Wedding Ceremony Readings:
Biblical & Contemporary
Bible Readings
1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries
and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor,
and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Modern Version Of Paul to the Corinthians
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
(Bible, part 1 Cor 13)
The Catholic version.
It is not the extraordinary things that make life worthwhile but the love that we share with those around us- a love that comes from God. Let us be eager to learn how to love with this kind of love 'which will never fade away'
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians (12:31-13:8)
Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them. If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophesy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but I am without love, it will do me no good whatever. Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians
You are God's chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful. The word of the Lord.
Psalm 1
Blessed are the man and the woman who have grown beyond themselves and have seen through their separations. They delight in the way things are and keep their hearts open, day and night. They are like trees planted near flowing rivers, which bear fruit when they are ready. Their leaves will not fall or wither. Everything they do will succeed.
Ruth said:
Entreat me not to leave thee,
Or to return from following after thee:
For whither thou goest, I will go,
And where thou lodgest, I will lodge.
Thy people shall be my people,
And thy God my God.
Where thou diest, will I die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If ought but death part thee and me.
(Ruth 1: 16-17)
Song of Solomon
The voice of my beloved!
Behold, he comes,
leaping upon the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My beloved speaks and says to me:
"Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away;
O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
'in the covert of the cliff,
let me see your face,
let me hear your voice,
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is comely.
My beloved is mine and I am his.
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is cruel as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a most vehement flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
(Song of Solomon 2: 8-10,14,16a. 8:6-7a)
Opening and Closing Prayers can be added, just ask.
Contemporary Readings
Khalil Gibran: The Prophet, On Marriage
You were born to be together and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness.
And let the winds of heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone. Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.
The Art of a Good Marriage
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
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.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted.
The courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependency is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
“Love is”
Love is
Being happy for the other person when the person is happy
Being sad for the other person when the person is sad
Being together in food times and being together in bad times
Love is the source of strength
Love is
Being hones with yourself at all times
Being hones with the other person at all times
Telling listening respecting the truth and never pretending
Love is the source of reality
Love is
An understanding so complete that your feel as if you are a part of the other person
Accepting that person just the way he or she is and not trying to change each other to be something else, love is the source of unity
Love is
The freedom to pursue your own desires
While sharing your experiences with the other person
The growth of one individual alongside of and together with the growth of another individual, love is the source of success
Love is
The excitement of planning things together, the excitement of doing things together, and love is the source of the future
Love is
The fury of the storm, the calm of in the rainbow, love is the source of passion
Love is
Giving and taking in a daily situation
Being patient with each other’s needs and desires, love is the source of sharing
Love is
Knowing the other person
Will always be with you regardless of what happens
Missing the other person when he or she is away
But remaining near in heart at all times
Love is the source of security
Love is the source of life.
The Key to Love
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 others faults and pardon mistakes
Without forgetting, but 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
The key to love is giving
Without thought of return
But with them hope of just a simple smile
And giving in but never giving up.
The key to love is respect
Realizing that you are two separate people
With different ideas, that you don’t belong to each other,
That you belong with each other, and share a mutual bond.
The key to love is inside us all
It takes time and patience
to unlock all ingredients that will take you to its threshold
it is the continual learning process that demands a lot of work-
but the rewards are more than worth the effort….
And that is the key to love.
An Irish Blessing
May, the road rise to meet you,
May, the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your home,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And the light of friendship guide your paths together,
And until we meet again,
May, you see your children’s children.
May, you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings.
May, you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
May green be the grass you walk on.
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
And when eternity beckons, at the end
Of a life heaped high with love,
May, you know the hand of a friend was always near.
And, today, may, the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in
your hearts.
What is Love?
Love
Love is the strongest feeling known
an all -encompassing passion
an extreme strength
an overwhelming excitement
Love is trying not to hurt the other person
trying not to change the other person
trying not to dominate the other person
trying not to deceive the other person
Love is understanding each other
listening to each other
supporting each other
having fun with each other.
