16 Bible Verses for a Wedding, and Where in the Day Each One Belongs

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Reflection: Paul wrote this chapter to a divided church whose members were even taking one another to court (6:1-7). It describes love as a way of acting, which suits the years after the wedding as well as the day itself.

Colossians 3:14

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Reflection: Paul has just listed compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (3:12), so a steady reader can begin at verse 12. On its own the verse is short enough for a nervous one.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Reflection: The Preacher’s reasons are practical: help when one falls, warmth, defense. The third strand is not named; Christian readers have often taken it to be God.

Song of Solomon 2:16

“My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.”

Reflection: A single line from the Bible’s book of love poetry, spoken by the woman about her beloved. It suits a reader who wants something brief.

Genesis 2:24

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Reflection: Leaving comes before holding fast. Read with both families present, it names the change the day makes.

Matthew 19:5-6

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Reflection: Jesus quotes Genesis in answer to a question about divorce (19:3). “What God has joined together, let no one separate” is often said at the joining of hands.

Amos 3:3

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”

Reflection: In Amos this is the first of a series of questions about cause and effect (3:3-6). As a text for a short homily, it makes agreement the condition of walking together.

Numbers 6:24-26

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Reflection: The Lord gave this blessing to Aaron and his sons to speak over Israel (6:22-23), and the verse after it says the blessing puts the Lord’s name on the people (6:27). It can be said to the couple, facing them.

Psalm 128:3-4

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”

Reflection: Vines and olive trees take years to bear fruit, so the blessing looks ahead to the long years of a marriage. If children are a sensitive subject for the couple, choose another passage.

Proverbs 18:22

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”

Reflection: The wording matches Proverbs 8:35, where whoever finds wisdom finds life and “receives favor from the Lord.” It is short enough for a father’s speech.

Romans 12:10

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Reflection: Paul wrote this to a congregation. In a speech it becomes an instruction to honor each other in public, as the speaker is doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Reflection: “Just as in fact you are doing” praises something already true. A toast can do the same.

1 Peter 4:8

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Reflection: Peter is quoting Proverbs 10:12, “love covers over all wrongs.” To cover here means to refuse to keep an account of wrongs, not to pretend they did not happen.

Joshua 24:15

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Reflection: Joshua said this near the end of his life to the tribes gathered at Shechem (24:1), who were free to choose other gods. The line is often hung or carved in new homes.

John 2:1-2

“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.”

Reflection: Jesus’ first sign in John’s Gospel happened at this wedding when the wine ran out (2:3, 2:11). The need he met was the hosts’.

Hebrews 10:24-25

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.”

Reflection: The verse is addressed to a congregation. A marriage is also kept by the people around it who keep meeting with the couple and encouraging them.