay ever true
And bless the life your union brings!

God bless your love with peace and grace,
With faith and kindness all your days;
May sorrow never find its place
And joy be with you, always.

Gift ideas for a church wedding

Gifts with spiritual meaning suit a church wedding: a family icon, an embroidered towel, a beautiful edition of the Bible, or items for the shared home such as decorated glasses for the first family celebrations. For flowers, choose delicate white arrangements: orchids or roses symbolise the purity and light of the day.

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See bridal bouquets and orchids.

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FAQ

When are church weddings not held?

During fasts, over the Christmas season, in Easter week and on the eve of Wednesday, Friday or Sunday.

What do the crowns symbolise?

God's blessing and the dignity of a couple starting a new family.

What should I give for a church wedding?

An icon, an embroidered towel, something for the home and a delicate white bouquet.

The bride's friends may also need hen party toasts.

For the reception after the ceremony: wedding toasts.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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