Love is not an excuse to stop growing
not an excuse to stop making yourself better
not an excuse to lessen one's goals
not an excuse to take the other person for granted
Love is being completely honest with each other
finding dreams to share
working to wards common goals
sharing responsibilities equally
Everyone in the world wants to love
Love is not a feeling to be taken lightly
Love is a feeling to be cherished, nurtured and cared for
Love is the reason for life
By Susan Polis Schutz
The Elements of Love
(adapted)
May your Love be Like the earth
Rich, natural, and deeply rooted
Strong as rock yet soft as sand
Always growing
And always patient
May your Love be Like fire
Passionate, intense, and energetic
A flame that never dies
As radiant as the morning sun
And as warm as an evening embrace
May your Love be Like water
Moving, constantly changing
Never still, never stagnant
As vast as the ocean
And as fresh as a spring's rain
May your Love be Like air
The sharing of dreams, thoughts, and emotions
Always fragrant, always carefree
Found in the breeze of a whisper,
Or in the breath of a kiss
May your Love be
Like all four elements
physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually intertwined
To create the perfect balance,
And to craft the perfect ribbon
For to bind these two hearts
Into one
Evergreen(Barbra Streisand)
Love, soft as an easy chair
Love, fresh as the morning air
One love that is shared by two
I have found with you
Like a rose under the April snow
I was always certain love would grow
Love, ageless and evergreen
Seldom seen by two
You and I will make each night the first
Everyday a beginning
Spirits rise and their dance is unrehearsed
They warm and excite us
'Cause we have the brightest love
Two lights that shine as one
Morning glory and
The midnight sun
Time, we've learned to sail above
Time, won't change the meaning of one love
Ageless and ever evergreen
Foundations of Marriage
By Regina Hill
Love, trust, and forgiveness are the foundations of marriage. In marriage, many days will bring happiness, while other days may be sad. But together, two hearts can overcome everything….In marriage, all of the moments won’t be exciting or romantic, and sometimes worries and anxiety will be overwhelming. But together, two hearts that accept will find comfort together. Recollections of past joys, pains and shared feelings will be the glue that holds everything together during even the worst and most insecure moments. Reaching out to each other as a friend and becoming the confidant and companion that the other one needs, is the true magic and beauty of any two people together. It’s inspiring in each other a dream of a feeling and having faith in each other and not giving up, even when all the odds say to quit. It’s allowing each other to be vulnerable, to be himself or herself, even when the opinions or thoughts aren’t in total agreement or exactly what you’d like them to be. It’s getting involved and showing interest in each other, really listening and being available, the way any best friend should be. Exactly three things need to be remembered in a marriage if it is to be a mutual bond of sharing, caring and loving throughout life: love, trust and forgiveness.
“How do I love thee?
By Elizabeth BarrettBrowning”
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being an Ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old grief’s, and with my childhood faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Let us share our lives
Share my life, but do not try to shape it
Let me share your life, but do not let it revolve around me.
Let us share ourselves. Accept me as I am, do not attempt to
change me to fit your dreams. Respect me for what I am,
not for what I was or one day may be. Share yourself with me, but do not allow
me to limit your freedom or bind your soul. Let us share our minds,
thoughts, goals, values and dreams. Let us develop these within
ourselves without restriction or loss of freedom. Thus our two free souls,
may wander together as they develop in freedom.
As we share our lives, as we walk through life together,
know my love is yours, but not my soul for it must be free.
Let Us Walk Together
Let us walk together yet not as one, but such that our shadows are separate
and distinct, such that our souls are unbound and free.
Let us share our time, yet do not give all your time, nor take all of mine
for in order to develop to the fullest, to be free, we must have
solitude and individuality. Let me wander in solitude,
when I need to be alone, yet be near, when I need you. Let us share our love.
Give freely of your love, but do not smother me, my soul must breathe a
free air. Take my love, but do not demand it, for love given of
obligation, is stale and without life.
“Sooner or Later”
“Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines, and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favorite memories, and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all -- one known only by those who love."
Union
by 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 promises and agreements in an informal way.
All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”- those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.
All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “ You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife.
Blessing by James Dillet Freeman
May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring,
and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.
May you always need one another –
not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness.
A mountain needs a valley to be complete;
the valley does not make the mountain less, but more;
and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it.
So let it be with you and you.
May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.
May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults.
If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.
May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence -
no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side,
and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities.
May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.
