83 Wedding Readings for a Memorable Ceremony That’ll Make Everyone Cry

A wedding reading is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding ceremony. The right reading can set just the right tone, express the couple's unique love story, and make guests laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions. Choosing the perfect wedding readings that speak to you as a couple is an important decision. Today, we’ve gathered some of our favorite readings for weddings that are sure to give your guests all the feels. From beautiful love poems to passages from literature, songs, and movies, you're sure to find meaningful, moving, and captivating readings within this list. Read on for wedding readings that will help make your ceremony unforgettable!

What Is the Definition of a Wedding Reading?

Wedding readings are passages, poems, or lyrics that hold significance for the bride and groom that are read aloud during the wedding ceremony. Typically performed by a close friend or family member, wedding readings add a personal touch and deeper meaning to the occasion. They set the tone for the ceremony and marriage ahead. They express wisdom, advice, humor, and above all, the unique love between the couple. Whether traditional, spiritual, literary, or popular culture readings, couples thoughtfully choose texts that resonate with their relationship and beliefs to share with guests on their special day. Readings highlight what matters most to the bride and groom as they start their lives together.

Top Wedding Ceremony Readings

Selecting the perfect readings for your wedding ceremony can feel like a momentous decision. The passages you choose set the tone for your marriage and illuminate what matters most as you start your lives together.

"The Bridge Across Forever" by Richard Bach

"A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we’re pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person, we’re safe in our own paradise. Our soulmate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we’re two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we’ve found the right person. Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life.”

"Winnie the Pooh" by A.A. Milne

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you."

"The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

"Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches... I have stayed these years in my hovel because of you. I have taught myself languages because of you. I have made my body strong because I thought you might be pleased by a strong body."

"Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in. We think we don’t deserve love, we think if we let it in we’ll become too soft. But a wise man named Levine said it right. He said, 'Love is the only rational act.'"

"Sonnet XVII" by Pablo Neruda

"I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul. I love you as the plant that never blooms but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers; thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance, risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body."

"Love" by Roy Croft

"I love you, not only for what you are but for what I am when I am with you. I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself but for what you are making of me. I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart and passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can’t help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out into the light all the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite far enough to find."

"How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’s most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith."

Religious Wedding Readings

For many couples, incorporating readings from sacred texts or faith traditions holds deep meaning and provides spiritual wisdom to guide their marriage. Spiritual wedding readings bless the union, highlight sacred vows and commitment, and allow couples to honor their shared faith as they embark on married life together. Selections from the Bible, Torah, Quran, Buddhist sutras, Hindu scriptures, and other sacred texts offer beautiful, timeless words about love and devotion. Prayers, blessings, and poems from various faiths speak to the sanctity of marriage and invoke divine protection and guidance. They remind us that love itself is divine, and that marriage is a holy covenant to treasure.

Song of Solomon 2:10-13 (Christian/Jewish)

"My beloved spoke and said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.'"

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (Christian)

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud..."

"Blessing for a Marriage" by James Dillet Freeman (Interfaith)

"May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another – not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness."

Excerpt from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran (Interfaith)

"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you..."

"The Master Speed" by Robert Frost (Buddhist Reading)

"No speed of wind or water rushing by but you have speed far greater. You can climb back up a stream of radiance to the sky, and back through history up the stream of time. And you were given this swiftness, not for haste nor chiefly that you may go where you will, but in the rush of everything to waste, that you may have the power of standing still..."

Excerpt from "The Irrational Season" by Madeleine L'Engle (Christian Reading)

"But ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take..."

Apache Marriage Blessing (Native American Reading)

"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you."

"Blessing of the Hands" by Rev. Daniel L. Harris (Interfaith Reading)

"These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy."

Excerpt from "Revelations of Divine Love" by Julian of Norwich (Christian Reading)

"He said not 'Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be diseased'; but He said, 'Thou shalt not be overcome.' God wants us to pay attention to these words, and always to be strong in faithful trust, in weal and in woe, for He loves and enjoys us, and so He wishes us to love and enjoy Him and trust greatly in Him, and all shall be well."

