Readings for a civil ceremony???

My friend gave us a book they got given when they got married and it's got over 100 readings! I'm still struggling as I don't liek the singing rhymey ones... Still a work in progress for me.

I like this one but our best mates had it and Dan remembered so trying to find an alternative:

I won't post them up here because they're quite long (we were concerned about how short a civil ceremony might be and people hanging around too long before the meal so we went for bulk!) but Google should show them up without too much difficulty. We didn't want anything too fluffy or slushy either so had:

A Hidden Place by Carol Elaine Faivre-Scott and and excerpt from Symposium by Plato (the bit about us all being one half of how we're meant to be). We also had a small quaich ceremony after we signed the register andwe had all of our guests recite the Apache Wedding Blessing along with the Registrar at the end.

We're having a civil ceremony too. Coincidentally the first reading we're probably having is the one GeordieBarbie's posted! Then I think I'm going to have my younger brother read this:

It is often said that it is love that makes the world go round. However, without doubt, it is friendship which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel. True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life-it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony, and it is the calm, warm protection we sometimes need when the world outside seems cold and chaotic. True friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and failings, without destroying our sense of worthiness. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential. (Bride) and (Groom) came together as friends. Today, they pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and, most importantly, the fun of true friendship.

I do also love the reading out of Sex and the City so am toying with the idea of that too. That is:

His hello was the end of her endings
Her laugh was their first step down the aisle
His hand would be hers to hold forever
His forever was as simple as her smile
He said she was what was missing
She said instantly she knew
She was a question to be answered
And his answer was "I do"

Today is your day!

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself any direction you choose!

You’re on your own.

And you know what you know.

And YOU are the ones who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets.

Look them over with care.

About some you will say,

“We don’t choose to go there!”

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

You’re too smart to go down any “Not-So-Good” street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down.

In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town!

It’s opener there in the wide open air... J

Out there things can happen and frequently do

To people as brainy and footsy as you! J

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew!

Just go right along. You’ll start happening too... J

OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.

You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go...

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact.

And remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, Yes indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed!) J

Matt and Claire

You’ll move mountains!

Today is your day!

You’re off to Great Places

So get on your way!

Today is your day!

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself any direction you choose!

You’re on your own.

And you know what you know.

And YOU are the ones who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets.

Look them over with care.

About some you will say,

“We don’t choose to go there!”

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

You’re too smart to go down any “Not-So-Good” street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down.

In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town!

It’s opener there in the wide open air... J

Out there things can happen and frequently do

To people as brainy and footsy as you! J

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew!

Just go right along. You’ll start happening too... J

OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.

You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go...

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact.

And remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, Yes indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed!) J

Matt and Claire

You’ll move mountains!

Today is your day!

You’re off to Great Places

So get on your way!

Hi,

Some beautiful readings there girls.

I am starting to look into readings too, but my OH is not the soppy type at all and I think he might find it quite cringey!

I love this one though, from Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

Love is a temporary madness,
it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.
And when it subsides you have to make a decision.
You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together
that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.
Because this is what love is.
Love is not breathlessness,
it is not excitement,
it is not the promulgation of eternal passion.
That is just being "in love" which any fool can do.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away,
and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.
Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground,
and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches,
they find that they are one tree and not two.

What do you think?

x

That bit from Symposium is gorgeous - linky here: http://www.limbicnutrition.com/blog/an-excerpt-from-%E2%80%98the-symposium%E2%80%99-by-plato/

I'd just be a bit worried that the registrars might kick up a fuss cos of mention of God - (albeit ancient Greek ones!) Did you have any problem with that?

I need a very simple and short(ish) reading because our 7 year old son is going to be doing it. I too don't want slushy Gillsy, OH is mega shy and very bad at feelings and PDA's so I'm really going to struggle. How long is a civil ceremony without readings etc? Does anyone know?

we were told about 30 mins when i phoned up to book the registrar. we went to a civil ceremony a couple of years back and i'm pretty sure it was about 30 mins, without any readings. H2B doesn't want any readings or fuss at all, so it'll be just the ceremony for us I think!

Nope, didn't have any issues but we did run everything by her in advance as I was a little bit concerned (although I was more worried about the use of the word "sacred" in our quaich ceremony). Our registrar was fairly laid back about stuff, even let our tog stand behind her so that he could get pics of peoples faces rather than the backs of their heads during the ceremony, but I think it really does depend on the individual.

Really? 30 minutes? That's actually alot longer than I thought. I thought it was going to be about 5 mins long. Just a quick 'Yes, I'll have him as my husband', give rings, then sign a piece of paper.

Thanks mrsp - emmy - I wouldn't have thought it would be as long as 30 mins without any readings etc - I would have thought more like20 - you've still got the signing of course...

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Maybe...

Maybe...We are supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift

Maybe...it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives

Maybe...the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way

Maybe...the best kind of love is the kind you can sit on a sofa together and never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had

Maybe...you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

Maybe...you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy

Maybe... Love is not about finding the perfect person, it's about learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.'

This is quite long, but could be cut down? and obviously names changed!

WEDDINGS
If you go to a wedding, here’s what it means
No one wears trainers and no one wears jeans
Your best new clothes are all that you wear
And everyone in your whole family is there
Even some cousins that you’ve never known
And the grown-ups all say “Oh, how much you have grown!”
So everyone’s sitting in one big room
(except Sally and Richard, the bride and groom)
Then all of a sudden things quieten down
And music starts playing and people turn round
And really slowly, Sally walks in
And she’s prettier now than she’s ever been.
She’s a bride and she’s really great looking today
(when normally she looks just kind of okay)
She walks in and stands with her dad for a while
As Richard her boyfriend, awaits in the aisle
His hair is all combed and he’s wearing a tie
And then Sally’s mum starts to sniffle and cry.
And now it comes time for the “get-married” part
The Registrar says that we’re ready to start
So she talks and she talks about serious things
Then their friend Chris steps up holding two rings
He gives one to the groom and the other to the bride
Then his girlfriend, Janaki pulls him aside.
Then Sally and Richard kind of look at each other
And another big sniffle comes from Sally’s mother
And Sally and Richard put on the wedding rings
And they talk and they promise each other some things
They promise that they’ll love each other a lot
And help one another no matter what
And be with each other the rest of their life
Then the Registrar says “Now you are husband and wife”.
Then everyone’s in such a big happy mood
And you go to a party with very much food
Where you dance with some grown-ups and drink some wine
And then do a conga-dance in one long line
‘till Sally and Richard drive off in a car
and everyone’s thinking how happy they are
So we all yell goodbye and throw handfuls of rice
Then the whole thing is over. Weddings are nice!

Jj74 - I just nearly cried reading that and I'm at work! I can just imagine my little boy reading that. I never got that 'weddings make me emotional' vibe and here I am nearly blubbering. Thank you so much for that, it's perfect. I can't wait to ask (force) him to read it out aloud tonight!

I thought it was just right for his age. Let us know what he sounds like reading it, if you can hear it for all the crying!