Blessing

Wedding Blessings and Renewal of Wedding Vows
The Churches in Gower Ministry Area would love to help you celebrate the blessing
of your marriage. If you would like to have a civil marriage blessed, there are no
legal preliminaries, and it is available to all, including same sex couples. In contrast,
some couples have been married for some time and want to renew their wedding
vows, and this can also be arranged as part of a service in church.

Many couples who have had a civil wedding, whether in the UK or abroad, also
choose to dedicate their marriage to God.

A marriage blessing is usually a simple service acknowledging the commitment
already made by the couple at their civil ceremony. It asks for God’s blessing upon
them, and guidance for their new life together. Because it is not a marriage service,
banns are not required, and there is no legal paperwork or registers to be signed.

A marriage blessing can be designed to have a similar feel to a wedding with hymns
and songs, readings, flowers and even bells if they are available. Some people
prefer their blessing to feel like a traditional wedding, others prefer a more low-key
service. Similarly, the renewal of wedding vows tends to be a simple low-key
services, often with just the couple and few family and friends present.