Prayers for Wedding Receptions: 6 Great Samples

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Prayers at a wedding reception are quite appropriate, especially when the couple has a relationship with the Lord. These prayers may include a blessing over the food, a father’s or mother’s prayer for their children and even blessings offered by the best man and maid of honor. Here are 6 great samples from which to choose.

A Prayer Of Blessing & A Charge From the Bible:

May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you.

Dear Heavenly Father, “for this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (From Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 3:14-21)

A Prayer in a Song

A very popular thing at weddings is to sing a blessing. I have known of it to be done in person or in a video. The song “The Prayer” is a great one that can be offered by anyone; I have even known the bride and the groom to do it as a duet at the reception. Here is a video of “The Prayer” with lyrics, sung by Chloë Agnew of the Celtic Women singing group.

A Prayer for the Food

The prayer for the food is usually offered by the minister who officiated the ceremony, however, it is also common for this prayer to be offered by the father of the bride.

“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. We pray your blessings on the food that you have provided for us and thank you for all who have prepared it for our nourishment. Thank you in Jesus’ name, Amen.” (includes “The Wedding Prayer” by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Traditional Hebrew Blessings

A Hebrew Wedding Blessing

This is called the Seudah. It is asked two times at the wedding; once at the ceremony and then another time at the festival meal (Seudat Mitvah). Traditionally, the blessings are recited by seven different people that have been preselected by the bride and groom. This is also known as the Grace after meals (Birkat HaMazon). This blessing is performed while the groom and bride and all of the guest share a glass of wine. At the end of the blessing it is traditional that the groom breaks his glass with his foot, which is in remembrance of the temple that no longer exists in Jerusalem. At the end of the blessing everyone shouts “Mozol Tov”, indicating congratulations to the bride and groom. [1]

Blessing 1: Blessed art the LORD our God, King of the universe, Fashioner of man.

Blessing 2: Blessed art the LORD our God, King of the universe, Fashioner of man.

Blessing 3: Blessed art the LORD our God, King of the universe, who formed the man in His image, in the image of the semblance of His likeness, and prepared for him from Himself a building for eternity. Blessed art Thou LORD, who fashioned the man.

Blessing 4: May the barren one exult and jubilantly rejoice through the regathering of her children amidst her in gladness. Blessed art Thou LORD, who makes Zion rejoice with her children.

Blessing 5: Gladden the beloved companions as you made glad your creation in the garden of Eden from days of old. Blessed art Thou, LORD, who gladdens groom and bride.

Blessing 6: Blessed art Thou LORD our God, King of the universe, who created joy and gladness, groom and bride, rejoicing, glad song, pleasure, delight, love, brotherhood, peace and companionship. Soon, LORD, our God, let there be heard in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the sound of jubilation of grooms from their canopies and of youths from their feasts of song. Blessed art Thou, LORD, who gladdens the groom with the bride.

Blessing 7: Blessed art Thou LORD our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Blessing for the Food

For the Bread (Hamotzi)

Blessed are You LORD our God King of the universe Who has sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us on the washing of the hands. Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

For other Food (Mezonot)

Blessed are you LORD our God, King of the Universe, Who creates various kinds of sustenance.

For the Wine or Grape Juice

Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.

For Fruits (Ha-aitz)

Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.

For the Vegetables

Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe who creates the fruit of the earth.

For all other Foods (Shehakol)

Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, by Whose word all things came to be. [2]

Traditional Irish Blessing

Interested in more wedding and marriage articles?

Take a look at these:

• 10 Great Wedding Bible Verses and Readings

• 15 Best Christian Wedding Songs

• Sample Wedding Vows: Inspirational Marriage Pledges
  

Sources:

The Holy Bible, King James Version

[1] http: //www.hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Special_Events/Wedding_Blessings/wedding_blessings.html

[2] http: //www.chabad.org

YouTube video “The Wedding Song” by Kenny G

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