Ruth 1:16-17 (Jewish/Christian Reading)

"But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.'"

Ephesians 5:25-33 (Christian Reading)

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself..."

Anand Karaj - The Sikh Wedding Ceremony (Sikh Reading)

"Dhan pir eh na akhee-an bahan ikathay ho-ay. Ek jot du-ay moortee dhan pir kah-ee-ay so-ay." (Meaning: They are not said to be husband and wife who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies.)

Surah Ar-Rum 30:21 (Islamic Reading)

"And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect."

"A Blessing for The Journey" (Buddhist Wedding Poem)

"Let us vow to bear witness to the wholeness of life, realizing the completeness of each and everything. Embracing our differences, I shall know myself as you, and you as myself. May we serve each other for all our days, here, there, and everywhere."

Best Wedding Readings from Songs

Music gracefully expresses the essence of love and connection. Its lyrics, rich with emotion, reflect the depths of relationships, while the soothing melodies touch our hearts. Poetic and heartfelt, these verses celebrate partnership, intimacy, devotion, and the journey of lifelong commitment. Whether it’s a cherished romantic ballad, a spirited duet, or a nostalgic tune from your parent's dance, these wedding readings about love consistently resonate. They beautifully capture the joy of seeing someone in their entirety, flaws included, and embracing them with wholehearted love.

"All of Me" by John Legend

"Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you. You’re my end and my beginning, even when I lose, I’m winning."

"The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra

"With each word your tenderness grows, tearing my fear apart... And that laugh that wrinkles your nose, it touches my foolish heart."

"A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri

"I have died everyday, waiting for you. Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more."

"At Last" by Etta James

"At last, my love has come along. My lonely days are over and life is like a song."

"Your Song" by Elton John

"I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words, how wonderful life is while you're in the world."

"Can't Help Falling In Love With You" by Elvis Presley

"Take my hand, take my whole life too, for I can't help falling in love with you."

"Let's Stay Together" by Al Green

"Let's stay together, loving you whether, whether times are good or bad, happy or sad."

"I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5

"Just call my name, and I'll be there. I'll be there to comfort you, build my world of dreams around you, I'm so glad that I found you."

"You Are The Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne

"You are the best thing, that ever happened to me."

"The Luckiest" by Ben Folds

"And in a wide sea of eyes, I see one pair that I recognize, and I know that I am the luckiest."

"Sweetest Devotion" by Adele

"You will only be eternally the one that I belong to."

"From This Moment On" by Shania Twain

"From this moment, as long as I live I will love you, I promise you this there is nothing I wouldn't give from this moment on."

"Everything" by Michael Bublé

"And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times, it's you, it's you; you make me sing. You're every line, you're every word, you're everything."

"You and Me" by Dave Matthews Band

"You and me together, we could do anything, Baby."

"Grow Old With Me" by John Lennon

"Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be."

"A Whole New World" from Aladdin

"A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. No one to tell us no, or where to go, or say we're only dreaming."

"Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King

"It's enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best."

"Come What May" from Moulin Rouge!

"Come what may, I will love you until my dying day."

"Storybook Love" from The Princess Bride

"This love that I feel, is it really real, or just a storybook love?"

"Moon River" from Breakfast at Tiffany's

"Two drifters, off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see."

Ceremony Readings from Movies and TV Shows

Movie and TV show monologues and dialogues hold significance for countless couples. Reciting cherished lines from your favorite rom-com, comedy series, or animated film adds a playful, personal touch to the occasion. And the theatricality makes for captivating, lively readings. These poignant, witty, and captivating quotes capture memorable storybook romances as well as laugh-out-loud funny insights into married life. Take your pick from our list and add a touch of nostalgia and humor to your ceremony.

