Bible Verses for a Wedding Card

If you’re searching for Bible verses for a wedding card, you’ve probably got a blank card in front of you and a heart full of joy for the couple — but you want to write something more meaningful than “best wishes.” You’re in exactly the right place. The right Bible verse can capture what your own words struggle to say: a blessing over their marriage, a picture of the kind of love you’re praying they’ll share, and a foundation worth building a life on.

Whether the couple is deeply faithful or simply appreciates the beauty and weight of Scripture, the Bible holds some of the most cherished words ever written about love, commitment, and two lives becoming one. These verses have been read at countless weddings and tucked into countless cards for good reason — they’re timeless.

On this page you’ll find the best wedding-card verses, with a short note on what each one means and the kind of couple or sentiment it suits best, plus tips for writing your card, a short blessing you can copy, and answers to common questions.

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1 Corinthians 13:4–7

NIV: “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. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (ESV: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude…”; KJV: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not…”)

This is the wedding passage — and for good reason. It paints a portrait of love not as a fleeting feeling but as a daily, active choice: patient, kind, selfless, enduring. Writing this in a card is like handing the couple a beautiful blueprint for the marriage ahead. It works for virtually any couple and is especially lovely when you want something universally cherished and rich with meaning.

Best for: Almost any couple — the timeless, classic wedding verse.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

NIV: “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… Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (ESV: “Two are better than one… A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”; KJV: “Two are better than one… And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”)

The image of the “cord of three strands” — the couple plus God, woven together — has become a beloved symbol of a faith-centered marriage, and it’s deeply meaningful for a Christian couple. Beyond the faith imagery, this passage celebrates the simple strength of partnership: two people who lift each other up, defend one another, and are stronger together than apart.

Best for: A faith-centered couple, or anyone who loves the “stronger together” theme.

Colossians 3:14

NIV: “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (ESV: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”; KJV: “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”)

Short, elegant, and perfect for a card with limited space, this verse names love as the thing that holds everything else together. In a marriage of countless small virtues — patience, forgiveness, kindness — love is the binding thread. It’s a graceful one-liner blessing for a couple beginning to weave their lives into one.

Best for: When you want a beautiful, concise verse that fits a small card.

Song of Songs 8:6–7

NIV: “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death… It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.” (ESV: “Set me as a seal upon your heart… Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.”; KJV: “Set me as a seal upon thine heart… Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.”)

For a couple whose love is passionate and romantic, this is gorgeous. From the Bible’s great love poem, it speaks of a love that is fierce, unquenchable, and unbreakable — the kind that endures every storm. The “many waters cannot quench love” line is especially moving for a couple who has weathered hardships together.

Best for: A romantic couple, or one whose love has endured trials.

Genesis 2:24

NIV: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (ESV: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”; KJV: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”)

This is the very first description of marriage in the Bible — the original blueprint. It captures the profound mystery of two separate people becoming one shared life. It’s a meaningful choice when you want to honor the sacredness and seriousness of the commitment the couple is making, rooting their union in something ancient and God-designed.

Best for: Honoring the depth and sacredness of the marriage commitment.

Mark 10:9

NIV: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (ESV: “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”; KJV: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

These are Jesus’ own words about the permanence and sacredness of marriage — often spoken aloud during the ceremony itself. As a card verse, it’s a powerful, succinct blessing affirming that this union is God-ordained and meant to last. It carries a quiet weight that suits a heartfelt, faith-filled note.

Best for: A short, weighty verse affirming a lasting, God-joined union.

1 John 4:16

NIV: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (ESV: “…God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”; KJV: “…God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”)

This verse beautifully connects human love to its divine source — God Himself is love. It’s a lovely blessing to write when you want to remind the couple that the love they share is a reflection of, and rooted in, God’s love for them. Encouraging and warm, it suits a couple building their home on faith.

Best for: Pointing the couple to God as the source of their love.

