Wedding Ceremony Readings: 30 Poems and Passages for Every Style

The right wedding reading can say what is hardest to put into your own words. It gives your ceremony texture, a moment of stillness or laughter between the vows, and a meaningful way to involve the people you love most. After more than 1,000 Melbourne weddings, we have seen which wedding readings for ceremony moments land with a room and which ones simply fill time.

This guide gathers 30 of the best wedding ceremony readings, grouped by style, from romantic poems and classic literature to scripture, modern picks, and short passages. For each one you will find the title, the author or source, and a note on the tone so you can match it to your day. Where works are still in copyright we have described them rather than reprinting them in full; for public-domain pieces you will find a short excerpt to give you a feel.

How Many Readings Should a Ceremony Have?

Most wedding ceremonies include one to three readings. One reading suits a short, intimate ceremony; two or three suit a fuller order of service where you want variety in tone and more loved ones involved. Spread them out, one after the welcome, one before or after the vows, and perhaps one during the signing, so the ceremony has rhythm rather than a block of words in the middle.

If you are still mapping out the order of the day, our guide to writing a wedding ceremony script shows where readings fit alongside the welcome, vows, and exchange of rings.

Romantic Poems for Your Ceremony

These are the readings couples reach for when they want feeling above all. Warm, lyrical, and unmistakably about love.

1. “Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare - The classic public-domain choice. Its opening line, “Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments,” makes it almost purpose-built for a wedding. Timeless and quietly grand.
2. “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Another public-domain favourite. “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Tender and devotional, it suits a heartfelt, romantic ceremony.
3. “i carry your heart with me” by E. E. Cummings - A much-loved modern poem about two people who are part of each other. Intimate and a little dreamlike in tone; deeply popular at contemporary weddings.
4. “The Owl and the Pussy-cat” by Edward Lear - A whimsical public-domain poem about an unlikely pair who sail away and marry. Playful and charming, lovely read by a child or a witty friend.
5. “Variation on the Word Sleep” by Margaret Atwood - A quiet, devoted poem about wanting to be the air a loved one breathes. Gentle and modern; suits couples who like understated romance.
6. “Love” by Roy Croft - A warm, accessible poem about being loved into a better version of yourself. Sentimental in the best way and easy for any reader to deliver.

Literary and Classic Passages

Prose from beloved novels and essays. These suit couples who love books and want something with a little narrative weight.

7. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières (the “love is a temporary madness” passage) - A famous passage distinguishing fleeting passion from the deep roots of enduring love. Thoughtful and grounded; a favourite for good reason.
8. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (the “what is REAL?” passage) - A public-domain children’s story about becoming real through being truly loved. Sweet, a touch nostalgic, and surprisingly moving for grown-ups.
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (“I have for the first time found what I can truly love”) - A public-domain passage on finding an equal and a true match. Earnest and romantic, with a Victorian richness.
10. Captain Wentworth’s letter from Persuasion by Jane Austen - The “you pierce my soul” letter, public domain and endlessly quotable. Restrained yet overflowing; ideal for a confident reader.
11. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (“You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving”) - A short, generous reflection on love as action. Public domain and easy to pair with another, longer reading.
12. Union by Robert Fulghum - A modern essay-style reflection on what a wedding actually joins together. Conversational and warm; works beautifully as a celebrant-led reading.

Religious and Scripture Readings

For couples who want a spiritual or faith-based dimension. Check with your celebrant or officiant about what suits your ceremony.

13. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (the New Testament) - The best-known wedding scripture of all. “Love is patient, love is kind.” Public domain in older translations; reverent, familiar, and universally loved.
14. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (“Two are better than one”) - A short Old Testament passage on companionship and strength in partnership, ending with the image of a cord of three strands. Plain-spoken and reassuring.
15. Ruth 1:16-17 (“Where you go I will go”) - A brief, devoted pledge of loyalty often read at weddings. Simple, beautiful, and easy for a nervous reader to deliver.
16. Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (“Set me as a seal upon your heart”) - A passionate, poetic Old Testament passage on love stronger than death. Lyrical and intense; a striking choice.
17. Colossians 3:12-14 (“clothe yourselves with compassion”) - A gentle New Testament reading on kindness, patience, and forgiveness as the bonds of love. Practical and warm in tone.
18. An Apache Wedding Blessing (traditional) - A non-scriptural blessing, “Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other.” Spiritual without being denominational; popular at outdoor ceremonies. Attributions vary, so describe it simply as a traditional blessing.

