Wedding Readings

How to incorporate readings into your Wedding or Vow Renewal Ceremony

In my experience, I've come to see the incorporation of readings as one of the best ways to infuse ceremonies with personal meaning. The right wedding reading can capture a couple's unique essence and love story, creating an intimate ritual that guests will always remember.

In this guide, I'll share my tips for selecting, arranging, and presenting readings to complement your nuptials. Whether you envision funny poems, literary passages, or words of wisdom, the possibilities are endless. Thoughtfully chosen wedding readings, when woven throughout the ceremony, turn a simple rite into a multidimensional experience that touches the heart.

The Significance of Readings in Wedding Ceremonies

Readings have been part of wedding traditions across cultures for centuries. They add a symbolic layer beyond the legal vows, highlighting what matters most to the couple. Readings reflect shared values, hopes for the marriage, and the essence of the relationship.

For many couples, readings hold as much or even more significance than spoken vows. They offer a chance to convey personal thoughts in the words of beloved authors or self-written pieces. Especially for non-religious or interfaith ceremonies, readings often become the emotional high point.

Incorporating readings provides variety to complement the other elements of the ritual. Couples can blend verses that make them laugh, cry, and reflect on the meaning of lasting love. These carefully selected pieces guide guests into the mindset of celebration.

Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Readings

With so many possibilities to pick from, narrowing down your wedding readings takes thought and care. Here are my top tips for selecting meaningful options:

Reflect on your values and beliefs - Does the content align with your worldviews regarding love and marriage? Remember, your ceremony sets the tone for your union.

Resonate with your romance - Find pieces that seem to have been written just for you as a couple by speaking to your history and personalities.

Consider tone and style - Is the overall aesthetic formal, humorous, or philosophical? Select texts that complement each other.

Honour family heritage - Incorporate readings in your ancestral languages or texts tied to your cultural backgrounds.

Include a range - Have some variety in length, tone, and source material for a balanced experience. Short snippets of poetry pair nicely with lengthier passages.

Read aloud - Hearing the readings out loud helps determine if the cadence and language resonate. Practice reading them together in the weeks before your ceremony.

Speak from the heart - While exploring many options, ultimately the readings you choose should feel like an authentic representation of your shared journey.

Wedding Reading Ideas and Recommendations

Here I've compiled some of my favourite wedding reading excerpts that I frequently recommend to couples. Use these as inspiration to find selections meaningful to you:

Short Sweet Wedding Reading Ideas

"Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along." - Rumi
"In case you ever foolishly forget: I am never not thinking of you." - Virginia Woolf
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” - Emily Brontë
“I would go through all of it again just to wind up back here with you, my love.” - Beau Taplin

Literary Wedding Readings

“Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.” - Louis de Bernieres
“So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard. We’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day.” - Nicholas Sparks

Poetic Wedding Readings

“I will honour you each day. I will share your joy. I will help bear your burdens. I will nourish you and care for your mind, body and soul. I will dream with you. I will celebrate with you. I will listen and learn from you. I will laugh with you. I will weep with you. I will comfort you in times of sorrow. I will dance with you in times of joy. I will always be there for you, to love and cherish you.” – Unknown
"Your love shines in my heart as the sun that shines upon the earth." - Nichiren Daishonin

Wedding Readings from Literature

“I would not wish any companion in the world but you.” – William Shakespeare
“Whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” – Emily Brontë
“Come live with me, and be my love, and we will some new pleasures prove.” - Christopher Marlowe

Humorous Wedding Reading Selections

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you a lifelong target. You may kiss your cookware goodbye.” - Carrie Snow
“He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyse. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you.” - Bob Marley

Wedding Readings for Non-religious Ceremonies

“Marriage is a blessing not to be taken lightly. Marriage is a blessing through good times and bad. Marriage is a blessing in sickness and in health. Marriage is a blessing when life is a joy, but also when it is difficult. Marriage is a blessing when you are filled with love, so you may continue loving no matter what the future holds. And marriage is certainly a blessing when seen through loving eyes.” - Robert Sexton
“When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” - When Harry Met Sally.

Adding Readings Seamlessly Into Your Ceremony

Once you've selected one or more wedding readings, it's time to figure out how to seamlessly blend them into your ceremony flow. Here are some tips:

Discuss timing and placement preferences with your officiant. The beginning, middle, and end are all options.
If multiple readings, vary style and emotional tone between each.
Select appropriate readers - honour attendants, parents, siblings, and children.
Coach readers on tone, pacing, and pronunciation ahead of time.
Set up a microphone, stool, and copy of the reading if needed.
Provide a small token of appreciation for readers like a photo frame or flower.

Who Should Do Wedding Ceremony Readings?

While the couple can absolutely read their own selections, it's common to delegate readings to other loved ones. This gets guests involved. Consider:

Honour attendants - Bridesmaids or groomsmen often serve as readers.
Siblings or cousins - Including family builds in tradition.
Parents - Let mum or dad read a meaningful passage.
Children - Kids and teens can read age-appropriate selections.
Close friends - Those who know you well often make the best readers.

When inviting wedding reading participants, select those with public speaking confidence and clear voices. Make sure they are truly touched to be a part of your ceremony.

Writing Your Own Wedding Readings

Some couples choose to write their own wedding readings, adding an ultra-personal touch. Vows don't need to be the only original element. Here's how to get started crafting your own reading:

Describe your love story - how you met, fell in love, knew this was “the one.”
Share your unique couple rituals and inside jokes.
Express your feelings for each other and hopes for the future.
Outline shared values, interests, memories, and adventures that define your bond.
Consider integrating cultural traditions important to your family histories.
Write in a style and voice that is authentically you.

Personal readings that tell your distinctive love narrative make for unforgettable wedding moments. Guests will be touched to gain this inside glimpse into your relationship.

Wedding Readings Set the Tone for Your Marriage

Whether you select traditional religious passages, literature, poetry, song lyrics, or original compositions, your wedding ceremony readings should reflect the essence of your relationship. This curated collection of texts sets the tone for the ritual and your marriage journey ahead.

Take time to find and arrange special readings that make your ceremony feel uniquely yours. These meaningful words, when thoughtfully chosen, remind us of love's simplicity and complexity. Readings illuminate the joy, laughter, comfort, and vulnerability that come with true partnership.