For those of you having readings at your wedding

rachel801231 · January 2012

At what part of the ceremony are you having them do the reading? Also, are you having the officiant announce them and the reading or just having them com up and start reading at a certain point in the ceremony? I really want to have my good friend do a reading (I've already asked her and she said she would) But I'm really struggle with the what to read and the how/when to do it during the ceremony. HELP! TIA

scooterpie7 · January 2012

Your officiant will be able to give you some good advice about this. My officiant just sent me the whole ceremony to look over last week, with gaps for where the readings will go. He will introduce them.

This is the rough draft of our ceremony:

Introduction:

John: We have gathered to celebrate the marriage of Libby and Pete.

Marriage is the promise of hope between a man and a woman who love each other, who trust that love, and who wish to share the future together.

It enables two separate people to share their desires, longings dreams and memories, and to help each other through their uncertainties. It provides encouragement to risk more, and thus gain more. In marriage husband and wife belong together, providing mutual support and stability.

Pete and Libby as family and friends we have come to recognise and affirm your relationship. We are glad to join with you in the celebration of your marriage, to witness your vows, and to wish you joy in your life together.

Reading?

Declarations:

John: Pete, do you love and trust Libby and want to be her husband?

Pete: I do.

John: Will you stand by her, respecting her as a person, understanding her needs and agreeing to resolve issues to the best of your ability for as long as you both shall live?

Pete: I will.

John: Libby, do you love and trust Pete and want to be his wife?

Libby : I do.

John: Will you stand by him, respecting him as a person, understanding his needs and agreeing to resolve issues to the best of your ability for as long as you both shall live?

Libby : I will.

To the parents: John : In your new relationship with Libby and Pete, do you, their parents, pledge your loving support?

Parents: We do.

To the gathering:

John: Will you, their friends and family, do all in your power to support them now and in the years ahead?

All: We will.

The Marriage.

Pete : Libby, I have lived with you, I love you and I take you to be my wife.

All that I have I offer you, what you have to give I gladly receive,

Wherever you go I will go. You are my love.

In prosperity and in hardship, in health and in sickness,

In sorrow and in joy , I will love respect and protect you as long as we live.

Libby: Pete, I have lived with you, I love you and I take you to be my husband.

All that I have I offer you , what you have to give I gladly receive,

Wherever you I will go. You are my love.

In prosperity and in hardship , in health and in sickness, in sorrow and in joy,

I will love , protect and give myself to you as long as we live.

The ring(s): (blessing)?

Giver: I give you this ring as a token of our faithfulness and love , and a symbol of all that we share together.

Receiver :I will wear this ring as a token of our faithfulness and love , and a symbol of all that we share together.

(Join hands)

John: Pete : Libby, you have declared the love you have for each other and your hopes for the future. You have made promises to each other and have symbolised them by the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring. You are now husband and wife.

(Reading ? followed by signing of Licence)

Conclusion: Libby and Pete you have committed yourselves to one another in love , joy , and tenderness. Become one. Fulfill your promises, and may the love and support of all of us here be with you forever.

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Mr and Mrs...

adrienne0925 · January 2012

Mine is a Catholic mass, so I really don't get a say as to when the readings are read. They go in a particular order. I did get to pick my readings though!

cmac3504 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_those-of-having-readings-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:fdef458d-431f-4cf8-a42c-719a77f69786Post:cf0bd0e9-bf1f-403d-b9d6-2f953a79dd5c">Re: For those of you having readings at your wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]Mine is a Catholic mass, so I really don't get a say as to when the readings are read. They go in a particular order. I did get to pick my readings though!
Posted by adrienne0925[/QUOTE]

This! Our priest is not announcing the readings... That's where the program comes in really handy!!

bdgrl73 · January 2012

We have our meeting on monday to go over all of our Ceremony..so I'm excited to find out where my readings fit in too

amh04 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_those-of-having-readings-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:fdef458d-431f-4cf8-a42c-719a77f69786Post:cf0bd0e9-bf1f-403d-b9d6-2f953a79dd5c">Re: For those of you having readings at your wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]Mine is a Catholic mass, so I really don't get a say as to when the readings are read. They go in a particular order. I did get to pick my readings though!
Posted by adrienne0925[/QUOTE]

This is us too - well sort of - we're doing a Rite of Marriage - which is just like the mass but no communion. We have our readings all picked out tho and this is why we are having programs for those who aren't familiar with what to expect.

jbrook12 · January 2012

My oldest brother will be doing the reading at our wedding. We will have him do this during the sand ceremony. We wanted something other than music during that so we decided on a reading. We aren't going to have it announced, my brother will just know when to come up and do the reading.