65 Love, Marriage & Wedding Quotes: The Complete Collection for Cards, Signs & Speeches

 

Wedding planning guide · iCustomLabel.com

65 quotes organized by mood and use — romantic, funny, literary, classic, and scripture — with guidance on where each one belongs: signs, cards, speeches, or vows.

iCustomLabel.com 8 min read

A great quote at a wedding does something a floral arrangement can't. It says something specific about who you are, how you understand love, and what you believe marriage means. The right line on a welcome sign, on the aisle, inside a card, or spoken in a toast can make a room go quiet — not because it's beautiful, but because it's true.

This collection of 65 quotes covers every mood and occasion — romantic and funny, literary and scriptural, deeply classic and sharply modern — with notes on where each one works best. Whether you're designing a custom wedding sign, writing a card, preparing a speech, or choosing vows, find your quote here.


Romantic wedding & marriage quotes

These are the quotes that mean it — the ones that say something true about love without softening it. Best for: wedding welcome signs, aisle signs, vow books, and cards to the person you're marrying.

Romantic

"I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and love."

— Gabriel García Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

Best for: vows, card to your partner

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."

— Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

Best for: aisle signs, welcome sign, card to partner

"I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you."

— Roy Croft

Best for: card to partner, vow excerpt, framed sign

"You are my today and all of my tomorrows."

— Leo Christopher

Best for: welcome sign, short aisle signs, card

"I am yours, don't give myself back to me."

— Rumi

Best for: vows, card, intimate ceremony quote

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other."

— Audrey Hepburn

Best for: aisle signs, welcome sign, bar sign, card

"You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear."

— Oscar Wilde (attributed)

Best for: card to partner, framed ceremony print

"I swear I couldn't love you more than I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow."

— Leo Christopher

Best for: vow excerpt, card to partner, framed sign

"Grow old along with me — the best is yet to be."

— Robert Browning

Best for: welcome sign, cake table sign, gift to couple

"In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine."

— Maya Angelou

Best for: card to partner, aisle signs as a two-parter, vow

Put your quote on a custom wedding sign — iCustomLabel


Funny wedding quotes — for couples who don't take themselves too seriously

A well-placed funny quote on a bar sign, a rehearsal dinner napkin, or a toast instantly tells your guests what kind of celebration this is going to be. The best funny quotes are also true — they land because they say something real about marriage with the guard down.

Funny

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."

— Mignon McLaughlin

Best for: toast, card, bar sign

"Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?"

— Groucho Marx

Best for: rehearsal dinner, bar sign, toast opener

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

— Lao Tzu

Best for: card, toast, slightly more serious funny

"Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards."

— Benjamin Franklin

Best for: rehearsal dinner sign, bar sign, toast

"Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife."

— Franz Schubert

Best for: card from groom's perspective, toast

"Marriage: a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters in prose."

— Beverley Nichols

Best for: toast, rehearsal dinner, card

"The most important four words for a successful marriage: 'I'll do the dishes.'"

— Anonymous

Best for: bar sign, rehearsal dinner, funny vow excerpt

"A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other."

— Unknown

Best for: welcome sign, card, aisle sign


Literary wedding quotes — from the books that defined love

For the couple who met in a bookstore, who read the same novels in different cities before they knew each other, or who just wants their wedding to feel like it belongs in the same universe as the stories they love. These quotes earn their place on aisle signs and framed prints because they were written by people who thought deeply about what love costs and means.

Literary

"I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone."

— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Best for: aisle signs, card, vow excerpt

"You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you."

— Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Best for: welcome sign, card, framed ceremony print

"I love her and that's the beginning and end of everything."

— F. Scott Fitzgerald

Best for: aisle signs, bar sign, short print

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."

— Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Best for: card, vow, framed print for the couple

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

— Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Best for: rehearsal dinner sign, welcome sign, funny toast opener

"I have found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay."

— J.R.R. Tolkien

Best for: card, vow excerpt — for the couple who finds love in the ordinary

"He is more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."

— Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

Best for: aisle signs, card to partner, framed ceremony piece

"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart."

— Jane Austen, Emma

Best for: welcome sign, card, small framed table sign

"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides."

— David Viscott

Best for: welcome sign, aisle sign, short card quote

Literary quotes on aisle signs: A set of four to six boards lining the ceremony aisle with alternating quotes from a single author creates a stunning and cohesive look. Jane Austen quotes across six boards, or a Tolkien-themed ceremony aisle, becomes a gift to the guests and a statement about who you are. iCustomLabel's custom wedding aisle signs are printed on rigid materials that stand cleanly on stakes or in stands — consistent in font, material, and palette throughout.


Classic wedding quotes — the ones that never age

These quotes have appeared at weddings for decades because they earn their place every single time. They're not clichés — they're classics, which is different. A cliché has stopped meaning anything. A classic still means everything, even when you've heard it before.

Classic

"And they lived happily ever after."

— Every fairy tale, ever

Best for: reception exit sign, cake table, card sign-off

"At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet."

— Plato

Best for: welcome sign, card, guest book prompt

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil."

