Ceremony Readings

[Deleted User] · November 2014

Hey ladies! We're planning the ceremony this week and are looking for suggestions of readings to check out. Any ideas are welcome!

Edited to add: We're not having a religious ceremony.

artbyallie · November 2014

Could you narrow down what you're looking for just a little bit? There are literally thousands of pieces that could be used as wedding readings. I would suggest checking out some sonnets. And there are a lot of sonnet writers beyond just Shakespeare.

climbingsingle · November 2014

I had a friend read Touched By An Angel by Maya Angelou.

VulgarGirl · November 2014

We had our friend do a reading from Will and Grace, the one they perform at their friend's wedding (well commitment ceramony because shit sucked back then) and my step-mothers did an Irish blessing.

Will&Grace:

"When I'm feeling like there's no love coming to me, and I have no love to give, When I'm feeling separated from the world, and cut off from myself, and annoyed by every little thing, because I'm not getting what I want, I'll remember that there's an infinite amount of love available to me. And I'll see it in you. And I'll remember that I'm complete within myself, and most of all, I'll remember that everything I really need I already have. And whatever I don't have will come to me when I'm ready to receive it."

Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

Jen4948 · November 2014

There's Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnets from the Portuguese" that contains the poem "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."

mrs4everhart · November 2014

We had two. Love them both so much!

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are square in your moon.

I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed down from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving, to hide it, fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.

I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty every day, and if you can source your life on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the moon in God’s presence.

It doesn't interest me who you know, or how you came here.

I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in empty moments.

A Passage From Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I have for the first time found what I can truly love – I have found you. You are my sympathy–my better self – my good angel – I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wrap my existence about you – and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.

thisismynickname2 · November 2014

Can I ask about your officiant? They should have suggestions too. Mine had a whole booklet of suggestions for us to choose from, and a mix of religious and non-religious readings.

JennyColada · November 2014

My MiL did an apache blessing:

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for each other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth for the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before. Go now to your dwelling place to enter into the days of your life together. And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship - as they threaten all relationships at one time or another - remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives - remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

My mom read something that she wrote, which was way better than anything I could have picked.

erinlin25 · November 2014

We used an Irish "Hand Ceremony." Originally the woman who introduced H and I was going to read it, but a family emergency caused her not to be able to come to the wedding. So our Reverend read it after we exchanged the rings:

HAND CEREMONY

Please face each other and take each others hands, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.

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 temporarily comes to you.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it, support and encouragement to pursue your dreams, and comfort through difficult times.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

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.

[Deleted User] · November 2014

erinlin25 said:

We used an Irish "Hand Ceremony." Originally the woman who introduced H and I was going to read it, but a family emergency caused her not to be able to come to the wedding. So our Reverend read it after we exchanged the rings:

HAND CEREMONY

Please face each other and take each others hands, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.

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 temporarily comes to you.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it, support and encouragement to pursue your dreams, and comfort through difficult times.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

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.

This is beautiful! Thank you for the suggestion!

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