The Bible has been given the moniker “the greatest story ever told” for many reasons. Religious beliefs aside, it is chock full of passion, love, intrigue, murder, mystery and many other themes. It’s also home to some of the greatest poetry ever penned.
One of the most famous verses from the Bible comes from 1 Corinthians (also known as the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians), in which he ponders: “Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” It’s almost as if he was writing his own wedding vows!
But there’s one catch. Many Christians and non-Christians alike choose this passage to express their undying love on their wedding day. What if you want to be different?
Here are some unique readings for your wedding ceremony:
Your own words: The absolute, number one way of producing a unique reading at your wedding ceremony is to create your own. However, don’t confuse writing a reading with writing a vow. The reading should be a general statement on how you feel about love, marriage, friendship, fellowship, or other related themes.
Favorite poems: Poems are an excellent way of giving a reading at a wedding. They tend to be short (or can be condensed), and there are many love poems available, so you don’t have to go with “How Do I Love Thee” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Favorite song lyrics: Ok, so Rhianna’s “S&M” may be the wrong thing to break out in front of Granny during the ceremony. But if you have a favorite PG-rated love song, pick out some lines that express how you feel.
Honour/remember someone close: Take the opportunity to honour someone with your reading. A departed loved one can be honored with one of their favorite songs, poems or Bible verses. Or ask a dear friend who may not be able to attend to pick a poem for someone else to read so they can be acknowledged.
Stay with the theme: If you’re going for a medieval-themed wedding, use a Shakespeare sonnet. If you’re having a cowboy wedding, read from a favorite country song. If it’s a beach wedding, Jimmy Buffet has some great lyrics that you can use. The possibilities are endless!