Reading a poem at a wedding. hellllp!!!
My son is getting married next year and because it's going to be a registry office wedding I understand the thing nowadays is for people to get up and read a poem at the 'service'. I'd never heard of it before until he asked me if I would read one.
I at first said no, in a panic, thinking about all the people who will be there. (I've never given a speech) but after thinking about it for a while I felt a bit mean for saying no. So I said that if it was something he really wanted me to do then I would. I was brilliant at reading them both stories when they were younger.
I assumed that they would pick one out for me to read, but his lovely fiancee said that it was for me to choose one. I know I've got plenty of time because it's not until July 16th next year and I know I'm going to feel nervous but I think that once I've done it I'll be pleased that I did, and after all, it is going to be their day. My youngest son said, 'just concentrate on the two of them, when you're reading it'.
Trouble is, I've absolutely no idea what would sound good for a wedding. I want it to be apt. Anybody got any ideas ?
I at first said no, in a panic, thinking about all the people who will be there. (I've never given a speech) but after thinking about it for a while I felt a bit mean for saying no. So I said that if it was something he really wanted me to do then I would. I was brilliant at reading them both stories when they were younger.
I assumed that they would pick one out for me to read, but his lovely fiancee said that it was for me to choose one. I know I've got plenty of time because it's not until July 16th next year and I know I'm going to feel nervous but I think that once I've done it I'll be pleased that I did, and after all, it is going to be their day. My youngest son said, 'just concentrate on the two of them, when you're reading it'.
Trouble is, I've absolutely no idea what would sound good for a wedding. I want it to be apt. Anybody got any ideas ?
0
Comments
http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/poems/poemshome.aspx
list of wedding poems
take a look over on the Hitched (.co.uk) forums - brilliant wedding info, or do a Google... there's loads out there these days as it's a common thing.
good luck
These are the two we had at our wedding:
Love is giving, not taking;
Mending, not breaking;
Trusting, believing, never deceiving;
Patiently bearing,
And faithfully sharing,
Each joy, every sorrow,
Today and tomorrow.
Love is kind, understanding,
But never demanding;
Love is constant, prevailing,
Its strength never failing;
A promise once spoken
For all time unbroken,
Love’s time is for ever.
Unknown
Apache Wedding Blessing
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now you will feel no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
You are two persons, but now there is only one life before you.
May beauty surround you both, in the journey ahead and through all your years.
May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.
(Native American Marriage Ceremony)
For my wedding I've chosen two readings: Shakespere sonnet 116 which you can find on this site,
http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/poems/poemshome.aspx
and the Apache wedding blessing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_Wedding_Prayer
its really nice and quite simple so should be easy to read. There are several versions but that is the one I like best.
You can also find a list of other readings suitable for a civil ceremony here
http://www.weddingservices4u.co.uk/ArticlesAdvice/readingsforcivilweds.asp
Good luck. Hope you find something you like. I'm sure your son will be happy with whatever you choose.
http://www.johncooperclarke.com/Pages/****.htm
Yes, I'll Marry You By Pam Ayres
Yes, I'll marry you, my dear, and here's the reason why; So I can push you out of bed when the baby starts to cry, and if we hear a knocking and it's creepy and it's late, I hand you the torch you see, and you investigate.
Yes I'll marry you, my dear, you may not apprehend it, but when the tumble-drier goes it's you that has to mend it. You have to face the neighbour should our labrador attack him, and if a drunkard fondles me it's you that has to whack him.
Yes, I'll marry you, you're virile and you're lean, my house is like a pigsty you can help to keep it clean. That sexy little dinner which you served by candlelight, as I do chipolatas, you can cook it every night!
It's you who has to work the drill and put up curtain track, and when I've got PMT it's you who gets the flak. I do see great advantages, but none of them for you, and so before you see the light, I do,I do,I do!
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
http://www.katsandogz.com/onmarriage.html
I love these, especially the Apache one. Brought a wee tear to my eye!
Native American Indian Wedding Blessing
Now we feel no rain, for each of us will be a shelter to the other.
Now we feel no cold, for each of us will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness, for each of us will be a companion to the other.
We are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home.
When evening falls, I'll look up and there you will be.
I'll take your hand; you'll take mine and we'll turn together
to look at the road we travelled to reach this: the hour of our happiness.
It stretches behind us, even as the future lies ahead.
A long and winding road, who’s every turning means discovery.
Old hopes, new laughter, shared fears.
The adventure has just begun.
A lovely Love Story by Edward Monkton
The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice. Although it was cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, his cage.
Then along came the Lovely Other Dinosaur.
The Lovely Other Dinosaur melted the Dinosaur’s cage with kind words and loving thoughts.
I like this Dinosaur thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.
Although he is fierce he is also tender and he is funny.
He is also quite clever though I will not tell him this for now.
I like this Lovely Other Dinosaur, thought the Dinosaur. She is beautiful and she is different and she smells so nice.
She is also a free spirit which is a quality I much admire in a dinosaur.
But he can be so distant and so peculiar at times, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.
He is also overly fond of things.
Are all Dinosaurs so overly fond of things?
But her mind skips from here to there so quickly thought the Dinosaur. She is also uncommonly keen on shopping.
Are all Lovely Other Dinosaurs so uncommonly keen on shopping?
I will forgive his peculiarity and his concern for things, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur. For they are part of what makes him a richly charactered individual.
I will forgive her skipping mind and her fondness for shopping, thought the Dinosaur. For she fills our life with beautiful thoughts and wonderful surprises. Besides, I am not unkeen on shopping either.
Now the Dinosaur and the Lovely Other Dinosaur are old.
Look at them.
Together they stand on the hill telling each other stories and feeling the warmth of the sun on their backs.
And that, my friends, is how it is with love.
Let us all be Dinosaurs and Lovely Other Dinosaurs together.
For the sun is warm.
And the world is a beautiful place.