Ceremony Reader's

tjah

I'm having trouble deciding to ask who to do the readings for our wedding ceremony. I was initially considering asking my Godparents to do them.

But it turns out that the Church isn't able to fit us in for the rehearsal the day before, we have to do it a week before. My Godparents both live roughly 6 hours away and I know they weren't planning to come that early.

So I was considering asking a few of my Bridesmaids instead.

Does this seem like a strange idea to anyone? I don't know if I've ever heard of the attendants doing ceremony readings but I can't really think of any reason why they shouldn't.

MobKaz

In Response to Re: Ceremony Reader's:
[QUOTE]You can also skip readings, unless you just want those pieces.  Readings are "filler."
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

This could not be more wrong for a church ceremony, which the OP stated she is having.  It is also personally offensive to me to offer such a blanket statement.

 Readings give the meaning of the sacred text.  To be a reader is a sacred ministry.  The readings proclaim the word of God because God is present in the Sciptures.  The readings are an extremely important component of a faith based ceremony.

My daughter also honored her Godparents by asking them to be the readers.  I think they would be flattered to be asked.  I'm sure they know the structure of your service.  You could simply email them their specific reading.  In my daughter's situation, familiarizing themselves with their reading was of more concern to them.

mlg78

In Response to Re: Ceremony Reader's:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Ceremony Reader's : This could not be more wrong for a church ceremony, which the OP stated she is having.  It is also personally offensive to me to offer such a blanket statement.  Readings give the meaning of the sacred text.  To be a reader is a sacred ministry.  The readings proclaim the word of God because God is present in the Sciptures.  The readings are an extremely important component of a faith based ceremony. My daughter also honored her Godparents by asking them to be the readers.  I think they would be flattered to be asked.  I'm sure they know the structure of your service.  You could simply email them their specific reading.  In my daughter's situation, familiarizing themselves with their reading was of more concern to them.
Posted by mobkaz[/QUOTE]

Agreed.

libby2483

I have been at a wedding where one of the BMs (the groom's sister) did a reading.  So, there is nothing wrong with a BM doing a reading.

That being said, the readers don't need to attend the rehearsal.  If you just e-mail them the reading and tell them where they will be in the order, they should be fine.  I've been a reader at a wedding before, and the only reason I was at the rehearsal was because H was also a GM in the wedding.  If he wasn't a GM, I wouldn't have gone to the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner.  So, if you really want your godparents to do readings, which I think is a lovely gesture, don't avoid asking just because they wouldn't be able to come to the rehearsal.  

harper0813

As long as you give them the reading ahead of time, I don't think it's necessary for them to attend the rehearsal. They can practice reading through it on their own, and if there's a program (which there usually is at church weddings), they should know when to step up to the podium just fine. People who do readings at mass often do it without practicing beforehand.

It is also just fine for an attendant to do a reading, if that's what you prefer. One of my BMs is doing our reading.