— Ecclesiastes 4:9

Best for: aisle signs, ceremony print, card

"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay."

— Ruth 1:16

Best for: aisle signs, welcome sign, vow excerpt

"All you need is love."

— The Beatles

Best for: bar sign, welcome sign, fun reception detail

"Today is the beginning of anything you want."

— Anonymous

Best for: welcome sign, ceremony entrance, card

"Here comes the sun, and I say it's all right."

— George Harrison / The Beatles

Best for: outdoor ceremony signs, welcome sign, morning wedding

"This is the beginning of forever."

— Anonymous

Best for: welcome sign, Our Beginning sign, aisle entrance


Short wedding quotes — designed for signs, labels & small prints

Short quotes are the workhorses of wedding signage. They read clearly from across a room, they fit on bar signs, favor labels, and aisle boards without crowding, and they land with the full weight of the thought without requiring anyone to read for thirty seconds while standing in a receiving line. These are the quotes that work in five to twelve words.

Short — for signs

"And so the adventure begins."

— Anonymous

Welcome sign, reception entrance, card

"Love is patient, love is kind."

— 1 Corinthians 13:4

Aisle signs, ceremony entrance, card

"Happily ever after starts here."

— Anonymous

Welcome sign, cake table, entrance

"She said yes."

— Anonymous

Welcome sign, engagement party sign, photo booth

"I do. Me too."

— Anonymous

Aisle sign pair, bar sign, card

"From this day forward."

— Traditional vow

Ceremony entrance, aisle board, framed print

"Drunk in love."

— Beyoncé

Bar sign, cocktail hour sign, wine label

"Better together."

— Jack Johnson

Welcome sign, bar sign, favor label, card

"Always and forever."

— Traditional

Favor label, wine label, card sign-off, small sign

"To have and to hold."

— Traditional vow

Aisle sign, card, ceremony print

Short quotes on wine labels: "Drunk in Love," "Better Together," "Always and Forever," or the couple's names and wedding date make beautiful additions to personalized wine labels for table settings or favors. Every quote in this list can be printed on a custom wedding sign or coordinated across your full signage suite — fonts, materials, and palettes all matched.


Quotes about marriage — what it is, what it takes, what it gives

These quotes go deeper than the wedding day. They're about the institution itself — what marriage actually demands and what it offers in return. Best for speeches, toasts, and cards written by people who want to say something true rather than something beautiful.

About marriage

"A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences."

— Dave Meurer

Best for: toast, card from parent, speech opener

"The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret."

— Henny Youngman

Best for: funny toast, rehearsal dinner, bar sign

"In marriage, each partner is to be an encourager rather than a critic, a forgiver rather than a collector of hurts."

— Wilbert Donald Gough

Best for: card from a mentor, toast, ceremony reading

"Marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. It isn't something you get. It's something you do. It's the way you love your partner every day."

— Barbara De Angelis

Best for: speech, card from parent, ceremony reading

"A good marriage is one which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love."

— Pearl S. Buck

Best for: toast, card from mentor, framed print for the couple

"The most important thing in the world is family and love."

— John Wooden

Best for: welcome sign, card, cake table sign

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."

— Aristotle

Best for: aisle sign, welcome sign, ceremony card

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."

— Mignon McLaughlin

Best for: welcome sign, card, toast — works for any personality


Scripture & spiritual wedding quotes

For couples whose faith is central to their marriage — or who want a quote that carries the weight and permanence of something ancient. These have been read at weddings across centuries because they say something that hasn't become less true with time.

Scripture & spiritual

"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."

— 1 Corinthians 13:4–5

Best for: ceremony aisle sign set (split across 4–6 boards), reading

"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."

— Ruth 1:16

Best for: aisle sign, vow excerpt, framed ceremony piece

"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."

— Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Best for: aisle signs (pair), card, ceremony reading

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord."

— Proverbs 18:22

Best for: card from groom's family, ceremony sign, toast

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

— 1 Corinthians 13:13

Best for: aisle sign closer, welcome sign, ceremony print

"Let love be genuine. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

— Romans 12:9–10

Best for: ceremony reading, card, framed print


Husband and wife quotes — celebrating the partnership

These quotes are specifically about the relationship of husband and wife — not just love in general, but what it means to be paired. Best for toasts, cards from one partner to the other, and signs celebrating the couple specifically.

Husband & wife

"A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short."

— André Maurois

Best for: toast, card, welcome sign for a couple known for great conversation

"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me."

— Winston Churchill

Best for: groom's toast, funny card from groom, rehearsal dinner

"The great marriages are partnerships in which each member is a lover and a friend."

— Gail Godwin

Best for: card from parent, welcome sign, framed print

"In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing."

— Mignon McLaughlin

Best for: toast, card, aisle sign

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds."

— Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Best for: card, vow excerpt, framed ceremony piece

"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride."

— Pablo Neruda

Best for: card to partner, vow excerpt, framed sign

"Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will."

