50 of the Best Wedding Readings for Your Ceremony
Choosing a wedding reading can feel like a big decision. You want something that feels like you: not too cheesy, not too stiff, but meaningful enough that you’ll still love it in ten, twenty, fifty years’ time.
Whether you’re planning a church service, a civil ceremony or something completely personal, this guide brings together 50 of the best wedding readings – from classic literature and poetry through to film, TV and scripture. Each one includes a key quote and a simple summary to help you work out if it’s the right fit for your day.
1. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis de Bernières
Many couples choose Captain Corelli’s Mandolin for its profound insight into enduring love.
“Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.”
This reading is perfect for couples who want to acknowledge that real love is about choice, commitment and growing together over time, not just butterflies.
2. My First Love Story – Rumi
Rumi’s My First Love Story is a favourite for its timeless reflection on love’s deep connection.
“Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.”
It’s a beautiful option if you feel as though you’ve known each other forever, or your story feels written in the stars.
3. Oh! The Places You’ll Go! – Dr Seuss
Dr Seuss’s Oh! The Places You’ll Go! is perfect for adventurous couples starting their journey together.
“You’re off to Great Places! Today is ymy day!”
Playful, hopeful and full of energy, this reading brings fun into the ceremony while still honouring the idea of stepping into a new chapter together.
4. Les Misérables – Victor Hugo
Les Misérables offers a beautiful reflection on the power of love.
“Love is knowing that even when you are alone, you will never be lonely again.”
This is a gorgeous choice for couples who want their reading to feel romantic and a little bit dramatic, with a strong emotional punch.
5. A Lovely Love Story – Edward Monkton
A Lovely Love Story is adored for its whimsical portrayal of love.
“Let us all be Dinosaurs and Lovely Other Dinosaurs together.”
Quirky and light-hearted, this is ideal if you want guests smiling through happy tears and a reading that feels fun rather than formal.
6. The Art of Marriage – Wilferd A. Peterson
The Art of Marriage beautifully captures the essence of a lifelong partnership.
“It is not only marrying the right person, it is being the right partner.”
This works brilliantly for couples who value teamwork and want to highlight the everyday acts of love that make a marriage work.
7. Apache Marriage Blessing
The Apache Marriage Blessing is chosen for its heartfelt wishes for the couple’s future.
“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.”
Spiritual rather than religious, this reading is perfect if you’d like a blessing that feels deeply poetic and symbolic.
8. The House at Pooh Corner – A. A. Milne
The House at Pooh Corner touches hearts with its simple, enduring friendship.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
This is a gentle, reassuring reading that celebrates the way partners lift each other up and see the best in one another.
9. The Beauty of Love
The Beauty of Love celebrates the journey of love over a lifetime.
“There is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love.”
If you want to look beyond the wedding day and towards everything that comes after, this reading beautifully honours long-lasting commitment.
10. Winnie the Pooh – A. A. Milne
Winnie the Pooh is perfect for family-centric weddings.
“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”
Tender, sweet and instantly recognisable, this is a lovely choice if you want to involve children or keep the tone soft and heartfelt.
11. Love Is Friendship Caught Fire – Laura Hendricks
Many couples choose Love Is Friendship Caught Fire for its warm portrayal of enduring love.
“Love is friendship caught fire; it is quiet, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving.”
This reading suits couples who were friends first or whose relationship is built on trust, laughter and shared history.
12. The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman
The Amber Spyglass speaks to the eternal nature of love.
“I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die… I’ll be looking for you, every moment, every single moment.”
It’s a powerful choice for fantasy fans or anyone drawn to the idea of a love that stretches beyond time itself.
13. Gift of the Sea – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
This passage from Gift of the Sea beautifully reflects the ebb and flow of relationships.
“When you love someone; you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment.”
Honest and mature, this reading is ideal if you want to acknowledge that love changes shape but remains constant underneath.
14. The Journals of Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath’s journals capture the deep, intricate connection of marriage.
“I love his good smell and his body that fits with mine as if they were made in the same body-shop to do just that.”
Sensual and intimate, this is a great choice for couples who aren’t afraid of something a little raw and real.
15. The Kindly Ones – Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman’s The Kindly Ones explores the vulnerability and beauty of love.
“Love takes hostages. It gets inside you.”
For couples who like their readings a little darker and more reflective, this adds depth and honesty to the ceremony.
16. Maybe – Anonymous
Maybe offers a thoughtful reflection on finding true love.
“Maybe the art of true love is not about finding the perfect person, but about seeing an imperfect person perfectly.”
This is ideal for couples who value acceptance, realism and choosing each other exactly as they are.
17. One Day – David Nicholls
One Day inspires couples to live fully and cherish their love.
“Cherish ymy friends, stay true to ymy principles, live passionately and fully and well.”
Romantic with a modern feel, this reading works brilliantly for couples who see their relationship as part of a bigger, joyful life.
