How many readings?

We're also having a civil ceremony and have settled on three reading following advice from our Humanist, she suggested 3-4, I thought 4 was just too many so we opted for three.

We're aiming to have 2, but it might be just one at this rate as cant agree on a second person.

Our little booklet gives us the choice of up to 3 - but I guess you could have more? I just wouldnt want to destract it too far away from the vows.

Thank you for your replies- 3 sounds like a feasible option then. Just need the think about order of them around the vows.

I have been desperately searching the web for unusual and interesting readings from literature- being an English teacher, I thought it would be easy.

Nothings coming up trumps atm. Does anybody have an unusual ones that aren't soppy or used in lots of weddings?

Thanks in advance

R xxx

Have you done a search of the Hitched forums (if you haven't already)? I just found this one: https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/p/150714/1535123.aspx#1535123 and there are more listed.

I can't recommend any from literature though, the only that springs to mind is the Captain Corelli one, which you've already said you can't use.

Hi there

We had three and it was the perfect amount. We also had a song. Our ceremony was about 30 minutes.

We had an English/French wedding so a couple of the readings were in French, with english translation in the booklets.

Our english reading was the below. Not to everyone's taste and not from a book. I wanted something from a book as well but couldn't find anything!

I also went to a wedding where they had a reading from velveteen rabbit which was lovely

Check with your registrar. We are only allowed 2.

Thank you for this advice- this poem is beautiful- not one I've seen before. I will be running this past my OH.

Thank you!

Also thanks for the forum link- I'm going to have a good search- haven't found the forum search function yet so have been trying to trawl through.

Captain Corelli is beautiful- I was gutted when they had it. They wou;dn't mind it repeating but I would.

R xxx

You need to ask the Registrar. The rules are different in different areas. At mine I'm only allowed 1 reading, although they said I could make the ceremony longer and cut down on photo time if I wanted. But that's in a Register Office so if paying for a Registrar at a different venue maybe they're more flexible. I'm having a song instead of a reading because I don't think we'd ever be able to find something we'd agree on!

I think 2 or 3 is a good number, but it very much depends on the venue and the kind of registrar you get, and how accommodating they are

Foden Photography

If you really like the piece from Captain Corelli's Mandolin, you should still have it.

We're getting married in church and there are limited biblical readings so we'll probably have the same as some of our friends.

We're having a non-biblical reading, The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.

But these are also lovely..

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.

May you always need one another - not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete; the valley does not make the mountain less, but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.
May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults.

If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.

May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence - no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities.
May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

AMERICAN INDIAN WEDDING BLESSING
Anon

Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter to 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 companionship to the other.
Now you are two persons,
but there are three lives before you: his life, her life and your life together.

Go now to your dwelling place,
to enter into the days of your life together.
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead
and through all the years may happiness be your
companion to the place where the river meets the sun,
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.