Ruth 1:16

NIV: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (ESV: “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”; KJV: “…whither thou goest, I will go… thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”)

Though originally spoken between Ruth and her mother-in-law, these words of loyal devotion have become a treasured wedding sentiment. They express the heart of marriage: a covenant of faithfulness, of choosing to share one life, one family, one faith. It’s especially fitting for a couple known for their deep devotion to one another.

Best for: A couple whose commitment and loyalty to each other stand out.

Proverbs 3:3–4

NIV: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (ESV: “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.”; KJV: “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart…”)

Love and faithfulness — the two pillars of a strong marriage. This verse is a gentle exhortation to keep these qualities ever-present, written so deeply on the heart that they become second nature. It’s a thoughtful blessing that goes beyond romance to the daily faithfulness that makes a marriage last.

Best for: A blessing centered on lifelong faithfulness and steady love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

NIV: “Do everything in love.” (ESV: “Let all that you do be done in love.”; KJV: “Let all your things be done with charity.”)

Sometimes the simplest verse is the most powerful. Just three words in the NIV, this makes a perfect short inscription or a closing line to your card. It’s a beautiful, all-encompassing wish for a marriage: that love would be the motive behind everything they do together, in good seasons and hard ones alike.

Best for: A short, sweet closing line or inscription.

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A Short Blessing You Can Write in the Card

May your marriage be built on a love that is patient and kind, and on the One who is love Himself. As you become one, may God bind your hearts together like a cord of three strands — strong, unbreakable, and full of grace. May love and faithfulness never leave you, in the bright days and the hard ones alike. We rejoice with you today and pray God’s richest blessings over every year ahead. With love and every good wish for your new life together.

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Tips for Writing the Perfect Wedding Card

A few simple things make a Scripture-filled wedding card land beautifully. First, match the verse to the couple. A passionate, romantic pair might love Song of Songs 8:6–7, while a deeply faith-rooted couple may treasure the “cord of three strands” from Ecclesiastes 4:12. Choosing intentionally shows you thought about them, not just grabbed the first verse you found.

Second, pair the verse with a personal line of your own. A verse plus a warm, specific sentence — a memory, a hope for their future, a word of love — feels far more heartfelt than Scripture alone. The verse gives weight; your words give warmth.

Finally, keep length in mind. If you’re including a longer passage like 1 Corinthians 13, you may only have room for that plus a brief signature, which is perfectly lovely. For more space to write personally, choose a shorter verse like Colossians 3:14 or 1 Corinthians 16:14. Either way, sincerity matters far more than length — a few genuine words will mean the world to the couple.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Bible verse for a wedding card?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (“Love is patient, love is kind…”) is the most beloved and widely used wedding verse. For shorter options, Colossians 3:14, Ecclesiastes 4:12 (“a cord of three strands”), and 1 Corinthians 16:14 (“Do everything in love”) are also beautiful and fitting choices.

What Bible verse is good for a short wedding card message?
For a short message, try 1 Corinthians 16:14 (“Do everything in love”), Colossians 3:14 (“over all these virtues put on love”), or Mark 10:9 (“what God has joined together, let no one separate”). These are concise, meaningful, and leave room for a personal note.

What is the “cord of three strands” wedding verse?
The “cord of three strands” verse is Ecclesiastes 4:12: “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” It’s a beloved wedding symbol representing the couple and God woven together, making a marriage stronger and more enduring than the two partners alone.

How do I write a Bible verse in a wedding card?
Choose a verse that fits the couple, write it out with its reference, then add a personal line of your own — a memory, hope, or blessing. Pairing Scripture with warm, specific words feels more heartfelt than a verse alone. Sincerity matters more than length.

What Bible verse did Jesus say about marriage?
In Mark 10:9, Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” He affirmed marriage as a sacred, God-ordained union meant to last, referencing Genesis 2:24, “the two will become one flesh.” Both are often quoted at weddings.

Is Song of Songs appropriate for a wedding card?
Yes. Song of Songs is the Bible’s celebration of romantic love within marriage. Verses like Song of Songs 8:6–7, “Many waters cannot quench love,” are especially beautiful for romantic couples or those whose love has endured hardship together.

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Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version (public domain).