18. Relativity – Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein’s Relativity adds a touch of humour and wisdom to the concept of love.
“Sit with that special girl for an hmy and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.”
Short, witty and unexpected, it’s perfect as a light-hearted reading or to break up more serious moments.
19. Love – Bob Marley
Bob Marley’s Love is cherished for its heartfelt, realistic take on love.
“Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she’s not there.”
This reading is down-to-earth and sincere, ideal for couples who want something modern and unpretentious.
20. Still Life With Woodpecker – Tom Robbins
Still Life With Woodpecker celebrates love as an adventurous, rule-defying force.
“My love for you has no strings attached. I love you for free.”
Perfect for free spirits and non-traditional couples, this reading is about choosing love, not possession.
21. Wild Awake – Hilary T. Smith
Wild Awake by Hilary T Smith is a favourite for its poetic view on love.
“People are like cities: We all have alleys and gardens and secret rooftops… Love lets you find those hidden places in another person.”
If your relationship feels like discovering new worlds together, this reading will resonate deeply.
22. The Nightmare Before Christmas
This sweet passage from The Nightmare Before Christmas is a unique and charming choice.
“For it is plain as anyone can see, we’re simply meant to be.”
Brilliant for alternative, Halloween or film-inspired weddings, it’s romantic with a wonderfully quirky twist.
23. Carrie’s Poem – Sex and the City
This heartfelt poem from Sex and the City captures the magic of finding your forever person.
“His hello was the end of her endings. Her laugh was their first step down the aisle.”
Ideal for fans of the show or anyone who loves modern romance, it’s sentimental in all the right ways.
24. Sonnet 18 – William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 is a timeless celebration of beauty and love.
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.”
If you want a classic, romantic and instantly recognisable reading, you can’t go far wrong with this one.
25. Just Kids – Patti Smith
Patti Smith’s Just Kids is a poignant reflection on enduring love.
“It leads to each other. We become myselves… ‘There will always be us,’ he answered.”
This is a powerful choice for creative couples or anyone whose relationship has grown through shared experiences and art.
26. A Vow – Wendy Cope
Wendy Cope’s A Vow offers a realistic and touching promise of love.
“I cannot promise never to be angry; I cannot promise always to be kind.”
Honest, grounded and gently humorous, this is perfect if you want vows that feel real rather than overly idealistic.
27. The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks
This iconic passage from The Notebook speaks to the simple yet profound nature of true love.
“I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.”
It’s a beautiful reading for hopeless romantics and anyone who loves a good love story.
28. The Ent and The Ent Wife – J. R. R. Tolkien
The Ent and The Ent Wife from The Lord of the Rings is a beautiful tribute to enduring partnership.
“Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!”
This is a lovely fit for nature-loving couples or fans of Tolkien who want something a little different.
29. Monica’s Speech – Friends
Monica’s speech from Friends is a heartfelt and personal declaration of love.
“And now here we are with my future before us, and I only want to spend it with you, my prince, my soulmate, my friend.”
Nostalgic and emotional, this is perfect for couples who grew up with the show and want those feels in their ceremony.
30. Everything is Illuminated – Jonathan Safran Foer
This passage from Everything is Illuminated captures the intensity and uniqueness of true love.
“I love you in a way that no one loves you, or has loved you, or will love you.”
Powerful and a little dramatic, this is ideal for couples who feel their connection is truly one-of-a-kind.
31. Blue-Eyed Devil – Lisa Kleypas
Blue-Eyed Devil speaks to the imperfect yet perfect nature of true love.
“Ymy combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together.”
It’s a lovely reading for people who embrace their quirks and see their relationship as two puzzle pieces fitting together.
32. The Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams
Margery Williams’ extract from The Velveteen Rabbit beautifully explores what it means to be truly loved.
“When a child loves you for a long, long time… you become Real. It doesn’t happen all at once; you become. It takes a long time.”
Gentle and nostalgic, this is perfect if you want to talk about love as something that shapes and softens us over time.
33. Symposium – Plato
Plato’s extract from Symposium delves into the profound nature of love.
“So ancient is the desire of one another… making one of two, and healing the state of humankind.”
Ideal for couples who enjoy philosophy or want something deeper and more reflective within their ceremony.
34. Irish Blessing – Traditional
This traditional Irish Blessing offers a heartfelt wish for a life full of joy and peace.
“May ymy mornings bring joy and ymy evenings bring peace… May ymy hands be forever clasped in friendship and ymy hearts joined forever in love.”
It’s a beautiful choice if you’d like to honour Irish heritage or simply love the idea of a spoken blessing.
35. Love Is a Great Thing – Thomas à Kempis
Thomas à Kempis’ Love Is a Great Thing celebrates the strength and purity of love.
“Love is a great thing… It carries a burden which is no burden; it will not be kept back by anything low and mean.”
