Have you been to a wedding where the bride and groom said their vows, and then the priest said a prayer?
If so, you probably know that these prayers can be very long. Sometimes they’re so long that they cause the guests to start talking and making noise while they’re being recited.
Do you ever wonder why these prayers are so long? Or if it’s OK for you to say your own prayer during the ceremony?
In this article, we’ll answer those questions for you. We’ll also give some tips on short opening prayer for wedding reception!
Let’s face it—the wedding day is a whirlwind. You’re trying to keep track of everything, from the tiniest details to the big picture. You’re going to be running around all day, so you need to make sure you don’t forget to take some time for yourself.
That’s where dinner comes in. It’s often one of the last things on your mind before your big day, but it’s also one of the most important parts of your reception. It can be really stressful if you don’t get this right, but luckily, we’ve got some tips for how to make dinner the best part of your reception! You’ll also learn christian wedding dinner prayer in this article.
Dinner Prayer For Wedding Reception
1. Wedding Meal Prayer (by Holly Parmer)
God our Father and Lord of all Creation:
We gather here now to celebrate the love and commitment of (name) and (name), as they share their first meal together as husband and wife.
We thank You for giving Your Holy blessing today upon their marriage, and ask that You continue to bless them with Your love and mercy throughout their lives together.
Let this be the first of many loving meals shared together with their family and friends, and blessed by Your amazing grace.
And with (name) and (name), as we are their family, friends, and loved ones gathered here in Your presence, we ask for Your Holy blessing upon this meal as together we say:
Bless us, oh Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty; through Christ our Lord, Amen.
2. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, 13
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. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
3. An excerpt from “On Love” (a poem by Kahlil Gibran)
When you love you should not say,
“God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own under-standing of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
4. Grace for a Wedding Reception (by April Yamasaki)
O God, the great Creator of this beautiful setting and all that is, the Lord of life and love, we give you thanks for all of your goodness:
- for the abundance of food this evening,
- the abundance of family and friends, and
- the abundance of laughter and love.
We pray that this meal might be a time to nourish our bodies and nourish strong relationships.
We pray for (name) and (name) that the love they share today would flourish and grow.
May they continue in your joy and strength.
May they bless their families as they have been blessed by them.
And may all of us who participate in this celebration, carry your joy and love with us as we move forward.
For you are the Source and Ground of all beings. Amen.
5. Wedding Dinner Prayer
Lord,
Thank you for family and friends
Thank you for times like these
Where we can gather together,
Share in food, drink and relax.
Please bless this meal, and all that it means.
May the food nourish us,
And the fellowship enrich our lives.
Most of all, may we always invite you into our homes,
And into our hearts.
Amen.
6. May the Road Rise Up to Meet You (traditional Irish blessing)
May the road rise up to meet you.
And the wind be on your back.
May the sun shine warm upon you;
And the rain fall gently down,
May God hold you, ever hold you,
May god hold you in the palm of His hand.
7. Secular Prayer
Ground and source of all life, we stop and recall with gratitude the gift of life. We are grateful for the love of (name) and (name) parents, who raised them from childhood with care and concern, bringing them to this day. We are grateful for the example of (name) and (name) love in their new commitment to one another. We express our gratitude to those who grew and harvested the food we will share today, those who prepared it and those who will serve it. We are grateful also to the wind and the rain, the sun and the earth, who provide not only this meal but all of our life on this planet. Let us take a moment of silence now in gratitude for life. (pause)
Amen.
8. Wedding Prayer (a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow,
for the health, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Amen.
9. Blessing for the Food (Traditional Hebrew Blessing)
For the Bread (Hamotzi)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
For Grains (Mezonot)
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates varieties of nourishment.
For Wine and Grape Juice (Hagafen)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
For Fruits (Ha’eitz)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
For Vegetables (Ha’adamah)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the ground.
For All Other Foods Such as Fish, Meat, and Poultry (Shehakol)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, at whose word all came to be.
10. Thank You, Creator
Thank you, Creator, for bringing (name) and (name) together in such a happy way. We ask the Universe to bless this couple and their future together. May happiness and joy be a hallmark of their relationship. As they explore their love for each other, establish a home, and build a life together, may they be strengthened by the love and encouragement of those gathered here today. If times get hard, may they remember the commitment they made today and the joy that brought them together. Help them to learn from one another and grow strong as both individuals and a couple. May the food we eat now bring strength to us, and may we all enjoy this time of celebration and friendship. Amen.
11. Bless Our Wonderful Meal
Lord God, Creator of the universe, we have gathered here around this dinner table to celebrate the love and commitment that have united (name) and (name), in a wonderful bond of marriage. Bless our wonderful meal, and bless the happy couple for a wonderful life together.
12. How Wonderful it is to Celebrate Love
Dear Lord,
How wonderful it is to celebrate the love, friendship and union of this lovely couple.
We pray that they would know your love, your protection and your blessing in their lives.
Bless this food to our bodies as we eat now.
Come fill our hearts with thanks for your goodness, provision and kindness.
Amen.
Short Opening Prayer For Wedding Reception
Usually done after the vows and the rings, but it can be done whenever you like.
God, the eternal creator and sustainer of all life, the divine architect of salvation, and the source of every good and perfect gift: Have mercy on the world you made and the people for whom your Son died, and on this man and this woman whom you join together in Holy Matrimony.
Amen.
Christian Wedding Dinner Prayer
In the presence of the LORD God Almighty and their family and friends, a wedding is a joyous celebration of two individuals coming together to form one flesh. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of two people who have been together for a long time: they’ve decided to get married and start a family. Food, drink, and socializing with loved ones are integral parts of any wedding celebration. So, if you are looking for a prayer to say before the wedding meal, here is a short prayer of thanksgiving that is appropriate for the occasion:
Dear God, we have gathered here today to honor the union of this happy couple. We appreciate the wonderful marriage you’ve started. Prayer: Lord, keep Your benevolent gaze and manifest presence upon them at all times. May the meal we are about to share be one that the couple and all of us here will remember for a long time to come. God, in the name of Jesus Christ, bless this meal and all who contributed to it. May we all experience your abundant joy, peace, and love. Amen.
The mealtime at a wedding can be made wonderful and full of God’s presence with just a prayer of thanksgiving, honoring and blessing the couple, blessing the food, and glorifying God. If you are tasked with giving a prayer at a wedding, use the time ahead of time to compose something that flows smoothly and clearly. But if you’re asked on the spot, you can give God the glory, bless the couple, and give thanks for the food and the company of family and friends.
