MemberI’m still looking for a good reading for our wedding. We are having a strictly secular ceremony–no mention of any god needed, thanks 🙂 — and are having a hard time finding something suitable. We don’t like gushy love poetry but want something sweet and maybe a little sentimental (but nothing too much–I’m a weeper, lol).
Any ideas? I’d like to avoid Shakespeare as well, just as a heads-up. 😉
MemberThis is what we are using! But usually it is read by the officiant.
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.”
MemberBecause to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body…
Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won’t hold them against me,
Who loves me when I’m unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me…
Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold…
Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship…
Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements…
Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole…
Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me,
I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage…
Because with this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.
MemberAllyser – I might yoink that for our officiant, if you don’t mind. 😉 Anything to draw it out a bit–the regular Justice of the Peace vows don’t take long, and we’re having a sand ceremony (which takes maybe 3 minutes tops), so I still have about 10 minutes or so to fill to get our ideal 15-20 minute ceremony, haha.
I might yoink that for our officiant, if you don’t mind. 😉 Anything to draw it out a bit–the regular Justice of the Peace vows don’t take long, and we’re having a sand ceremony (which takes maybe 3 minutes tops), so I still have about 10 minutes or so to fill to get our ideal 15-20 minute ceremony, haha.
CaraMia10 – I do like that, but it’s not quite our style, I guess. I’ll keep it in mind, though! Thank you for the suggestion.
I’d like something that’s not exclusively related to the topic of marriage. My Maid/Matron of Honor did a section from “The Velveteen Rabbit” (the part about becoming real) and though I loved it, I teared up a little (lol) and don’t want to steal that from them. I’ll keep searching…
Member@Allyser: We’re using Union too! I must’ve read it 50 times and it still makes me tear up every time!
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