Ceremony Readings?

[SusanK]

Ok, so this is my attempt to bring this thread back to life. I really need to start putting the ceremony together, and I'm still looking for a reading that really "fits" us. We are not very religious, and definitely not "formal" (pretty impossible if you are from the midwest:). Here are a couple of readings that caught my eye.... anyone else have suggestions? I also really like the "I Like You" poem posted above.

Oh the Places You’ll Go - Dr Seuss
Congratulations!
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 couple who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “We don’t choose to go there.”
With your heads 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,
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.
OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to great heights!
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have all the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang, and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly you’ll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t.
Because sometimes, you won’t.
You’ll get mixed up of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with so many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with great 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 your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and _ percent guaranteed.)
KIDS, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So, be your name Buxbaum or Dowrie or Bass
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So … get on your way!

Us Two from "Now We Are Six "
A.A. Milne

Wherever I am, there's always Pooh, There's always Pooh and Me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do, "Where are you going today?" says Pooh...
"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too. "Let's go together," says Pooh, says he.
"Let's go together," says Pooh.

"What's twice eleven?" I said to Pooh, "Twice what?" said Pooh to Me.
"I think it ought to be twenty two." "Just what I think myself," said Pooh.
"It wasn't an easy sum to do, But that's what it is," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what it is," said Pooh.
"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh. "Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me.
We crossed the river and found a few... "Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh.
"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew. That's what they are," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what they are," said Pooh.
"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh. "That's right," said Pooh to Me.
"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh, And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo!
Silly old dragons!"... and off they flew. "I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he,
"I'm never afraid with you." So wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
"What would I do?" I said to Pooh, "If it wasn't for you," and Pooh said... "True,
It isn't much fun for One, but Two Can stick together," says Pooh, says he.
"That's how it is," says Pooh.


Excerpt From "The Velveteen Rabbit"
Margery Williams

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

I also think we'll incorporate the traditional Irish Wedding Blessing because Matt is Irish (I know he really looks it, huh?). I'm thinking it would be perfect for Matt's grandfather.
Irish Wedding Blessing

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you; May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

[Christine]

oh my FI would be so excited about a Dr. Suess reading, but I think that one might be too long, you might want to just take a part of it (Dr. Suess was a member of Will's fraternity)
The Velveteen Rabbit always made me cry (could be a good thing though) and Pooh is always cute!
I think I might need to steal the Irish Wedding Blessing and have my Godfather read it, he's all about being Irish.
Susan I can tell you are an Elem. Teacher.

[SusanK]

Originally Posted by Christine

Susan I can tell you are an Elem. Teacher.

How'd you know?!?!:) And a kid at heart!

[Just Martha]

My niece is reading "The Velveteen Rabbit" at ours. Ha! Cute.

I love "Oh the Places You'll Go!" It's tradition in our family to receive this as a high school graduation gift.

[jpkw]

We did the Irish blessing, but modified a little. My step sister read it at the end of the ceremony and she started crying which made all of the rest of us cry. It was really nice. We also did Corinthians and another wedding prayer. let me know if you want to see any of them.

[cfrancesp]

Wow, I am glad I found this thread. I haven't started looking, but I wanted something that one of my family members could read during the ceremony. I really like "Love" by Roy Croft. Also, with the Dr. Seuss one, you gals that think its too long could cut out some of the parts. I am sure no one would notice. Please keep posting if you find anything, and I will start looking also!

[Just Martha]

Bumping for more ideas!

[Just Martha]

I like this one!

Unknown title - Regina Hill
When two people join together
and bond their lives forever
because they are certain they have something special
that will make their commitment last…
this is the first act of faith. Upon this act of faith these two people will build a life.
and as long as their determination stays with them
this life will always be their hope, their dreams, their truth, their being, their inspiration,
and their source of strength.
Through their life together, they will hurt and laugh.
Together they will feel all of life’s up and downs.
They will learn and grow through trial and error.
The lessons will show them the meaning of true love
And the difference between a love that lasts
and one that just gives up.
These two people will face each failure together and
discover the strength to go on.
They will encourage each other’s dreams and forgive each other’s faults.
Through a labour of love.
these two will become as one,
fighting against the odds and ultimately creating
a commitment that will grow into an infinite love.

[AmandaR]

We had the officiant read the Blessing of the Hands before the exchange of rings, and it I held it together during the ceremony, but it almost always makes me cry!

"These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch."

[atlcatlover]

Here is one that I found that I will absoutely incorporate into my ceremony:

From The Art Of Marriage
by William A Petersen

A good marriage must be created.
In the marriage, the little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once each day,
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is having a mutual sense of values and objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each person can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person
It is being the right partner.