— Elaine Davis

Best for: welcome sign, card, wine label, short sign

Custom wedding signs, aisle boards & personalized décor — iCustomLabel


Where to put your quote — every wedding sign type and what works on each

Choosing a quote is only half the decision. Where it lives determines how it lands — a six-line scripture passage that's overwhelming on a bar sign is perfect across six aisle boards. Here's how to match quote length and tone to each format.

Welcome sign

5–15 words. Needs to read from 10+ feet away. Short romantic or classic quotes work best — "And so the adventure begins," "Happily ever after starts here," or the couple's names with the date and one line. Custom welcome signs at iCustomLabel are fully customizable with any wording.

Aisle signs (set of 4–6)

One line per board, building across the set. 1 Corinthians 13 split across six boards is the most popular format. A Tolkien, Austen, or Neruda passage split across 4–6 aisle boards creates a cohesive and literary ceremony entrance.

Bar sign

Punchy, fun, short. "Drunk in Love," "All You Need Is Love," or "Sip, Sip, Hooray." The bar is where humor works — a funny quote on the bar sign signals that this is going to be a good party.

Card to the bride or groom

Any length — this is the format where longer literary or Neruda quotes earn their place. The card doesn't need to be read from across a room. Write out the full quote, then add two sentences of your own that connect it to the couple specifically.

Toast or speech

One quote maximum — opening or closing, not both. Funny quotes work as openers to loosen the room. Romantic or meaningful quotes work as closings before you raise the glass. Don't use a quote as a substitute for your own words — use it to amplify them.

Favor label or wine label

4–8 words maximum. "Always and Forever," "Better Together," "Drunk in Love," or the couple's names and date. Quotes on labels work as a small detail that ties the table together without competing with the larger signage.

Rules for quotes on wedding signs

  • Match the quote's length to the sign's size. A six-line literary passage works on a large framed ceremony print. It doesn't work on an 8×10 aisle board that has to compete with flowers, guests, and ambient chaos.
  • Match the tone to the location. Funny on the bar. Romantic at the ceremony entrance. Warm and welcoming at the reception entrance. Scripture in the aisle, not at the cocktail hour.
  • Attribute correctly. If the quote is attributed to Rumi, Shakespeare, or Austen, double-check the attribution before printing. Many widely shared "Winnie the Pooh quotes" and "Shakespeare quotes" circulating online were never actually written by them.
  • Order a proof before the full print run. Typography, font size, and line breaks all look different printed on rigid material than they do on screen. A single proof from iCustomLabel before printing the full sign suite prevents reprints.

Put your favorite quote on a custom wedding sign — printed in Florida

Every quote in this guide can be printed on a custom welcome sign, a set of ceremony aisle boards, or a bar sign — in your choice of acrylic, foam board, or wood, coordinated across your full sign suite. Designed and shipped from Florida by iCustomLabel.

Shop custom wedding signs

Wedding & marriage quotes — quick answers

The most-searched questions on wedding quotes, answered directly.

The best marriage quotes balance truth with beauty — they say something real about what marriage actually is, not just what it should be. Top picks: "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person" (Mignon McLaughlin); "Marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. It's the way you love your partner every day" (Barbara De Angelis); "A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together — it is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences" (Dave Meurer); and "A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short" (André Maurois). For funny marriage quotes: Groucho Marx's "Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?" is the perennial favourite for a toast opener.
The most versatile wedding quotes for couples — ones that work on signs, in cards, and in speeches — are: "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same" (Emily Brontë); "You are my today and all of my tomorrows" (Leo Christopher); "Grow old along with me — the best is yet to be" (Robert Browning); "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other" (Audrey Hepburn); and "I love her and that's the beginning and end of everything" (F. Scott Fitzgerald). All of these work on a custom welcome sign or aisle board and hold up at easel-reading distance.
Husband and wife quotes that consistently resonate: "A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short" (André Maurois) — for couples who are also best friends; "My most brilliant achievement was my ability to persuade my wife to marry me" (Winston Churchill) — for the groom's toast; "Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will" (Elaine Davis) — short enough for a sign or card; "The great marriages are partnerships in which each member is a lover and a friend" (Gail Godwin) — for a parent's card or toast; and Pablo Neruda's "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where" — for a card from one partner to the other.
The most widely used Winnie the Pooh quote at weddings is: "If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you" — attributed to A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh. A note on attribution: this exact line does not appear in the original A.A. Milne books and is widely believed to have been invented online — though it has been attributed to Milne so extensively that it's become part of the cultural text regardless. A second popular Milne-adjacent quote: "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard" — this one is similarly unverified in its Milne attribution. Both work beautifully for wedding cards, welcome signs, and favor labels for their warmth and simplicity.
The most-used Louisa May Alcott quote at weddings comes from Little Women: "I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship" — about courage and self-determination, perfect for a bride who has navigated her own path to this day. A second option: "I am not afraid of storms, for I have been learning how to sail my ship" (slightly varied form). For a toast or card: "I want to do something splendid before I go into that good night — something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten" — from Jo in Little Women. Alcott quotes work particularly well for literary couples, book-themed weddings, and cards written to a bride who has always identified with Jo March.


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