Modern and Funny Readings

For couples who want personality, a laugh, or a fresh voice. These break the formality and let the room exhale.

19. “He Never Leaves the Seat Up” by Pam Ayres - A light, comic poem celebrating an ordinary, dependable partner. Genuinely funny; perfect for a reader with good comic timing.
20. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (“So it’s not gonna be easy”) - The candid passage on love being hard work but worth it. Honest and modern; resonates with couples who like realism over fairytale.
21. A Lovely Love Story by Edward Monkton - A quirky, illustrated-book reading about two dinosaurs who love each other’s imperfections. Charming and offbeat; great for a relaxed ceremony.
22. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman (the “where we are is always the most important place” reflection) - A grounded passage about choosing presence and this life with each other. Modern and quietly profound.
23. “Us Two” by A. A. Milne - A Winnie-the-Pooh poem about doing everything better together. Sweet and gently funny; lovely read by a sibling or close friend.
24. Excerpt from a Terry Pratchett novel on love and companionship - Pratchett’s wry, warm asides on love appear in several books and suit couples who share his humour. Choose a short, self-contained passage and credit it by book title.

Short Readings for a Quick Moment

When you want something brief, a second reading, a reading by a child, or a tight ceremony. Each runs well under a minute.

25. “He’s Not Perfect” by Bob Marley (attributed) - A short, often-quoted reflection on accepting an imperfect but worthwhile partner. Widely attributed online, so introduce it gently as “words attributed to Bob Marley.”
26. “The Art of Marriage” by Wilferd Arlan Peterson (excerpt) - A list of small, daily habits that keep love alive. Reads well in part rather than full; warm and practical.
27. Hamlet’s verse to Ophelia by William Shakespeare - The brief public-domain lines, “Doubt thou the stars are fire… but never doubt I love.” Compact, romantic, and elegant.
28. A haiku or short verse chosen by the couple - A single short poem, written or selected by you, can be the most personal reading of all. Keep it to a few lines and let it speak plainly.
29. “Blessing for a Marriage” by James Dillet Freeman (excerpt) - A short, hopeful blessing wishing the couple a love that grows. Gentle and well suited to closing the ceremony.
30. A favourite song lyric, read aloud (not sung) - A verse from a song that means something to you both, read as a short passage, makes a personal closing reading. Keep it to a couple of lines and credit the songwriter.

How to Choose the Right Reading

With so many options, narrowing down gets easier when you work to a few simple rules:

• Choose for tone, not just words. Decide whether you want romantic, reverent, funny, or reflective, then pick readings that fit that feeling.
• Read it aloud. A passage that looks beautiful on the page can be a tongue-twister out loud. Test it before you commit.
• Match the reading to the reader. A confident speaker can carry a longer literary passage; a nervous reader will thank you for something short.
• Vary the styles. If you have more than one reading, mix tones, a romantic poem and a funny passage carry a ceremony better than two of the same.
• Mind the length. Aim for one to two minutes per reading so the ceremony keeps moving and your guests stay with you.

Make Your Ceremony Look as Good as It Sounds

The words set the mood, and the right styling helps them land. Custom wedding signage can carry your order of service, the names of your readers, or a favourite line from a reading itself, so the room reflects the meaning of the day. It is a small touch that ties the ceremony together and looks beautiful in your photos.

Planning a Melbourne wedding and want help styling the ceremony? Enquire now and the GB Events team will talk you through signage, decor, and everything in between.

Frequently Asked Questions