Wedding Blessings

Are the wedding blessings birkat hamitzva, birkat hashevach, or birkat hanehenin?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

First of all, you are correct that all blessings fall into one of three categories: birkat hamitzva – blessings on performing mitzvot, birkat hashevach -- blessings that praise God for different phenomena, and birkat hanehenin -- blessings of thanks to God before enjoying pleasures such as foods, drinks, and smells.

There is actually much discussion as to which category of blessing the birkat erusin, the preliminary wedding blessings, fall under. Many assume they are a Birkat Hamitzva since they are associated with the mitzva of marriage, this is not necessarily true.

Most authorities are of the opinion that the wedding blessings are considered to be birkat hashevach. According to this approach, since the mitzva to get married is not complete until after the second part of the marriage ceremony, nisuin, the wedding blessings cannot be considered birkat hamitzva. It is also noted that the wedding blessings do not include the "asher kideshanu" wording that is a feature of birkot hamitzva.

Other authorities suggest that the wedding blessings are considered to be birkat henehenin. This approach is based on the idea that there is “pleasure” in finding a wife to marry, similar to the requirement to recite a blessing before enjoying the pleasure of food.

It is really only the Rambam who holds that the wedding blessings are to be considered birkat hamitzva.

On a related note, there is a dispute whether the wedding blessings are to be recited before the giving of the ring or after it. The Rambam, of course rules that the blessing must be recited before the ring is given, consistent with the rule that birkat hamitzva must be recited before the mitzva is performed. However, there is a view that the wedding blessings should only be recite after the ring is given for fear that the bride might change her mind and bolt the wedding! If this were to happen the blessings would have been in vain.

There are actually a number of arguments on both sides as to when the wedding blessings should be recited but universal practice to recite them before the giving of the ring.

It is interesting to note that the wedding blessings do not require a minyan, but the birkat nisuin, the seven blessings, do require a minyan.

Ketubot 7b; Rambam, Hilchot Ishut 3:23; EH 34 and commentaries