by Robert Lewis 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”

and a secular/non-religious adaptation

“Behold our family here assembled.
We thank yougive thanks 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.
May we always be so fortunate and appreciative!”

“For what we are about to receive
let us be truly thankful
…to those who planted the crops
…to those who cultivated the fields
…to those who gathered the harvest.
For what we are about to receive
let us be truly thankful
to those who prepared it and those who served it.
In this festivity let us remember too
those who have no festivity
those who cannot share this plenty
those whose lives are more affected than our own
by war, oppression and exploitation
those who are hungry, sick and cold
In sharing in this meal
let us be truly thankful
for the good things we have
for the warm hospitality
and for this good company.”

“We have the gift of living in this beautiful world that sustains and nourishes us. As the food and drink we partake of tonight enthralls our senses, so does this beautiful love that Bride and Groom share lift our spirits. It gives us faith in the ongoing goodness of the future ahead, knowing that their promises are strong and true. So let us lift our glasses and forks, with joy and appreciation in our hearts, that they are joined in marriage, that we are joined as family and that this moment is worthy of celebration.”

“May your marriage be as sweet as the fruit of the vine.
May you work together to build a relationship of substance and quality.
May the honesty of your communication build a foundation of understanding, connection and trust.
May you respect each other’s individual personality and philosophy, give each other room to grow and fulfill each other’s dreams.
May your sense of humor and playful spirit continue to enliven your relationship.
May you understand that neither of you is perfect: you are both subject to human frailties; and may your love strengthen when you fall short of each other’s expectations.
May you continue to be best friends, better together than either of you are apart.”

Poem by Mawlawi Rumi

“May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter, every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion, a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name, an omen as welcome as the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage.”

“Lord God, as we sit at Your table, the table that You have filled with the earths bounty for our celebration, bless us all and the food that we are about to share with the Bride and Groom in their first meal together as Husband and Wife. As food nourishes the Body, so does love nourish the soul. May our conversation this day remind us of how true this is and may we offer one another strength and support. Grant that this meal enrich us with wisdom and laughter enough that it’s memory shall last for the rest of our days. Amen

“Let us pray, Heavenly father, you have placed the earth and it’s fruit under our care so that by our efforts we may insure that all will share in the benefits of your creation. We ask that you bless this food and all those that are present here today, the families and friends and also all those who are were unable to attend today. We also ask your blessing on bride and groom who have come to you this day to unite themselves to You in love and sacrament, all this we ask in your love. Amen

“We come to the table not merely to refresh our bodies but to renew our hearts. We are thankful for food in a world where many walk in hunger, for friends in a world where many walk alone, and for faith in a world where many walk in fear. O Lord, Thou Sustainer of our body, heart and soul, Bless all we receive. In thankfulness. Amen

“Dear God: Thank you for the food we share this afternoon in celebration of this marriage. We thank you for the love, guidance and support of all the important people in their lives, their parents, family and friends We offer our gratitude for this joyful and abundant day. Please bless those that have worked hard to make this day a success for this couple. And, please bless this meal that we are about to share – our Bride and groom’s first meal together as a married 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 this couple 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, one God for ever and ever. Amen.”

“Heavenly Father, we gather in this place in a spirit of celebration and gratitude. Thank you for the blessing of bringing our Bride and Groom together in marriage today. We again ask you to bless their marriage, their beautiful family, and all of those who love and care for them. Help them to stay strong and communicative, and to be open and forgiving. Help us all, with your grace, to do the same. God, bless this feast we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Bless the hands that tended to it, bless those who gathered it and bless everyone who prepared it that we may enjoy it here together now… Let this reception be an honor to You as You watch and guide this beautiful couple, and all of us, all the days of our lives. Amen.”

“This is a long cherished Polish tradition, which has been passed down through the centuries. It symbolizes the union of the bride and groom and their families.

The bride and groom are being greeted by their parents with bread and salt as well as a glass of wine. The parents sprinkle the bread with salt then give it to their children to eat. The bread represents the parents hope that the bride and groom will never experience hunger or need, the salt reminds the couple that their life maybe difficult at times, and they must learn together to cope with lifes struggles.

The parents will then present the glass of wine to the bride and groom for each of them to drink. With the drink, the parents hope that the couple will never thirst and that they will have a life of filled with good health, good cheer, and share the company of many good friends. This portion of the ceremony will conclude with the parents kissing the bride and the groom, there by welcoming them into the family with this sign of their love and unity. bx and gx will you please step to behind the table? And will the parents of the Bride and Groom please join them?”

Music begins

Bride and Groom step behind the table

Parents join them

Couple eats the salted bread

Couple drink of the wine

Parents kiss couple

And return all to place as the music concludes

“From within every religion and culture, we have learned to incorporate elements from everyday life into our ceremonies as symbols of love and oneness. We light candles, we share wine, and in our case today, we are fed by those who love and have nurtured us; our mothers.

It’s our ability to find joy and to connect with one another through such simple acts that makes life such a rich and beautiful experience.

In Bulgarian tradition, the mothers of the Bride and Groom come and present the couple with bread and honey. The Bride then dips a piece of bread in honey and feeds it to the Groom. The Groom then does the same to the Bride.

This is a representation of the mother’s blessing upon their marriage. The rising of the dough symbolizes the creation of a new family unit and the feeding is a metaphor for their mothers wishing them a sweet and plentiful life together.

I’d like to invite our couple’s mothers to come up at this time and present them with bread and honey.”

Mothers come forward.

“Bride, dip your bread in the honey and offer it to your beloved.”

“Groom, dip your bread in the honey and offer it to your beloved”.

“Mom’s, please kiss your children before returning to your seats.”

Mother’s kiss their children and then return to their seats.

“What a fitting tribute, that the last kisses our couple should receive as single people should come from the two who gave them their first kisses when they came into this life, their mothers!”