wedding prayers before dinner
Wedding Prayers Before Dinner
Are you planning to have a religious wedding ceremony? If you are going by the book, you might as well include wedding prayers before dinner, at your reception.
Grace before meals is a way of thanking the Almighty for giving us a beautiful life, and seeking His blessings. No matter what religion you belong to, prayers and blessings will always be an integral part of every important occasion of your life. Weddings are particularly characterized by a religious ceremony, complete with prayers and blessings. Even if you are not going to have a typical religious affair, you would want to include wedding prayers, before your reception dinner. It sure makes sense to seek the God's blessings before having your first meal as husband and wife. Here are some guiding tips to arrange for these.
Who Should Give
Many couples choose to give the prayers themselves, or ask the minister to do the honors. Oftentimes, they may ask another family member or a special guest to give grace. No matter whom you choose, always inform the person beforehand so that he is prepared for it. If you ask a guest to give a prayer, without prior intimation, he may turn it down if he is wary of public speaking. As far as possible, choose a person who is of same religious denomination as you, since a person of a different denomination may not feel comfortable giving a prayer for your denomination.
What Should be Included
The marriage prayers should be short, and written from the heart. If you decide to give it as a couple, you should thank everyone for attending the ceremony, and pray for their good health. A person, other than the couple, should seek blessings from God through his or her prayers. Lastly, thank God for the meal that you are about to eat. If you have been asked to give a prayer at a wedding dinner, make sure you write it down well ahead of time, and rehearse. If you are absolutely clueless, consult a pastor or clergy regarding what to include in the prayer. You may ask the couple about what exactly they expect from the prayer. You can also refer to readings on Internet, such as those given below.
Sample Wedding Prayers
By Couple
"Thank you for this beautiful day. You have fulfilled the desire of our hearts, to be together in this life. We pray that your blessings will always rest upon our home; that joy, peace, and contentment would dwell within us as we live together in unity, and that all who enter our home may experience the strength of your love. Father, help us to follow and serve you with an ever-growing commitment because of our union. Guide us into greater love and sacrifice as we care for each other's needs, knowing you will care for us. May we always be as keenly aware of your presence as we sense it today, on our wedding day. And, may our devotion in marriage be a radiant reflection of your love for us. Thank you Lord for the fellowship around this table, for the good friends, for the hearts of love that manifested themselves through hands that prepared this wonderful feast. Bless us as we eat, and bless us as we fellowship. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, we pray. Amen."
For Couple"Lord God, Creator of the universe, Father of us all, we have gathered here around this dinner table to celebrate the love and commitment that have united (bride's name) and (groom's name), in a wonderful bond of marriage. Bless, Father, this food that we are about to receive with grateful hearts as a sign of your continuous bounty and providence. May your generous blessing descend also upon these newly married spouses, their families, and friends present here at this joyful banquet. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit of God forever. Amen"
Go through these for reference, and write your own prayer for the couple. Close your eyes, and try to communicate with God, before writing the prayer. This should help you to bring out your deepest, truest emotions so that you can write a heartfelt prayer.