The 18 Best Irish Wedding Blessings and Toasts For Good Luck

While they may have a reputation for always having a good time, the Irish are also known for their way with words. In fact, many of the wedding poems, toasts and blessings you know and love are of Celtic descent. Dating back hundreds—and even thousands!—of years, these Irish wedding blessings and toasts are typically short but packed with emotion and impact. Even if you and your partner didn't descend from Ireland, many of these Irish wedding toasts and blessings are still meaningful and appropriate for your ceremony or reception. Whether you intertwine these thoughtful good wishes into your wedding vows or as part of your champagne toast to seal your marriage, they will add laughter and of course, love, to your special day:

An Irish Wedding Prayer

You can ask a loved one to read this during your ceremony.

"May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow
May the soft winds freshen your spirit
May the sunshine brighten your heart
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you
And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love."

Irish Words of Wisdom

This is a great toast for a parent or friends to say before saying 'cheers' with drinks!

"May you have love that never ends,
lots of money, and lots of friends.
Health be yours, whatever you do,
and may God send many blessings to you!"

An Irish Blessing For Good Health

A parent or grandparent is best suited to give this Irish wedding blessing to the happy couple during the ceremony or at the reception.

"Health during your life,
A wife of your choice to you,
Land without rent to you,
A child every year to you,
And the light of heaven after this world for you."

A Celtic Blessing for a Happy Life

Ask your godparent, aunt or uncle to read this Irish wedding blessing during your ceremony.

"May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
Quick to make friends,
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but
Happiness from this day forward."

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A Sweet Wish for the Couple

For your friend who isn't great with words, this sends a happy message when paired with champagne.

"Here's to you both, a beautiful pair
On the birthday of your love affair
Here's to the husband and here's to the wife
May yourselves be lovers for the rest of your life."

A Toast to the Groom

The best man should raise a glass at the reception with this toast.

"May you always have money in your pocket
a woman to love
and a smile on your face."

A Wish For Children

A grandparent or parent should send this blessing to the happy couple.

"May all your troubles be little ones
and all your little ones be trouble free."

A Toast to Join Together Families

The parents of the couple could read this in turns at the ceremony.

"Here's to you and yours and mine and ours,
And if mine and ours ever come across 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."

A Wish From Friends

Your bridesmaids or groomsmen could tag-team this blessing at the reception.

"If you lie, may you lie only to keep a friend
If you cheat, may you cheat only death
If you steal, may you steal your lover's heart
If you drink, may you drink deeply of the joy of your new life together."

An Old Irish Blessing For the Start of Your Married Life

You can ask your officiant or minister to read this during your ceremony.

"May you always walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings
Right beside your door."

A Rainbow of Celtic Blessings

Your brothers or sisters are ideal to read this Irish wedding wish at your ceremony.

"With the first light of sun-
Bless you.
When the long day is done-
Bless you.
In your smiles and your tears-
Bless you.
Through each day of your years-
Bless you."

A Wish From the Community

A minister or officiant should read this during your cereomny.

"May your neighbors respect you
May trouble neglect you
May the angels protect you
And may heaven accept you."

The Irish Rainbow Blessing

This is ideal for your reception, read by a trusted friend.

"Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!"

The Iconic Religious Irish Blessing

Consider this a sweet option for the end of your ceremony.

"May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May 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 palm of his hand."

A Maid of Honor Irish Wedding Blessing

Your best girlfriend should read this one during your ceremony.

"May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.
May the saddest day of your future
Be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship
And your hearts joined forever in love.
Your lives are very special,
God has touched you in many ways.
May his blessings rest upon you
And fill all your coming days."

A Sweet Irish Sentiment

For your champagne toast, this sends the right message.

"Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play-
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song-
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!"

An American Take On Traditional Irish Sayings

This is a sweet one to ask your godparent to read at the ceremony.

"May you always walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings
Right beside your door."

An Irish Wedding Blessing and Sacred Vow

The officiant or minister should read this religious vow during the ceremony.

"Happy is the bride that rain falls on
May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.
May the saddest day of your future
Be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship
And your hearts joined forever in love.
Your lives are very special,
God has touched you in many ways.
May his blessings rest upon you
And fill all your coming days.
We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand to hand.
Hark, O Spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this our Sacred Vow."