Non-religious alternatives to pre-dinner prayer

I've never, ever heard of anyone doing a pre-dinner prayer, or any sort of moment. Your DJ or band leader/MC should announce dinner.

I would think that the coordinator could just have the DJ ask everyone to be seated? Or maybe one of the parents can ask and just thank everyone for coming.

Maybe something along the lines of "Thank you for coming to celebrate the wedding of [your names]. If you could please be seated, dinner will be served shortly." Something short, simple, that thanks the guests and keeps them informed

We will not be doing anything like that. We plan to go straight into speeches and then finishing dinner.

A toast instead (and sometimes as well as) a prayer is nice.

I've never heard a pre dinner prayer .

I have hear the DJ/ emcee announce the courses as they come out.

Pre-dinner prayer is common in my circle. I would think an announcement to take their seats and a quick thank you for coming would be nice.

Pre dinner prayer can be common especially in certain cultures. If you don't want this don't do it though. People can bless their own dinner of they choose to do so.

I understand that some may have never heard of a pre-dinner prayer, but believe me - it's a thing. At least here in the Midwest. I've taken many a photograph of a clergy or a special aunt or whomever, who says something like, "If everyone could please taken their seats - I'd like to welcome you all to this special celebration of SPOUSE and SPOUSE. At this time, if everyone could bow your heads, I'd like to offer a pre-dinner prayer." Personally? I dislike it. Because I'm not religious. I think it's silly to do that unless you're 100% positive that everyone is a willing participant. I know if I'm a guest and this happens, I do not participate. I just look around and wait quietly while everyone else does their thang. If I'm a photographer, I have an excuse to not pray and can just photograph the room, or the prayer leader. So now, as a bride, knowing I'm vehemently against that, and also having the venue coordinator ask me for a "greeter" type of person (Even though *I* think our DJ could just do that!), I've already asked a friend to do this for us. I just need advice on how he can fill about 1-2 minutes of time to just give a greeting. He's a very good friend, he knows us well, and he's got a great on-the-mic presence. Because it's a pre-dinner thing, this wouldn't be a great time to kick off toasts (because dinner will be ready to be served and I don't want to delay that), so 1-2 minutes of time to give a greeting and maybe say something else? Just can't figure out what....

Typically someone from the venue announces to guests at the cocktail hour that its time to be seated for dinner. If your venue does not have someone who does that, your DJ can make the announcement.

I would say about 50% of weddings I've attended (and we go to a lot of weddings!) had a pre-dinner prayer or blessing. We had one at ours! Its obviously not a requirement. You and FH can do a quick welcome, or one of your parents can do it. However, this is done AFTER guests are seated so I don't understand how it would work if guests weren't already seated.

Grace is pretty common; not especially with my couples, but every now and then they ask me to stay and do one. This is what I do (or give to a family member to do...)

Welcome to each of you, cherished guests !

We come together in community at this shared meal.

We call to mind the seed awakening in the earth,

the kiss of rain and the surge of sun that have given us this bounty.

We remember the work of all who have prepared it for us on this day of celebration.

We imagine the many, many shared meals to come for this couple, Lisa and Ginny , united today in marriage!

May all the forces of the universe (and/or God)

And all the spirits of those who have come before us

Infuse Lisa and Ginny with joy,

And strengthen the loving bonds between each and every one of us,

Still think the toast is perfect--short and sweet and besides, we start all our dinners (even at home) by at least clinking our drinks with each other.

"Can I please have your attention? Thanks everyone for gathering for the wedding of x and x. Please raise your glasses to them wishing them a lifetime of health and happiness."

Commence with the food.

ps the Midwest is big

Are you having a first dance? Generally that would be the first thing to happen after everyone takes their seats. From there, dinner is served.

You could have your toasts just before dinner is served. That could be a good transition.

My father (wedding host) did a quick welcome--something to the effect of "We are so glad to welcome (husband) into our family officially, as (wife) and (husband) begin a new chapter in their relationship. We are so grateful for the roles each of you have played in their lives, which have helped shaped them into the people they are. We thank you for traveling from near and far to celebrate this special occasion" From there he did introduce my brother (officiant) to say grace, but we are in the south, religious, and saying a pre-dinner prayer is the norm. If you don't want it just skip it- to a quick "hello and thank you, dinner will be served shortly."

We weren't asked to have a greeter. I assume the venue took care of ushering guests from cocktail hour into the ballroom to take their seats, and guests were already seated when we were introduced into the ballroom.

We were simply asked who would be giving any toasts and saying a blessing. I provided those names on the forms for both the venue coordinator and DJ, as well as showed them the order for those things (who was giving which toasts, and that the blessing was to follow the toasts) on our timeline. Had we decided we did not want a blessing over dinner, we would have simply left that line blank on the forms and not included the blessing on our timeline, and dinner would have come out immediately following the Best Man's toast.

Um, I'm religious and I can't think of a single wedding I've been to where grace was said before the meal.

Usually the bridesmaids start asking everyone to move towards their seats, the DJ makes an announcement, and/or the toast begin.

I'm kinda chuckling at all of the "I've never seen a pre-dinner prayer at a wedding before" responses. That's cool - so you've never seen it. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I've been a wedding photog for 8 years and I assure you - it happens. Regardless, I was simply looking for what our requested "greeter" person could say and I actually really like APZ's father's little speech! That is very straight up and kinda settles everyone for the next thing (dinner) and it sounds like that's about what the venue is asking us for - so I'll definitely be using some or all of that, as well as any other relevant suggestions. Thank you!

You can certainly have a toast or welcome greeting if you'd like, but normally the venue or catering staff just walks around and invites guests to come sit down for dinner and word spreads!

It's not something I required or planned for. After my most recent meeting with my venue, they asked for it. Personally, I think just having the DJ do a welcome and run things, would be fine. But this is what they want. So this is what we're doing.