Wedding poetry - Wedding readings

Looking for wedding poetry? Nearly all wedding ceremonies will have at least one reading, sometimes as many as four or five. Readings are often poems or religious texts, but can be anything you like. If you are not really a poetry person, have a look through your favorite songs or movies for inspiration. A reading can come from anywhere, even a children’s book. Below are quotes of some of the most popular readings and some that are a little bit more off beat.

It Must be Love (Madness – 80’s pop group)
As soon as I wake up every night, every day,
I know that it’s you I need in each and every way.
It must be love, love, love.
Nothing more, nothing less,
Love is the best.

Victorian based poet Micheal Leunig has some beautiful pieces, inclduing Spring Love Poem, Spring diary of a small brown bird, and In order to be truthful. They can be found in his book Short Notes from the Long history of happiness published by Viking or see his website.
Here's a small extract;
"When we first met my love and I
Took shelter from the rainy sky
Beneath a crispy, gold baguette
Which bended as it did get wet.

It bended gently and it dropped
Upon our love as there we stooped
And sheltered from the storm above:
A soggy, golden crown of love".

"Love one another and you will be happy.
It’s as simple and difficult as that. There is no other way".


Ancient inspiration can be found in the works of Rumi and Kahill Girban;
Sublime generosity The Essential Rumi
I was dead, then alive.
Weeping, then laughing.

The power of love came into me
And I became fierce like a lion,
then tender like the evening star.

I went wild and had to be tied up.
He said, “Still not wild enough to stay with us”.
I broke through another layer into joyfulness.

Then new events said to me, “Don’t move, a sublime
generosity is coming towards you”.

And an old love said “Stay with me”.
I said, “I will”.

You are the fountain of the sun’s light.
I am the willow shadow on the ground.
You make my raggedness silky.

The soul at dawn is like darkened water
that slowly begins to say Thankyou, thankyou.

Then at sunset, again , Venus gradually
changes into the moon and then the whole night sky.
This comes of smiling back at your smile.

Readings from The Prophet by Kahill Gibran are very popular, although a very old text, they capture the sentiment of many modern marriages.
"Love one another, but make not a bond of love
let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Sing and dance toghether and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone".

There are so many wonderful readings, I can't put them all here today. I'll try to put up one new reading a week.