| There are so many options available today to help | | | | inspirational wedding readings are also quite |
| make weddings special that the happy couple | | | | common. The Bible is a fantastic source for these |
| planning their marriage ceremony may have to | | | | types of readings and certain passages have |
| make some difficult choices as far as just what | | | | become standard fare in many church wedding |
| features to include. One semi-traditional aspect of | | | | services. Most familiar here is the instantly |
| the wedding ceremony that can help lend a spark | | | | recognized "Love is patient and kind..." reading |
| of romance to the event is the literary wedding | | | | from I Corinthians and the "husbands love your |
| reading. Recitation of romantic poetry, heartfelt | | | | wives" passage from the fifth chapter of |
| prose, or Shakespearean verse during the | | | | Ephesians. Inspirational poetry can be used here |
| wedding ceremony can add a refined touch to an | | | | as well as quotations from inspirational speakers. |
| already beautiful occasion. | | | | Anything that is spiritually uplifting and appropriate |
| Selections of wedding readings can run the gamut | | | | for the occasion will work here. |
| of available literature; from writings as old as | | | | Out of the Ordinary Wedding Readings: |
| Biblical passages to the more modern works of | | | | Some wedding readings can be very creative, |
| authors and poets like Amy Tan and Maya | | | | while others are just plain odd. I attended a |
| Angelou. Any piece that relates a theme of love, | | | | wedding between two aspiring actors. Both the |
| devotion, or commitment can be appropriate as a | | | | bride and the groom as well as several members |
| wedding reading. The choice, really, is up to the | | | | of the wedding party were active in community |
| couple as far as what they'd like to have as a | | | | theater. They used their wedding ceremony as an |
| wedding reading. Following are some traditional, | | | | opportunity to perform for their guests and |
| modern, and more unusual wedding readings. | | | | actually acted out the famous balcony scene |
| Love Poems/Prose: | | | | from Romeo and Juliet, complete with Elizabethan |
| Poetry and prose about love and devotion make | | | | costumes. Another wedding experience featured |
| for wonderful wedding readings and it is selections | | | | the bride and groom reciting the lyrics to Meat |
| from this category that you will hear most often. | | | | Loaf's Paradise by the Dashboard Light which, |
| Favorites here include Shakespearean sonnets, | | | | while certainly an inappropriate selection for most |
| the famous How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth | | | | weddings, seemed to fit their personalities and got |
| Barrett Browning, and selections from The | | | | quite a laugh from the guests. Clearly readings like |
| Prophet by Kahil Gibran, but can, again, include | | | | this are not going to work for every wedding, but |
| virtually anything that the couple would like to | | | | the examples do serve to show that the choices |
| include. Thoughtful, insightful, and moving passages | | | | in wedding reading selection are really unlimited. |
| are the key to having your wedding reading stand | | | | The choice of whether to include a wedding |
| out in the minds of your guests. | | | | reading in your ceremony, as well as what |
| Inspirational Readings: | | | | material to use, lies entirely with you. |
| A favorite of religious wedding services, | | | | |