Looking for the perfect wedding reading? Choosing something special that represents you as a couple is one of the most fun parts of building your ceremony. It’s an opportunity to make your wedding truly personal to you! LGBTQ wedding readings can be difficult to find though, as many of the classic poems and passages may use gendered language that doesn’t fit your ceremony. So, here we have put together some gorgeous pieces which are suitable for everyone. Whether you are looking for classic romantic poetry, modern verse or quotes from iconic moments in LGBTQ history, this list will inspire you!
Classic
- “Touched by an Angel” by Maya Angelou
- “Love” by Roy Croft
- “I Carry Your Heart With Me” by E.E Cummings
- “Near” by Carol Ann Duffy
- “On Marriage” by Kahlil Gibran
- "And I Have You" by Nikki Giovanni
- “To Love is Not to Possess” by James Kavanaugh
- “Most Importantly Love” by Rupi Kaur
- “The Art of Marriage” by Wilferd A Peterson
- "Untitled" by Christina Rossetti
Modern
- “Your Personal Penguin” by Sandra Boynton
- “I Will Be Here” By Steven Curtis Chapman
- “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear
- “Having a Coke with You” by Frank O’Hara
- “Coming Home” by Mary Oliver
- “Symmetrical Companion” by May Swenson
- “I Like You” by Sandol Stoddard Warburg
Book Extracts
- Excerpt from “Wild Awake” by Hilary T. Smith
- Excerpt from “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit
Non-Fiction
- Conclusion from Hodges v. Obergefell Decision by Justice Anthony Kennedy
- Excerpt from Goodridge v. Department of Public Health by Judge Margaret Marshall
Top tips
- Most ceremonies tend to include two to three wedding readings so decide if you want one genre or to reflect a few.
- Try to choose a reading that you can relate to as a couple. So, find something that talks about a subject that is close to your heart!
- When you’re choosing your reader, pick someone who will speak clearly and confidently. Perhaps ask them to practice it a few times in front of an audience before the big day. Almost learning the piece off by heart is a good thing to do as well as it will stop the reader looking down so often. Most importantly, if a child is doing a reading, make sure there are no long, difficult words. As a result, they can be fully confident and happy with the piece.
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