Q. What is better on attending a wedding if you want to leave early, not to eat bread, or wash eat bread and make a mezumman without saying sheva brachos?
A. Poiskim disagree whether the obligation to recite sheva brochos rests only on the groom or on all the partakers to the banquet. The difference would be if an individual is permitted to leave early, when there are enough guest remaining for sheva brochos. (see sources in Nitey Gavriel – Nesuin 2: 98: 1)
Igrois Moishe(O.H. 1: 56 and E.H. 67) advises that if someone wants to leave a wedding banquet before the reciting of sheva brochos, he should nonetheless wash and eat bread but have in mind not to join as a group with the rest of the attendants on the feast (kovea seudo).
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that in general when feasible, one should wash and partake with the choson-kalo on the whole feast, thereby fulfilling multiple mitzvos including rejoicing with the bride and groom. When this cannot be accomplished, it depends on the particular wellness needs of the individual as to which course to follow.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
