A reading lets someone you love take part in the ceremony and adds words that say what you feel. One or two readings is plenty.
Well-loved choices
Religious
- 1 Corinthians 13 (“Love is patient, love is kind”)
- Ruth 1:16–17 (“Where you go I will go”)
- Song of Songs 8:6–7
- Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Classic poetry (public domain)
- Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare (“Let me not to the marriage of true minds”)
- Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”)
- “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns
- “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Modern and literary favorites (look up the full text)
- “i carry your heart with me” by E. E. Cummings
- “Union” by Robert Fulghum
- “The Art of Marriage” by Wilferd A. Peterson
- A passage from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
- “Love Sonnet XVII” by Pablo Neruda
Some modern works are under copyright; reading them aloud at your ceremony is common, but check permissions before reprinting them in a program.
Non-traditional ideas
A letter from a grandparent, a favorite song’s lyrics read aloud (not printed), a passage from a children’s book, a short piece written by a friend, or a blessing from your culture.
Where readings fit in the ceremony
Most ceremonies place a reading after the officiant’s welcome and before the vows. If you have two, the second often comes just before the ring exchange. Tell each reader exactly when they’ll be called up.
Choosing readers
Pick people who will enjoy it: a sibling, a godparent, a close friend. Give them the text early, a printed copy on the day, and a microphone.
Tips for readers
General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Confirm details with your vendors, venue, officiant and local authorities.
Questions people ask
How many readings should a wedding have?
One or two is typical, each one to three minutes long.
Who should do readings at a wedding?
Anyone you’d like to honor who is comfortable speaking in public — siblings, grandparents, close friends.
Can a song lyric be a wedding reading?
Yes, reading lyrics aloud is common and lovely. Reprinting them in a program may need permission, so leave them out of printed materials.
