Wedding readings and quotations can set the mood, be it romantic, literary, traditional or contemporary, sentimental or instructive. Excerpts from Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet (Love one another but make not a bond of love) are among the most popular wedding readings, but there are many others which are just as meaningful and perhaps more suitable.
Famous wedding poems or those penned by a friend can be used. There are no rules about what can and cannot be read at a wedding, but the readings should be appropriate to the style or theme of the wedding ceremony and the atmosphere you want to create.
Traditional Weddings Theme
- A traditional marriage ceremony would probably include traditional or literary readings, for example, Sonnet 116 from Shakespeare, Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds Admit Impediment which speaks beautifully of loving your partner just as he or she is, whithout trying to change them.
- A favourite book could be the inspiration for a wedding quotation, such as A Room With A View by E.M. Forester :
“You must marry, or your life will be wasted. You have gone too far to retreat. I have not time for the tenderness, and the comradeship, and the poetry and the things that really matter and for which you marry.”
Unconventional Weddings
- Less traditional couples who want to celebrate a shared sense of humour can choose from several funny marriage poems. They can be a refreshing change for the guests, too. Modern British poet, Pam Ayres, famous for Yes, I’ll Marry You My Dear, has another funny poem suitable for a wedding. It can be found in her collection called With These Hands. It begins :
Will I have to be sexy at sixty?
Will I have to keep trying so hard?
Well I'm just going to slump,
With my dowager's hump
And watch myself turn into lard.
- If a humourous marriage poem is selected, invite a confident person to read it with a touch of drama and flair. Readers should have sufficient time to practice their piece and to understand why you have chosen it.
Favourite Romantic Songs
There are some beautiful old and new love songs which can be used as readings, for example The Rose which was sung by Bette Midler. There is no need to read the entire song, simply choose the verses which are most meaningful.
Weddings With a Whimsical Mood
- For Harry Potter fans, create a whimsical atmosphere with a reading from Chapter 8 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
'Ladies and gentlemen,' said a small tufty-haired wizard. 'We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls...'Do you William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle...'
In the front row, Mrs Weasley and Madame Delacour were both sobbing quietly into scraps of lace.”
- With this excerpt, the bridal couple’s names could be used instead of William and Fleur. Readings used creatively can be a wonderful addition to the wedding ceremony.
- A poem which includes the name of the bride or groom can be interesting. This short one is called Jenny Kiss'd Me, written by Leigh Hunt.
- The Prophet (Kahlil Gibran. Alfred A Knopf 1932)
- Shakespeare's Sonnets ( William Shakespeare. Washington Square Press 2004)
- With These Hands: A Collection (Pam Ayres. Orion 1998)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (JK Rowling. Bloomsbury 2007)
- A Room With a View (EM Forster. Penguin Books Ltd new Edition 2000)
More wedding ideas : Creative Wedding Readings, Beautiful Bridesmaid Dresses, Choosing the Best Man
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