14 wedding readings from songs (from David Bowie to Metallica!)
When it comes to wedding readings, sometimes the best sentiments come from the hands of musical wordsmiths. From David Bowie to Paul Simon and the Decemberists to Metallica, there’s are wedding readings from songs for every music fan from any generation.
Here are a few of our favorites…
Tear-jerking (but not too romantic) family wedding readings for all your sisters and pals
My older sister has given me a TON of advice throughout my life, no less so throughout the process of planning my wedding. I want to find a poem or reading to ask her to read that expresses how important this advice has been without being too sappy or evoking God’s perspective too much or too bluntly. A lot of readings I come across are more specifically about the couple committing to one another, and I’d like something more along the lines of seeing a new couple through this life stage and supporting them as they beginning their journey as married folk. Help!
Atoms and dragonflies: a fantasy wedding reading straight out of a book
Philip Pullman fans: did you know there’s an awesome wedding reading hidden in The Amber Spyglass from His Dark Materials series? Yep, a fantasy wedding reading right smack dab in your fiction. Not shocking considering all the amazing readings we’ve spied in literature.
But this one is pretty special. It’s got atoms creating new atoms and light in sunbeams and dragonflies and pine trees and ohmyglob someone use this reading in their ceremony! Want to hear it? Let’s go…
“Two Days We Should Not Worry”: a lovely and realistic wedding reading
Sometimes a wedding reading should be passionate and loving and remind us of how much we mean to each other. But other times you might want to harness a little realism to talk about how you’ll approach your life and your marriage together. This reading is often read within recovery communities but has a great message for anyone, especially those entering into a marriage.
Here’s a meaningful and realistic wedding reading for your ceremony…
“Mouths wandering each to each”: A seriously passionate wedding reading
Upon first glance at this wedding reading, it seems lovely and sweet. But give it a second and it starts to sounds like some real live passion is being felt here. It’s a supremely passionate wedding reading with just a tinge of “oh hell yeah, THIS is what I’m talking about.” Logic and rationality is all well and good, but this has some physicality and emotional heft to it. If you need a heady thrill in your wedding readings, this short and sweet one by Christopher Brennan is the one.
At Last: a sweet wedding reading that honors a life lived before finding love
Not unlike Etta James’ classic love song “At Last,” this particular reading narrows down those feelings of having lived life, been beaten by it a time or two, and still being joyful that you found lasting love. Considering how many weddings are second marriages or older-than-average couples, the sentiment is really lovely and really realistic. Here’s a sweet wedding reading that takes into account a life lived prior to the wedding…