Sheva Brachot (Hebrew: שבע ברכות; literally, "the seven blessings"), also known as birkot nissuin (Hebrew: ברכות נישואין; literally, "the wedding blessings") in Halakha are blessings that have historically been recited during the wedding of a Jewish couple.^[1] There are two stages to a Jewish wedding: betrothal (erusin) and establishing the full marriage (nissuin). Historically, there was a year between the two events, but the two are combined during contemporary Jewish wedding ceremonies.^[2][3] Although the Sheva Brachot are recorded and recited as a harmonious unit, the blessings are actually a mosaic of Biblical origination. It is uncertain who composed the benedictions in the form recorded in the Talmud,^[4] but the blessings likely originated centuries before their inclusion in tractate Ketubot.^[5]

In the seventh century, it was traditional for the blessings to be said at the groom's house, and at the house where the bride had spent the night previous to the marriage;^[6] this is still the tradition among Jews in some parts of Asia, but in most regions the wedding blessings are now recited towards the end of the formal marriage ceremony,^[6] under the chuppah.

These blessing are also recited as part of the week-long festivities celebrating the wedding; in most communities these festive meals occur during the week after the wedding, but among the Mountain Jews they occur during the week before it.^[7] Under the chuppah the blessing over wine comes first; at the meal table it comes last, after the Grace After Meals. If both the bride and the groom were previously married the post wedding celebrations are limited to three days, not seven.^[8] In such a case, the blessings are recited only after the very first festive meal, which should take place right after the wedding.

In Orthodox Judaism, the first six of the blessings are said only if a religiously valid quorum is present.^[9][10] On weekdays their recitation also requires the presence of at least one person who was not present for any of the previous Sheva Brachot of the couple. At the two main meals on Shabbat (but not at Seuda Shelishit) there is no need for a new guest, since the Shabbat itself is considered a new guest. New guests are referred to as new faces (Hebrew: פנים חדשות).

It is a common custom for these blessings to be pronounced by a Hazzan or Rabbi, if they presided over the marriage,^[6] or otherwise for pronunciation of the blessings to be divided among honoured guests. Sometimes, the blessings are sung by the wedding guests en-masse.^[6]

The blessings are usually said over a cup of wine. If multiple people say the blessings, the cup is passed to the person pronouncing each blessing. In many traditions, when a person pronounces the blessing, they and/or the groom drinks from the cup, either after each blessing, or just after all seven.^[6]

The text for Sheva B'rachot varies between Sephardic and Azhkenazic Jews, but may even vary from community to community. The standardized Ashkenazic is below, with an Egyptian Sephardic textual variant being inserted in parentheses ().

• Jewish view of marriage
• List of Jewish prayers and blessings