You’re getting married and you want the world, or at least your closest
friends and family, to know what’s in your heart. Choosing ceremony
readings that represent the beauty and love of your relationship is a
wonderful, and relatively easy way to share these feelings and
personalize your ceremony. Your readings should be beautiful, moving
and interesting to your guests, reflect the words and feelings in your
heart, yet still adhere to the formality and “feel” that you want for
your ceremony.
There are so many wonderful sources to find suitable readings. You
can find them in scripture; (I Corinthians 13:4-8 – “Love is patient.
Love is kind . . . ,” Ephesians 5:21-32 – “Honor Christ by submitting
to each other. . . . And the two shall become one.”, Song of Solomon 6:3
– “I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine . . . ”; from selections
of poetry (Alfred, Lord Tennyson – “In true marriage lies, Nor equal, or
unequal,” anonymous Chinese poet, Han Dynasty – “O, celestial beings,
Let our feelings for each other, continue without diminishing,” ); or
excerpts from literature, William Shakespeare from As You Like It – “ . .
. no sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved, no
sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner sighed but they asked one
another the reason, no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy
. . . ”). However, since there are so many, it can get so
overwhelming. Don’t let this send you down the simple route of merely
looking at a list of possible selections (usually provided by your
officiant or person who is helping with the ceremony), and picking a
couple readings only because they’re on his/her list and therefore must
be the appropriate choices. Visit your local library and look under
topics such as poetry, literature, wedding readings. Check your (and
your fiancé’s) bookshelves, and music collection. Some of the most
beautiful words of love are song lyrics.
Don’t be too quick to dismiss readings that have “been done.” If you
find yourself hesitating over a particular selection because you’re
afraid that your guests will groan, “Oh, no! Not this one again,” stop a
moment and give it a thorough once over. Read the selection out loud,
or have someone read it to you. The spoken word has a much greater
impact than just seeing them on a piece of paper. You may need to back
up a bit to include a preceding verse or sentence or two, or if you have
someone who is creative with words, can write a suitable introduction.
Including this intro can help make the “same old” come alive, becoming
something that is new and fresh. In a beautiful introduction to
Corinthians 13:4-8, an aunt of the bride described the differences
between love and infatuation. An excerpt follows. “Infatuation is
fleeting desire. True love is a friendship that has caught fire.
Infatuation says we must get married right away, I can’t risk losing
you. Love says be patient, don’t panic, plan your future with
confidence. Infatuation might lead you to do things you will regret.
Love never steers you in the wrong direction. God, in His amazing,
infinite wisdom, said it perfectly in Corinthians.”
Of course, you’ll want to take special care in choosing the person(s)
who will be your readers. Look for someone who is comfortable in front
of a crowd, and can read in a good speaking voice. Even the most
beautiful, emotion evoking words will lose their meaning if read in a
droning, monotone voice.
Finally, to avoid any unpleasant surprises on your wedding day, make
sure to obtain a list of rules and regulations from your ceremony site
regarding what they do and do not permit for a wedding ceremony, and get
your officiant’s okay before finalizing any choices. And remember, if
worse comes to worse, and you aren’t allowed to use a reading that you
just cannot imagine doing without – have someone read it at the
reception. Words of Love aren’t just for the ceremony.
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