After the reading of the marriage contract, the ceremony continues with the seven blessings of nisu’in. These blessings contain expressions of thanksgiving to God for the joy of the marriage, combined with good wishes for the bride and groom.

The seven blessings are recited while holding a full cup of wine. It is customary to use a different cup of wine, not the one that was already used for the first blessing over the wine and the blessing on the kiddushin.

The seven blessings may be recited by the officiating rabbi or by any other man present. The blessings can also be divided up, in order to honor various family members, friends, and other guests. The first two blessings are recited by one person, while the five additional blessings may be given to five different people. Thus, a total of six people can participate in the recitation of the blessings.

The seven blessings are as follows:

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.”

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has created all for His glory.”

The blessing of “who creates the fruit of the vine” is recited over the drinking of the wine itself. The blessing of “who has created all for His glory” is in honor of those who came to rejoice with the bride and groom. Through their very presence, these people give honor to God, who acted as the groomsman, as it were, in his presentation of Eve to Adam, at humankind’s first marriage.

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of man.”

This blessing refers to the creation of Adam, who was fashioned alone, without a partner. It is an appropriate introduction to the next blessing:

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who created the [first] man in His image, in the image of the likeness of His form, and out of his very self formed an edifice for all eternity. Blessed are You, Lord, Creator of man.”

This blessing recalls the creation of Adam and his wife. Adam was initially created alone and only afterward did God take a part of his body to form a spouse for him. Together the couple produced generations of offspring and established the human race – for all eternity.

“May the barren one greatly rejoice and delight with the ingathering of her children within her in joy. Blessed are You, Lord, who gladdens Zion through her children.”

In this blessing we remember and memorialize the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem and pray for its restoration, as is customary for Jews to do on every joyous occasion. Alongside the sorrow for the destruction, we wish for “the ingathering of her children within her in joy,” in the messianic redemption.

“Bring great joy to the loving companions, as You gave joy to Your creation in Eden in ancient times. Blessed are You, Lord, who brings joy to the groom and bride.”

“The loving companions” are the bride and groom, and we pray that God will fill their lives with joy and happiness.

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has created joy and gladness, groom and bride, delight, exultation, happiness, jubilation, love, and brotherhood, and peace, and friendship. Soon, Lord our God, may there be heard in the cities of Judea and in the streets of Jerusalem the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride, the joyous sound of grooms from their wedding canopy and of young people from their feast of song. Blessed are You, Lord, who brings joy to the groom together with the bride.”

This blessing is for the entire Jewish people. It is a fervent request that we should merit very soon to rejoice in the “wedding” of the Jewish people with God, which will occur with the messianic redemption.

At the conclusion of the seven blessings, the groom breaks a glass to commemorate the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. Before breaking the glass, it is customary to recite the following verses:

“If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its power. Let my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not recall you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my foremost joy” (Psalms 137:5–6).

The breaking of the glass concludes the ceremony under the wedding canopy.

In some communities there are other customs concerning the stage at which the glass is broken, and how it is done.