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 The blessing of the rings
is an important part of the wedding ritual in which the visible
symbol of the pledges made between the bride and
the groom are presented and the symbolism explained. The blessing of
the rings can invoke a specific deity and religious tradition or can
be entirely secular and humanist with the blessing flowing forth
from the couple and their guests. These examples represent a variety
of ways in which the rings can be blessed.
1. Marriage
is a state in which two people come together and create a union
greater than the sum of its parts. It is difficult to express in
words the profound relationship that is love. The ring has long been
a symbol of the sincerity and permanence of a couple's love for one
another and regard for their marriage. As the circle can begin anew
at any point, so a good marriage can pick any point to renew itself.
These rings are symbols of your eternal love.
2.
As
circles have no beginning and no end, rings have naturally come to
symbolize eternal love within the union of mind, body, and spirit
that constitutes the sanctity of marriage. The are freely offered as
gifts of faith and hope as visible signs of the promises given this
day. May these rings be blessed and hold the dreams ____ and ____
share for their union. May the shiny metal mirror the sacred vows
made between them, now and forever.
3. Let us bless these rings. These circles,
symbols that remind us of the the sun that shines above us, the
Earth holding the sand beneath our feet and the cycle of the tides
before us that rise and fall against this beach. In this moment,
bring blessings to these rings to be symbols of unity, commitment
and renewal. Grant that the love which _____ and ____ feel for each
other this day reside always in their hearts.
4. _____ and _____'s rings are an
external and visible sign of the internal and spiritual bond of love
which unites their two hearts. May they serve as a seal of the vows
____ and ___ have made to one another. Bless these rings, symbols of
eternity, beauty and strength. Bless the couple who give them and
wear them--may they ever live in harmony, unity, love and happiness
from this day forward.
5. Bless these rings, symbols of eternity and
forgiveness. A reminder that love is never ending, but instead can
be renewed at any time and place of our choosing. May these rings
grace the loving hands of _____ and _____ with a joyful and
nurturing presence, symbolic of the eternal love and faithfulness
they pledge to one another.
6. Father, bless these rings which ____ and
____ have set apart to be visible signs of the inward and spiritual
bond which unites their hearts. This circle will now seal the vows
of their marriage and will symbolize the purity and endlessness of
their love. As they give and receive these rings, may they testify
to the world of the covenant made between them here.
7. Lord, please bless these rings that
________ and __________ are about to exchange. May these rings
forever remind them of their covenant with one another, as well as
the circle of love they have publicly created here today. May their
compassion and kindness for one another always be like these rings,
with no beginning and no end. May the precious metal remind them of
their precious commitment, and if either begins to tarnish, may they
joyfully undertake the sacred duty to make it shine brightly again.
May their relationship always be like these rings, separate but
close, simple but beautiful. May these rings always belong to their
hands, and their love always belong in each other’s hearts. In the
name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen .
8. Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, we
call for your blessing for these rings, both as symbols of love and
union between (bride) and (groom), and as tokens of their hopes and
dreams fulfilled in their commitment to each other this day and
every day of the rest of their lives together. We ask that these
rings hold and carry these dreams, remind them of the endless circle
of their union to each other, and be a beautiful reflection of their
sacred vows to each other, now and always.
9. Bless this precious circle of gold. Symbol
of the sun and the earth and the universe, of wholeness, perfection,
peace and love. Because this ring has no end or beginning, it
signifies the continuation of true love. May these rings be a symbol
of the promises you have made to one another and a reminder of your
mutual devotion—a symbol of love that is complete, beautiful, and
endless.
10. The circle is a natural symbol of eternity
as it has no beginning and no end. We place the ring on the left
hand because it constitutes a direct path to the heart, a
traditional metaphor for love and devotion. It's presence reminds us
of the vows we have made and their relationship to the emotional
seat of the heart. We ask that these rings that will forever grace
the hands of (Bride) and (Groom's) be blessed. May they reside on
the hands of the lover, the caregiver, the companion and the guide.
May (Bride) and (Groom) wear these rings as a symbol of their unity.
11. Made from metals drawn from deep within
the earth, may these rings remind you that your love, also, must be
drawn from deep within you. Forged in heat and with great effort,
may these rings remind you that your marriage is also crafted daily
and tempered in the forge of daily giving and forgiving. Bright like
the sun, may these rings remind you that your love is meant to
illumine your lives. Round like arms that embrace, may these rings
remind you that human love is a gift to this world.
12. The circle has long been a symbol of
completeness, a symbol of committed love. It is a symbol of holiness
and of perfection and of peace. From time immemorial, the circlet of
metal has been an emblem of the sincerity and permanence of a
couple's love and regard for one another and their union. As the
precious metal turns again upon itself, so does a good marriage turn
upon itself for its refreshment and renewal. May your rings be a
reminder of the covenant you have made today.
Wooden Wedding Ring Blessing
This ring exchange includes
a mix of some of the ring blessings above with the addition of some
words to acknowledge the bride and groom's choice of wedding rings
crafted out of wood.
As
circles have no beginning and no end, rings have naturally come
to symbolize eternal love within the union of mind, body and
spirit that constitutes the sanctity of union between man and
woman. _____ and _____ have chosen wooden rings as an outward
sign of their internal commitment. The material used to make
these rings had a previous noble life before its transformation
to a new life of beauty reminding us that the gifts of nature
and the creativity of humankind can come together in ways that
ennoble us and honor our world. These rings are symbols that
remind us of the sun that shines above us and the Earth beneath
us. They are freely offered as gifts of faith and hope as
visible signs of the promises given this day. In this moment,
bring blessings to these rings to be symbols of unity,
commitment and renewal.
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Blessing of Rings
