Gluten Free Sheva Berachos

Question: Is it permissible to recite sheva berachos if the chassan is coeliac and therefore unable to wash for bread?

Answer: The Gemara (Pesachim 102b) teaches that one may not fulfil two mitzvos using the same cup of wine. Tosafos explains that this is why we use two separate cups at a sheva berachos meal, one for bentching and one for the sheva berachos themselves. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer EH 3:11:6) infers from this that sheva berachos may only be recited when those present have eaten bread. In a later teshuva (Yabia Omer EH 6:9), R’ Ovadia quotes R’ Shlomo Kluger (Haelef Lecha Shlomo OC 93), who rules that if the chassan does not eat bread, the meal cannot be considered a seudah held in his honour, and sheva berachos may therefore not be recited. R’ Ovadia adds that the kalla must also eat bread in order for the sheva berachos to be valid (see Tzitz Eliezer 13:99:4).

R’ Sraya Deblitzky (Sova Semachos 1:19) maintains that bedieved, even if the chassan eats nothing at all, the sheva berachos may still be recited. Nevertheless, R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (cited in Peninei Sheva Berachos, p.20; Hanisuin Kehilchasa 14:86:n189) rules that in a case where the chassan cannot eat bread due to coeliac disease, sheva berachos may still be said, provided he partakes in the main course of the meal.

In conclusion, provided that the others eat bread, and the chassan partakes in a substantial and satisfying meal, sheva berachos may still be recited, even if he does not wash due to dietary restrictions.