Forrest Gump

“I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is. It’s like an endless box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get, but you hope it’s sweet and lasts a lifetime. It’s unpredictable, surprising, and it fills your life with flavors you never even knew existed. Just like our journey together, unexpected and wonderful at every turn.”

When Harry Met Sally

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. It’s a feeling of urgency and clarity, a realization that every moment before this was just a preamble to the epic story you’re about to write together. It’s not just about finding love; it’s about finding your best friend, confidant, and partner in crime."

Sense and Sensibility

"My heart is and always will be yours. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that love, true love, is the most precious treasure we can find. It’s a bond that transcends time and space, a connection so deep and pure that it resonates in every part of our being. Our love story might not be written by Jane Austen, but it’s ours, and it’s beautiful in its own unique way."

Juno

"The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you. It’s finding magic in an ordinary life, embracing each other's quirks and imperfections, and building a unique world where both can flourish."

The Office

"Plan A was marrying her a long, long time ago. Pretty much the day I met her. Because when you're in love, even a paper company seems like the most romantic place on earth. It’s the little things - the smiles, the jokes, the way you look at each other - that build the foundations of a love so deep, it turns everyday life into an adventure."

Six Feet Under

“A good marriage is one where each person secretly suspects they got the better deal, and they both are right. It’s an unspoken agreement that in each other’s eyes, you’ve struck gold. It’s not just about loving each other; it’s about feeling lucky that out of everyone in the world, you got to spend your life with them.”

Parks and Recreation

"I love you and I like you. In this wild world of unpredictable futures, that's the kind of love that keeps you grounded. It’s saying, I don’t just love you in the grand, sweeping moments, but in the quiet, everyday ones. It’s loving the whole person, every day, in every way."

The Princess Bride

“This is true love. You think this happens every day? It’s the kind of love that’s worth fighting for, worth crossing oceans and climbing mountains. It’s a love that defies odds, outlasts enemies, and says, ‘as you wish’ in a million little ways every single day.”

Jane the Virgin

“To finding your other half and knowing you are complete. It’s like every telenovela love story, but better, because it’s real. It’s a love filled with twists and turns, unexpected surprises, and a depth of emotion that only the two of you can truly understand.”

Schitt's Creek

“When you find someone you really love, you have to hold onto it and protect it, like a precious bébé. It’s a love that reminds us that amidst the chaos and craziness of life, we’ve found our person, our constant, our steady heart in a whirlwind world.”

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

"I want your life to be filled with joy, laughter, and love. The kind of love that solves cases, laughs at the worst puns, and thrives on being amazing together. It’s not just a promise to love each other; it’s a promise to always be each other’s partner, no matter what life throws our way."

The Big Sick

“Love isn't easy. That's why they call it love. It’s a journey with ups and downs, twists and turns, but through it all, it’s the most beautiful thing we can experience. It’s about growing together, learning about each other, and being there for each other, no matter how hard it gets.”

New Girl

“I believe that if you’re going to do this with someone, you have to be all in. Love, like life, is weird and wonderful, especially when you’re doing it together. It’s about embracing the chaos, dancing in the kitchen, and finding beauty in our imperfections.”

How I Met Your Mother

"Love is the best thing we do. It’s a crazy, inexplicable journey that somehow leads us to the person who makes sense of our past and becomes an essential part of our future. It’s about finding the one who makes you better, challenges you, and loves you in a way that feels like home."

Friends

"You are my lobster. Because lobsters mate for life, and you're the one I want to be with, now and forever. Through all the ‘we were on a break’s of life, through the highs and lows, you’re my constant, my rock, my lobster. And I couldn't imagine this journey with anyone else but you."

Wedding Poems for Ceremony

Poetry expresses love and devotion in ways nothing else can. Poems about relationships voice the complexities, joys, intimacies, and commitments of marriage with eloquence and heart. Incorporating these readings about love into your ceremony adds beauty, emotion, and lyricism to the occasion.

