Wedding Readings: Poems & Passages
Key Takeaways
- Most ceremonies include 1-2 readings — one lighter, one more emotional works well
- Civil ceremonies cannot include religious content; church ceremonies usually require at least one Bible reading
- Choose readings that feel like the couple, not readings that sound impressive on paper
- The reader matters as much as the reading — pick someone confident and warm, not just someone you owe a role to
- Print the reading in large font (16pt+) on card, not a phone screen — shaking hands + small text = disaster
A well-chosen reading elevates a ceremony from a legal formality to something genuinely moving. A badly chosen one makes 100 people stare at their shoes waiting for it to end.
The difference is specificity. The best readings feel like they were written for this couple. The worst are generic quotes that could apply to any relationship. This guide helps you find the right ones.
Classic wedding poems
Sonnet 116 — William Shakespeare
Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove. O no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken…
Why it works: The most famous wedding poem in the English language. Powerful, concise, and universally understood. Works at any ceremony type. Length: 1 minute. Best for: Traditional ceremonies, literary couples.
i carry your heart with me — e.e. cummings
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)…
Why it works: Intimate, tender, and rhythmic. The unconventional style reflects the intimacy of the words. Length: 1.5 minutes. Best for: Romantic couples, modern ceremonies.
How Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog — Taylor Mali
First of all, it’s a big responsibility, especially in a city like New York. So think long and hard before deciding on love. On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security…
Why it works: Funny, unexpected, and surprisingly touching. Gets a laugh and then hits you with the sincerity. Length: 2 minutes. Best for: Couples with a sense of humour, relaxed ceremonies.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat — Edward Lear
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat…
Why it works: Charming, whimsical, and familiar. Works particularly well if children are involved in the ceremony. Length: 2 minutes. Best for: Fun ceremonies, ceremonies with children.
Modern prose readings
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin — Louis de Bernières
“Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part…”
Why it works: One of the most popular modern wedding readings. It describes mature love — not the Hollywood version, but the real kind that lasts. Length: 1.5 minutes. Best for: Couples who value realism over romanticism.
The Amber Spyglass — Philip Pullman
“I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I’ll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again…”
Why it works: Dramatic, beautiful, and deeply romantic. Works especially well if the couple are readers. Length: 1 minute. Best for: Literary couples, emotional ceremonies.
Union — Robert Fulghum
“You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way…”
Why it works: Warm, grounded, and about the everyday reality of choosing someone. Not sentimental — truthful. Length: 2 minutes. Best for: Mature couples, second marriages, couples who value honesty.
The Bridge Across Forever — Richard Bach
“A soul mate 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…”
Length: 1 minute. Best for: Spiritual but non-religious ceremonies.
Funny readings
A Lovely Love Story — Edward Monkton
“The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice. Although it was very cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, parsing winter…”
Why it works: A charming, funny story about two dinosaurs finding love. Gets genuine laughs while being unexpectedly touching. Length: 2 minutes. Best for: Fun ceremonies, couples who don’t take themselves too seriously.
Yes, I’ll Marry You, My Dear — Pam Ayres
“Yes, I’ll marry you, my dear, and here’s the reason why; So I can push you out of bed when the baby starts to cry…”
Why it works: Pam Ayres at her best — funny, warm, and very British. Length: 2 minutes. Best for: British humour, relaxed ceremonies.
Religious readings
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (the most popular)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…”
Why it works: The most used wedding reading worldwide. Familiar, beautiful, and profound. Required for: Many Church of England ceremonies include this or a similar passage.
Ruth 1:16-17
“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God…”
Song of Solomon 2:10-13
“My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me…’”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up…”
Readings for LGBTQ+ ceremonies
All secular readings above work for any couple. Additionally:
The Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage (2015)
“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family…”
Why it works: A powerful statement that carries legal and historical weight.
How to choose
- Read 10-15 options aloud. Not silently — aloud. The ones that move you when spoken are the ones to shortlist.
- Think about your ceremony type. Civil = no religious content. Church = at least one Bible reading usually required. Humanist = anything goes.
- Balance the mood. If you have two readings, make one lighter and one more emotional. Two emotional readings in a row exhausts the audience.
- Consider the reader. A funny reading needs a confident, comedic reader. An emotional reading needs someone who can deliver it without falling apart.
- Keep it short. The ceremony is not the reading’s showcase — the reading serves the ceremony. 90 seconds is almost always better than 3 minutes.
Tips for the reader
- Practise aloud at least 5 times before the day. Know the rhythm and the pauses.
- Print the reading on card in large font (16pt minimum). Phones go dark, paper shakes. Card is stiff and readable.
- Breathe. One slow breath before you start. Speak slower than you think you need to.
- Look up. Between stanzas or paragraphs, make eye contact with the couple or the audience. Don’t bury your face in the card.
- It’s okay to be emotional. If you tear up, pause, breathe, and continue. The audience will wait.
Further reading
- Wedding Vows: How to Write Your Own
- Wedding Hymns — for church ceremonies
- Order of Service Guide — where readings fit in the ceremony
- Church Wedding Requirements — what the church requires
- Wedding Day Timeline — when the ceremony happens
Frequently Asked Questions
How many readings should a wedding ceremony have?
1-2 readings is standard. One is perfectly fine for a shorter ceremony (civil or register office). Two gives the ceremony depth — typically one lighter or humorous, one more emotional or meaningful. More than two risks making the ceremony feel long. Church ceremonies traditionally include a Bible reading plus an optional secular reading.
Can you have a religious reading at a civil ceremony?
No. Civil ceremonies in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland cannot include any religious content — no Bible readings, hymns, prayers, or blessings. In Scotland, humanist ceremonies are legal and also exclude religious content. If you want a religious reading at a non-religious ceremony, save it for the reception speech or a private blessing.
Who should do the reading at a wedding?
Choose someone who is confident speaking in public, has a clear voice, and is emotionally connected to the couple. Close friends, siblings, parents, and grandparents are common choices. Brief them 4-6 weeks before so they can practise. Avoid choosing someone purely because you need to 'give them a role.'
How long should a wedding reading be?
1-2 minutes when read aloud (roughly 150-300 words). A reading that takes more than 2.5 minutes feels long in a ceremony context. Shorter is almost always better — a 90-second reading with impact beats a 3-minute reading that loses the audience.