Wedding Song (There Is Love)

“Wedding Song (There Is Love)” is a title of a 1971 hit single by Paul Stookey: the song—which Stookey credits to divine inspiration – has since been recorded by many singers (with versions by Petula Clark and Mary MacGregor returning it to the Billboard Hot 100)—and remains a popular choice for performance at weddings.
Wikipedia

Composition and original recording
Stookey had first performed the song at the wedding of Peter Yarrow—Stookey’s co-member of Peter, Paul and Mary—to Mary Beth McCarthy at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar, Minnesota. Stookey was best man at the ceremony, which took place in the evening of October 18, 1969.
Wikipedia

Paul Stookey has an autobiographical article in Guideposts web site, where he describes the events surrounding the song’s creation.

Those were heady times. A sense of change was sweeping the country. There was a young president in the White House, hope on the wing and a new day dawning.

And then: despair. The impact of the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy was devastating. The arts became more and more expressive of the dark mood of the country. Gone were the dreams of a better tomorrow. The only choices left seemed to be cynicism or escape.
[…]
Less than a year after Peter’s wedding, the trio took a leave of absence from performing and we each created solo albums. By then I knew that “Wedding Song” would be included on mine, but now I had a dilemma on my hands. How could I honestly copyright the song in my name? Yet if I didn’t claim the song for someone, the record company would pocket the royalties.

In the end I set up a foundation to oversee the publishing rights and to receive all my income as composer. Any money the song earned could then be distributed to worthy causes.
[…]
It’s been 22 years since the Public Domain Foundation was created to receive the royalties from “Wedding Song.” Two million dollars has been distributed to charitable organizations all over the United States—from soup kitchens for the homeless to research into computer interaction for hospitalized kids.

Every year, too, I turn down requests to sing “Wedding Song” at services around the country. “It’s not my song,” I can honestly say. It belongs to every bride and groom who ever had a good friend strum a guitar and sing at their wedding.

God gave me a song. It was mine to give away.
Guideposts

Wedding Song (There Is Love)
Song by Noel Paul Stookey

He is now to be among you
at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name

There is love
There is love

Well a man shall leave his mother
and a woman leave her home
They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning, is now until the end.
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.

(And) There is love
There is love

Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here, or love that brings you life?
For if loving is the answer then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?

There is love
(Oh) There's love

The marriage of your spirits here has caused him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name
There is love
(Ah) There's love

The Original Version

As originally written, the lyrics are in the first person; i.e. a blessing directly from God.

Lord, I prayed, nothing would bless this wedding ceremony more than Your presence. How would You manifest Yourself? – Paul Stookey

And the lyrics came:
I am now to be among you
at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on My part.
The union of your spirits here has caused Me to remain
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in My name
[....]
The marriage of your spirits here has caused Me to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in My name
Paul Stookey

Noel Paul Stookey

Noel Paul Stookey (born December 30, 1937) is an American singer-songwriter who was famous for being a member of the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary; however, he has been known by his first name, Noel, throughout his life. He continues to work as a singer and an activist, performing as a solo artist, and occasionally with former bandmate Peter Yarrow.

Early life
Stookey was born in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. His family moved to Birmingham, Michigan, when he was 12 years old, and he graduated from Birmingham High School (now Seaholm High School) in 1955.
Wikipedia

At 86, Paul is still touring!

The WLBOTT Connection

Funny you should mention “The Wedding Song.” UC#1-SU and I actually recorded it and played it at our own wedding.
– UC#1

Some Beautiful Covers

Nana Mouskouri’s beautiful version

A Czech version by Helena Vondráčková (“Je teď tvá”)

A German version by Daliah Lavi (as “Liebe Lebt”)

My personal favorite, by Rebecca De La Torre