"I Promise" by Dorothy Colgan

"I promise to give you the best of myself

and to ask of you no more than you can give.

I promise to respect you as your own person

and to realize that your interests, desires and needs

are no less important than my own.

I promise to share with you my time and my attention

and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship."

"Vow" by Wendy Cope

"I cannot promise never to be angry;

I cannot promise always to be kind.

You know what you are taking on, my darling –

It’s only at the start that love is blind.

 

And yet I’m still the one you want to be with

And you’re the one for me – of that I’m sure.

You are my closest friend, my favourite person,

The lover and the home I’ve waited for.

 

I cannot promise that I will deserve you

From this day on. I hope to pass that test.

I love you and I want to make you happy.

I promise I will do my very best."

"I like my body when it is with your body" by E.E. Cummings

i like my body when it is with your

body. It is so quite new a thing.

Muscles better and nerves more.

i like your body.  i like what it does,

i like its hows.  i like to feel the spine

of your body and its bones, and the trembling

-firm-smooth ness and which i will

again and again and again

kiss."

"In Our Own Words" by Robert Sexton

"In our own words,

with our own thoughts,

through our own eyes,

in our own way -

we will love each other

with our whole beings

for the rest of our lives."

"I Wanna Grow Old with You" by Adam Sandler

“I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad

Carry you around when your arthritis is bad

Oh all I wanna do is grow old with you

 

I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches

Build you a fire if the furnace breaks

Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you

 

I'll miss you

Kiss you

Give you my coat when you are cold

 

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink

Put you to bed if you've had too much to drink

I could be the man who grows old with you

I wanna grow old with you”

"The Day The Saucers Came" by Neil Gaiman

“That day, the saucers landed. Hundreds of them, golden,

Silent, coming down from the sky like great snowflakes,

And the people of Earth stood and stared as they descended,

Waiting, dry-mouthed to find what waited inside for us

And none of us knowing if we would be here tomorrow

But you took my hand and you said, "Look,"

And I looked into your eyes, watched my life reflect in the pupils of your eyes

And I knew I would be here tomorrow, hand in hand with you.”

"Your Laughter" by Pablo Neruda

“Take bread away from me, if you wish,

take air away, but

do not take from me your laughter.

Do not take away the rose,

the lance flower that you pluck,

the water that suddenly

bursts forth in joy,

the sudden wave

of silver born in you.”

"XVII (I do not love you)" by Pablo Neruda

“I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,

or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,

in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms

but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;

thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,

risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.”

"Love Is a Place" by E. E. Cummings

“love is a place

& through this place of

love move

(with brightness of peace)

all places

yes is a world

& in this world of

yes live

(skilfully curled)

all worlds”

"To My Dear and Loving Husband" by Anne Bradstreet

“If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.

 

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

 

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

 

Thy love is such I can no way repay;

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

 

Then while we live, in love let's so persever,

That when we live no more we may live ever.”

Popular Wedding Readings from Literature

Literature's most beloved novels, plays, and poems are brimming with exquisite passages about love and relationships. Quoting from a favorite book allows couples to celebrate cherished stories and authors at their wedding. Literary readings voice sentiments about romance, wisdom, joy, and the mysterious nature of true connection in profound, eloquent ways. 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

"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 center and spring of life, wraps my existence about you, and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one."

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. He’s more myself than I am. My love for him is not just a part of my being, it is my being. In his shadow, I am home. In his light, I find my own light. Our love is a wild thing, fierce and untamed, and in its embrace, I have found my eternal home."

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

"It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love. But now, as he stood before her, he realized that their love had always been inevitable, destined. Their love had endured time and distance, and like the finest of wines, it had matured into something exquisite, something that transcended the ordinary bounds of love."

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

"He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete."

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

"This love, our journey, is like chasing our personal legend, finding our treasure in each other. We are two parts of the same soul, journeying through this life and beyond, in search of our dreams and each other’s hearts."

