The Search for the Perfect Readings

A tricky thing, that wedding ceremony can be!  After having been down in Amelia, and meeting with our officiant, I have begun the quest to find the perfect readings for the wedding.  Like most couples, we are doing two, and though we were both raised Catholic, would like to aire on the side of romance, rather than religion.  We want sweet, but not straight sugar; romantic, without feeling like we are in Shakespearean times; cute without the super cheese.  You get the point.  I have succeeded with finding one, and thought I would share for other couples on the search.  And if anyone has suggestions for the other, I am absolutely open to hearing them!

Love by 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 the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.
I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good.
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.

Comments

[Holly]

i love "i carry your heart with me" - ee cummings. i'm in the same situation. j&i were both raised catholic, but were not having having the whole catholic ceremony. i think i might do one religious reading for our older family members then one romantic reading.

[Topanga Bay]

I loved that! We're doing The Apache Wedding Prayer, it goes a little something like this...

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 there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your togetherness and may your days be good and long upon the earth.

[NaomiT]

we are using e.e. cummings poem "i carry your heart" as well...i know it might be somewhat trendy now, but it has always been my favorite poem...and we are also reading "on marriage" from The Prophet.

[Maggie]

I've had this one bookmarked for months, too :-). It's just so real and beautiful.