This reading suits couples who want something spiritual, thoughtful and rooted in faith or contemplation.
36. Blessing for a Marriage – James Dillet Freeman
Blessing for a Marriage by James Billet Freeman is a beautiful prayer for enduring partnership.
“May ymy marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements… May you always need one another, not to fill emptiness but to know ymy fullness.”
Perfect for couples who want a reading that feels like a heartfelt prayer over their relationship.
37. De Imitatio Christi – Thomas à Kempis
This extract from De Imitatio Christi explores the limitless and enduring nature of love.
“Love often knows no limits but overflows all bounds… Like a living flame, it forces its way upward through every obstacle.”
A powerful option for religious or spiritual ceremonies, this reading focuses on love as a transformative, driving force.
38. Never Marry but for Love – William Penn
William Penn’s Never Marry but for Love emphasises the purity of love in marriage.
“Never marry but for love; but see that thou lovest what is lovely… Nothing more zealous, affectionate and sincere than a couple who truly loves.”
This is a wise and timeless choice for couples who value sincerity and choosing marriage for all the right reasons.
39. True Friendship – Judy Bielicki
Judy Bielicki’s True Friendship highlights the essential role of friendship in a lasting relationship.
“True friendship provides the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship… Bride and Groom pledge not only their love, but also the strength, warmth, and fun of true friendship.”
It’s a wonderful reading if you truly believe you’re marrying your best friend.
40. The Road – Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy’s extract from The Road beautifully captures a simple yet profound love.
“He rose and walked out and stood barefoot in the sand… If he were God he would have made the world just so and no different.”
Quiet and poetic, this reading is ideal if you prefer something understated but deeply meaningful.
41. Ancient Hawaiian Marriage Prayer
The Ancient Hawaiian Marriage Prayer offers a poetic and spiritual view of union.
“Before we met, you and I were halves unjoined… my joining is like a tree to earth, a cloud to sky, and even more.”
Perfect for outdoor or beach weddings, this reading feels earthy, symbolic and deeply romantic.
42. William Butler Yeats – Quote
William Butler Yeats’ quote reminds us of the depth of understanding needed for true love.
“I think a man and woman should choose each other for life… To understand is to love.”
This is a thoughtful option if you believe real love is rooted in truly knowing each other.
43. A Farewell to Arms – Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway’s extract from A Farewell to Arms expresses a profound sense of togetherness.
“We were never lonely and never afraid when we were together… Alone against the others.”
This reading is a powerful choice for couples who see themselves as a team, ready to face anything side by side.
44. Doctor Zhivago – Boris Pasternak
Boris Pasternak’s extract from Doctor Zhivago paints a picture of a love that feels uniquely destined.
“Oh, what a love it was, utterly free, unique… Their thoughts were like other people’s songs.”
If your story feels intense, unlikely or meant-to-be, this reading will mirror that beautifully.
45. I Will Be Here – Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman’s I Will Be Here is a touching commitment to support and presence.
“If in the dark we lose sight of love, hold my hand, and have no fear… I will be here.”
This works perfectly as a reading or even woven into your vows, especially for couples who’ve weathered storms together.
46. Guess How Much I Love You – Sam McBratney
Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You is a heartwarming choice for a family wedding reading.
“I love you right up to the moon – AND BACK.”
Sweet, simple and ideal when children are involved, this brings a lovely sense of family to your ceremony.
47. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s extract from The Secret Garden captures the timeless beauty of love.
“One knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset… Then sometimes a look in someone’s eye.”
Perfect for outdoor, garden or nature-inspired weddings, this reading feels magical and quietly romantic.
48. 1 Corinthians 13:1–13
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 is beloved for its profound reflection on the nature of true love.
“Love never ends. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
This is the classic church wedding reading, ideal if you want to root your ceremony in Christian faith and timeless words.
49. Song of Solomon 2:10–13; 8:6,7
The Song of Solomon is often selected for its poetic celebration of love’s strength and beauty.
“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave.”
Rich, romantic and full of imagery, this is perfect for couples who want scripture that feels passionate and poetic.
50. Colossians 3:12–17
This reading from Colossians 3:12–17 is a favourite for couples who want to emphasise compassion, kindness and love in their marriage.
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
It’s a beautiful choice if you want your ceremony to highlight the values you hope will shape your life together.
How to Choose the Right Wedding Reading for You
With so many beautiful options, the “right” wedding reading is simply the one that feels like your story. Think about:
- Tone – Do you want heartfelt, funny, spiritual, modern or a mix?
- Length – A short quote or a full passage?
- Who’s reading – Is it a confident reader, a nervous friend, a parent?
- Your ceremony style – Religious, civil, outdoor, intimate, big party?
You can even combine two or three shorter readings if you can’t narrow it down. The most important thing is that, when you hear it on the day, you think: Yes. That’s us.
