One of the most common questions we receive from brides relates to finding a non-cheesy wedding reading. With more of our clients choosing to have a non-religious or multi-cultural ceremony, they’re searching for text that directly speaks to their unique relationship rather than verses straight from the Bible.
Unfortunately, a quick Google search results in millions (1.3 million to be exact) of readings—some more obscure than others—that take a long time to sift through. And what working, modern couple has time to read millions of possible readings while simultaneously planning a 200-person wedding?
Thankfully, Rev. Barry Kolanowski from the Chicago Weddings team encourages couples to use unique wedding readings that speak to every individual relationship, including passages movies and pop culture. Did you even realize you could have a ceremony reading straight from “Sex and the City?”
Here are a few of our favorites, which are all sure to make your ceremony just as exceptional as you and your partner. (Click on the linked titles to acess the full readings)
The Art of a Good Marriage – By Wilfred Arlan Peterson
A good marriage must be created.
In marriage 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… (continued)
I Do – Carrie Bradshaw, Sex in the City (From episode 19, “The Chicken Dance”)
His ‘hello’ was the end of her endings.
Her laugh was their first step down the aisle.
His hand would be hers to hold forever.
His forever was as simple as her smile… (continued)
The Key To Love – Chinese poem from 1st Century
The key to love is understanding. The ability to comprehend not only the spoken word, but those unspoken gestures, the little things that say so much by themselves.
The key to love is forgiveness. To accept each other’s faults and pardon mistakes, without forgetting, but with remembering what you learn from them.
The key to love is sharing. Facing your good fortunes, as well as the bad together. Both conquering problems, forever searching for ways to intensify your happiness… (continued)
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 the fields.
May the light of friendship guide your paths together.
May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home…. (continued)
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, solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wraps my existence about you and kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.
To Be One With Each Other – By George Eliot
What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness, to be one with each other in the silent unspoken memories?
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One growing wedding reading trend is choosing a passage from the stacks of well-loved children’s books at the library. The words are simple and sincere, and can often evoke sentimental feelings from the couple or guests hearing it.
The New York Public Library provides a list of children’s book wedding reading ideas on their website, though there are hundreds more you could choose from, all of which are endearing and personal.
However, one we never tire of seeing at weddings is an excerpt from “I Like You” by Sandol Stoddard Warburg:
I like you and I know why
I like you because you are a good person to like
I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s special
And you remember it a long, long time
You say, Remember when you told me something special
And both of us remember…. (continued)
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when choosing a wedding reading for your ceremony is to choose something that truly means something to you—it doesn’t have to be a traditional reading or even from a book. Did you go to a special concert early in your relationship? Perhaps song lyrics would be most meaningful. If your fiancé sent you a sweet card or wrote a nice note that you’ve saved over the years, it could be integrated into your reading or vows.
The possibilities for significant wedding readings are endless; you just need to know where to look! Does you have unique reading suggestions to add to our list?
My name is Charlene Liang, owner of Sweetchic Events, Inc. a boutique event-consulting firm in the Chicago area, specializing in full service wedding planning and month-of coordination. For more information, 
