As a wedding celebrant I am often asked to recommend poems and readings to include in the ceremony. In this post I am going to share my top ten poems for your wedding day. Do remember that, if you wish to publish the words to a poem by a living poet, you will need their permission.
Poems bring a special element to your wedding ceremony and you can use them in many ways
Poetry is not all arty and over the top. I have found a wonderful variety, ranging from Shakespeare to John Cooper Clarke and each brings something unique. I’ve worked with couples to create their vows, inspired by a poem or reading. When you find the right poems for your wedding, you will know,
Here are some of my favorites, I hope they inspire you to think about including poetry in your wedding ceremony:
I wanna be yours – John Cooper Clarke
let me be your vacuum cleaner, breathing in your dust
let me be your ford Cortina, I will never rust
if you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot
you call the shots
I wanna be yours
let me be your raincoat, for those frequent rainy days
let me be your dreamboat, when you wanna sail away
let me be your teddy bear, take me with you anywhere
I don’t care
I wanna be yours
let me be your electric meter, I will not run out
let me be the electric heater, you get cold without
let me be your setting lotion, hold your hair with deep devotion
deep as the deep Atlantic ocean, that’s how deep is my emotion
deep deep deep deep deep deep
I don’t wanna be hers
I wanna be yours
Love – by Mary Carolyn-Davies (or Roy Croft)
I love you, Not only for what you are
But for what I am When I am with you.
I love you, Not only for what You have made of yourself
But for what You are making of me.
I love you, For the part of me That you bring out;
I love you, For putting your hand Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over all the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out Into the light
All the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you because you are helping me
to make of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern But a temple;
Out of works of my every day
Not a reproach But a song
This day I married my best friend (author unknown)
This day I married my best friend
the one I laugh with as we share life’s wonderous zest,
as we find new enjoyments and experience all that’s best.
the one I live for because the world seems brighter
as our happy times are better and our burdens feel much lighter.
the one I love with every fiber of my soul.
We used to feel vaguely incomplete, now together we are whole.
The key to love (author unknown)
The key to love is understanding …
the ability to comprehend not only the spoken word, but those unspoken gestures, the little things that say so much by themselves.
The key to love is forgiveness …
to accept each other’s faults and pardon mistakes, without forgetting, but with remembering what you learn from them.
The key to love is sharing …
facing your good fortunes as well as the bad, together; both conquering problems, forever searching for ways to intensify your happiness.
The key to love is giving …
without thought of return, but with the hope of just a simple smile, and by giving in but never giving up.
The key to love is respect …
realising that you are two separate people, with different ideas; that you don’t belong to each other, that you belong with each other, and share a mutual bond.
The key to love is inside us all …
It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients that will take you to its threshold; it is the continual learning process that demands a lot of work but the rewards are more than worth the effort …and that is the key to love.
I belong in your arms – Deborah Bridea
I belong in your arms
Finally, I have found a place
Into which I fit Perfectly, Safely
And securely with no doubts,
No fears, No sadness, No tears.
This place is filled with happiness and laughter
Yet it is spacious enough, to allow me
The freedom to move around,
To live my life and be myself.
This wonderful place, which I never believed really existed,
I have found Finally
Inside your arms, Inside your heart, inside your love
Do remember, if you are planning on using someone’s words as part of your ceremony, you must ask them for permission. Several writers are happy to have their words used as part of a special celebration, but asking is always important. They have the right to refuse, or to ask for a fee if you want to print their words in an order of service, for example.
I was asked by a couple to include a poem by a local poet a few years ago. We wrote to her, telling her a little about them and why they loved her poem so much. It was a very moving story. The poet in question not only wrote back to say they could use it, but actually sent them a beautiful print of the poem, signed by her. A very special addition to their day.
I’d love to know what poem you included in your wedding day and why.
From my heart to yours,
Dinah
If you’d like to have an informal chat about creating your dream wedding celebration, why not book a zoom and a coffee with me. It’s free of charge, we’ll chat online for about 20 minutes and see if I am the right Celebrant for you. You can book here: BOOK A CHAT WITH DINAH
If you’re interested in finding out about the career of an Independent Celebrant, take a look at the Celebrant Coaching and Training Academy. All our courses are created to help you become an exceptional Celebrant.
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