Wedding readings

[roseviolet]

We want to have two readings at our ceremony. We have ideas of a few things we like but I'm just not sure how long they should be. I'm hoping one of my fellow disbrides has some sage advice on this. What you used, what you are using, length of time to read, number of words, anything would help. Thanks yet again!

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

I'd be interested in this too. Honestly, anyone have any good books on how a service is supposed to go? I'm a big fan of you do? yup. you do too? yup! Cool-kiss But now I think I'd like it to last a little longer than that...but have know clue how that happens...
Any insight greatly appreciated!

 

[lurkyloo]

It's all personal preference! I've heard of ceremonies that were 10 minutes because the bride and groom were more interested in the reception. Ours was 30 minutes because our focus was on the ceremony and vows as the most important part of the day.

As for the length of individual readings, I say keep them brief. It's like in church - little nuggets of inspiration have more impact than a quote that just goes on and on and on....

 

[lurkyloo]

Your officiant can help you with the order/style of service. Ours gave us the traditional Methodist service and we edited it to a length and focus that suited us.

Some officiants are more flexible on this than others, though, so be sure to ask.

 

[Sleeping_Princess]

As for the length of individual readings, I say keep them brief. It's like in church - little nuggets of inspiration have more impact than a quote that just goes on and on and on....

I agree -- we are using one of Shakespeares Sonnets ( I LOVE Shakespeare) and it is not to long.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O, no, it is an ever fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken,
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come,
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
If this be error, and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

HTH -- Good Luck!!

 

[Ember]

We did two readings. I chose one and DH chose one, for each of our mothers to read. My mum read the "The Blessing of the Hands" and it was the only part of the ceremony I cried through.

“Blessing of the Hands"

These are the hands of your best friend,
young and strong and full of love for you,
that are holding yours on your wedding day,
as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours,
as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years,
and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children,
the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged,
will still be reaching for yours,
still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch

 

[Lavender_Blue]

Ha, I'm not even sure what I'll have myself, but some possibilites that did come to mind were biblical ones that I'd heard that I thought were very sweet and moving.

The Supremacy of Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

If I speak in the languages of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all secrets and every form of knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself, but have no love, I gain nothing.

Love is always patient;
Love is always kind;
Love is never envious
or arrogant with pride.

Nor is she conceited,
and she is never rude;
she never thinks just of herself
or ever get annoyed.

She never is resentful;
is never glad with sin,
but always glad to side with truth,
whene'er the truth should win.

She bears up under everything,
believes the best in all,
there is no limit to her hope,
and she will never fall.

Love never fails. Now if there are prophecies, they will be done away with. If there are languages, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For what we know is incomplete and what we prophesy is incomplete. But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will be done away with.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways. Now we see only an indistinct image in a mirror, but then we will be face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This isn't exactly long enough to be a reading, but I always loved this verse from the Bible and I want to find a way to work it into my vows:

"Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." (Ruth 1:16-17 NIV)

I'm not a Bible expert. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that "The Supremecy of Love" is something I first heard on "A Walk To Remember."

 

[Risnsun]

I had the same sonnet from william skakespeare for my first wedding. I also had a poem that was anonymous that a friend read

~ True love is a sacred flame
That burns eternally
And none can dim its special glow
Or change its destiny
True love speaks in tender tones
And hears with gentle ear,
True Love gives with open heart
And true love conquers fear
True love makes no harsh demands
It neither rules nor blinds
And true love holds gentle hands
The hearts that it entwines.




We had this poem in closing...it is an anonymous native american poem
Now you will feel no rain.
For each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold.
For each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you you will feel no loneliness.
Now you are two persons.
But, there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling to enter
Into the days of your life together.
And may your days be good.
And long upon the earh.