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

"A good marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short. It's an endless dialogue, filled with laughter, tears, understanding, and love. It’s about being each other's constant, a companion through every chapter of life’s story, a tale that we write together, day by day, page by page."

Modern Wedding Readings

Contemporary authors and poets have penned many wedding readings that speak beautifully to 21st-century relationships. We've compiled some of the best readings for a wedding here.

"Staring at the Stars" by Tyler Knott Gregson

"In your light, I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest, where no one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art. Like staring at the stars, in your gaze, I find endless universes, endless possibilities of love and laughter, a cosmos of joy and shared dreams."

"I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman

"I will be here when you feel like being quiet, when you need to speak your mind, I will listen. Through the winning, losing, and trying we'll be together, and I will be here. If in the dark we lose sight of love, hold my hand and have no fear, 'cause I will be here."

"On Marriage" by Kahlil Gibran

"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. Love one another, but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone."

"The Art of Marriage" by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

"The little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say 'I love you' at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world."

"Today I Choose" by Deborah Smith

"Today I choose to spend my life with you. To love you under any circumstances, happy or sad, easy or difficult, through the sunshine and through the rain for the rest of my days. I choose to cherish and respect you, to care for you, and to share all of life’s adversities and all of its joys from this day forward."

"Loves Me" by Sinead Lohan

"Loves me like a river that understands when to flow and when to be still. Like the sun loves the moon, shining on her in the dark, so she can light up the night. This love is a journey with no end, a song with no pause, a story continuously unfolding."

"Maybe" by Mary Oliver

"Maybe, just maybe, the world is wider than it seems. There are no guarantees, but there are endless possibilities. Love, like life, is an ever-changing tapestry, filled with moments that weave together to create something beautiful. Maybe this love is the adventure we've been waiting for."

"A Life That I Have" by Alice McDermott

"The life that I have is all that I have, and the life that I have is yours. The love that I have for the life that I have is yours and yours and yours. As we embark on this journey together, my life intertwines with yours, creating a bond stronger than time itself."

"Happiness in Marriage" by a wife

"Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. It's a decision to love, to forgive, to be patient and kind. It's a daily commitment to cherish each other, to build a life together that withstands the tests of time, and to find joy in the journey."

"This Marriage" by Rainer Maria Rilke

"May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise. May this marriage be a sign of compassion, a seal of happiness here and hereafter. Like two trees intertwined, may our roots grow towards each other underground, and our souls unite above, creating a forest of love that shelters all around us."

Wedding Ceremony Reading FAQs

As you select your ceremony readings, you may have some questions about the logistics and options. Here we cover some of the most frequently asked questions about wedding readings.

How long should wedding readings be?

Aim for readings to be 3-5 minutes in length. Select 1-2 meaningful excerpts that total around 300 words. Anything longer risks losing guests' attention.

Who should do wedding readings?

Choose a close friend or family member who is an eloquent public speaker. Couples also sometimes read their own selections if they fit the passage. Ask your readers months in advance to give them time to prepare.

Where in the ceremony do readings go?

Readings typically follow the officiant's opening remarks and come before the vows and ring exchange. They set the tone and often segue into reflecting on love and marriage.

How do you pick wedding readings?

Select passages that resonate with you as a couple. They should reflect your relationship, beliefs, and what you value most. Choose one traditional and one more modern reading that balance each other nicely.

Can we have too many wedding readings?

More than three readings is not recommended, as it risks being too lengthy for guests. One or two thoughtful, meaningful passages keep the focus on what's most important to you.

Do we need to have any readings?

Readings are optional, though most ceremonies include at least one. If you prefer not to have readings, share your vows a bit earlier to infuse more personality.

How do you introduce wedding readings?

Briefly share why the passage speaks to you before naming the reader and inviting them up. This provides guests context on the significance.

Do we need to print wedding readings for guests?

It's thoughtful but optional to include readings in programs or display them. Most guests will listen attentively without reading along.