by Lori Baxter

Created on: November 18, 2007

Readings are an important part of a wedding because they help to set the mood for the event. The readings chosen should reflect the interests and feelings of the couple about to wed. They should be personal, meaningful. More traditional weddings of the past usually contained readings that quoted the Bible, Shakespeare, or poets who lived over a century ago. However, more modern weddings of today often require a fresher perspective. How do you find the reading that best expresses your feelings in this day and age?

These days there are lots of more contemporary options for wedding readings. One option is poetry. Not the older love poems of yore, but more recent works. One poet who has many poems that could be used is e. e. cummings. His poem, "i carry your heart with me" is one of my favorites. It expresses the connection and oneness of a man and a woman. Another poet to consider is David Gray. I have even seen the children's poet, Shel Silverstein, quoted in weddings. The possibilities are limitless.

If you aren't into poetry, there are other readings that are frequently overlooked. Some people choose excerpts from novels like "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway or "The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams. In Plato's Symposium, there is a great passage about the power of love. If you're more of a J. R. R. Tolkien fan, you might even like the excerpt from "The Two Towers" that expresses the love between an Ent and an Entwife.

Readings do not have to quote a work of fiction or creative writing either. Lines can be read from a popular song, a play, or a movie. One of the most unlikely sources may contain the jewel you're looking for to set the tone for your wedding. For example, there is a great quote in "Goodridge Vs. Department of Health" by Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall that describes the institution of marriage and its importance. If you're more of a philosophical person, you might want to quote someone like Plato. In Plato's Symposium, there is a great passage about the power of love and how it is beyond human understanding.

You should never feel pressured to choose a traditional quote if it doesn't express you. Just because a reading is a good choice for some people doesn't mean that it's the right one for you. Everyone is different and every wedding is different. You never know where you're going to find the right reading for your wedding. The best thing to do is to do your homework, look at a wide selection of sources, and don't stop searching until you have found the one that has special meaning for you.

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