Wedding Readings Ideas
The wedding ceremony consists of several important parts that include the exchange of vows and rings, and various wedding readings. Depending on the type of ceremony you plan, wedding readings can be inspirational, sentimental or light-hearted and can be from biblical passages, poems or a section from a favorite or meaningful book.
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Religious Passages
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Religious wedding passages are commonly used for readings in the ceremony. Some traditional passages include readings from the Bible including 1 Corinthians 13, a verse that talks about the greatest virtue, which is love; I John 4:7-19, a verse from the New Testament of the Bible which talks about the love of God and how we love because He loves us. These types of religious passages convey the love that is so important to beginning your lives together and making a lifelong commitment.
William Shakespeare
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The eloquence expressed in classic romantic literature is hard to surpass. A passage from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, perhaps the most notable romance of all time, makes a touching reading. William Shakespeare's "Shall I Compare These to a Summers Day?" is a poignant choice for a wedding reading for you to express your endless love for each other.
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Poems
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Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How to I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways" is another romantic choice for your wedding reading. The sentiment of this poem is clear in the way it expresses one's undying devotion to the other. A passage by Christopher Marlowe entitled "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is a moving poem to include in your wedding ceremony.
Songs
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It may be a little unconventional, but some love songs really do say it better. Think about the lyrics that immediately bring to mind your love and the feelings you have for them. Songs can have special meanings to you and your intended and including them in your ceremony as a wedding reading is a way to include a personal touch to your ceremony.
Benediction of the Apaches
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Derived from the 1950 movie "Broken Arrow," the Benediction of the Apache or Apache Wedding Prayer is a poignant poem often used in wedding ceremonies. The words used in the Benediction express the partnership two people form with one another when they enter into marriage. Please note this poem is not taken from Apache Indian culture.
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References
- The Knot: Wedding Vows & Readings: How to Find the Perfect Passages
- Heller Information Services: Wedding Ceremonies: The Readings
- Elegant Galas: Popular Passages
- Chicago Marriage: Romantic Readings for Wedding Ceremonies
- Catholic Wedding Help: Choosing Catholic Wedding Readings
- Wedding Channel: What are the Basics of a Civil Ceremony?
Resources
- Photo Credit wedding rings image by Margaret M Stewart from Fotolia.com
