Blessing before eating at a wedding....I need a non-denominational one

[JKMastalski]

My sister is getting married in a few weeks. Now, the bride and groom are both catholic, but not religious. They have asked my DH to give a blessing at the reception. Does anyone know what he should say? They don't want to mention God and they don't want anything too religious sounding.
Help!

 

[disneynutt1225]

What nationality are they? How about an Irish blessing?

 

[punkin]

If they don't want to mention God, then from whom is the blessing? I guess what they really want is somthing more like a toast where your husband would wish them happiness and contentment on behalf of all those gathered at the wedding.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Agree, they are asking for a toast, not a blessing. Blessings are normally done by someone religious, like a priest or minister.

 

[dizcrazy]

I agree - are you sure they don't want a toast instead of a blessing? Maybe they really just want your husband to "say a few words before dinner"?

Here is one that I always like to hear at a wedding. It does mention God but I think it wold be appropriate.

May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortunes
and rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
from this day forward.



(one without reference to God)

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours

 

[JKMastalski]

Yeah, thats what I thought too. But they are having the Best Man give the traditional toast. I think they should just have their Justice of the Peace give a blessing before everyone eats.
I guess what they are trying to do is give thanks for the food, etc. that they will have, but without it sounding too religious. Even though they are not a religious couple, most people that are attending are.
Thanks for the help!

 

[caitycaity]

you can definitely be thankful for what you have without believing in god.

i would just have them discuss it with their jop. we had a jop (who was also an ordained minister) marry us and our ceremony was completely areligious. we did not have the word god in our ceremony at all. if we had wanted him to do so, i'm sure our jop would have said a fine nonreligious blessing at our reception.

i was nervous at first since he was also a minister and i didn't want to offend him or have him slip up during the ceremony, but he came highly recommended and he did a great job of representing our beliefs. i'm sure their jop will do a great job too.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Is this a "Bridezilla" moment?

I would look up "poems" by the ancient authors and recite. That should be easy enough.
Do they have favorite authors, celebrities from movies even to recall?

I am sure you can come up with a ton of stuff once you get rolling.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Wedding Toast, to the Bride and Groom
My Greatest wish for the two of you is that through the years your love for each other will so deepen and grow, that years from now you will look back on this day, your wedding day, as the day you loved each other the least.

http://quotations.about.com/cs/weddingtoasts/a/bls_wed_toasts.htm
http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/examples/index.asp

 

[Disney Doll]

They want a toast then, not a blessing. Some of the ones listed here are good ones.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

This guy has some funny elements:
http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/examples/sp_example.asp?id=1221&num=2

Who are they asking the blessing from...I mean, if you don't mention God, who are you asking to bless the food??

What about:
As we celebrate the love between _____ and ____, May the food we are about to eat, nourish our bodies as their love has nourished 2 souls


is that really sappy?? LOL

 

[Beth76]

Yeah, thats what I thought too. But they are having the Best Man give the traditional toast. I think they should just have their Justice of the Peace give a blessing before everyone eats.
I guess what they are trying to do is give thanks for the food, etc. that they will have, but without it sounding too religious. Even though they are not a religious couple, most people that are attending are.
Thanks for the help!

Well this is just silly. Maybe your husband could thank the caterer. Seriously though, have your DH find out what they want him to say exactly. They don't want a toast, they don't want a prayer, what else is there? I agree with you that they should have the JoP say something, if he even does something like that.

 

[Dreamer04]

"And may their first child, be a masculine child"
The Godfather

 

[BabyTigger99]

Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

"And may their first child, be a masculine child"
The Godfather

OK...you are on.

Buckaroo Banzai...
"Remember, no matter where you go, there you are."