Choosing your readings is one of the ways a wedding can be made really personal. Popular Bible passages are given here, but your vicar can help with choosing alternatives if you'd like something different.
A Church of England wedding must have at least one reading from the Bible and you can also include other readings or poems. Read some of these Bible passages together and see if what they say seems important to you. There are many different versions of the Bible, some using modern language and some with a more traditional style – talk to your vicar about different versions if you'd like to learn more.
Love, actually! The number 1 most popular reading for weddings is (1 Corinthians Chapter 13)
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly,* but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
God creates women and men to look after the earth (Genesis, Chapter 1, verses 26-28)
Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’
A love poem between two lovers (Song of Solomon, Chapter 2, verses 10-13; Chapter 8, verses 6&7)
Chapter 2
My beloved speaks and says to me:
‘Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away;
for now the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtle-dove
is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away.'
Chapter 8
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a raging flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If one offered for love
all the wealth of one’s house,
it would be utterly scorned.
Jesus teaches how to live a life that brings true happiness (Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 1-10)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus teaches about marriage, and welcomes children (Mark, Chapter 10, verses 6-9 and 13-16)
Verses 6-9
‘But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.'
Verses 13-16
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
What happens when Jesus attends a wedding reception (John, Chapter 2, verses 1 - 11)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Committing to each other (Ephesians Chapter 5, verses 21-33)
Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.
Seeing the good side… (Philippians Chapter 4, verses 4 - 9)
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Getting the perfect relationship (Colossians Chapter 3, verses 12 - 17)
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ* dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Being a good lover! (1 John Chapter 4 verses 7 - 12)
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
If you have some special ideas of your own your vicar will be pleased to discuss your choices.
Share this page
Song of Solomon 2:16
My lover is mine, and I am his.
Song of Solomon 4:9
You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace.
Song of Solomon 4:10
Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride. Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices.
Song of Solomon 1:16
You are so handsome, my love, pleasing beyond words!
Song of Solomon 1:2
Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
Proverbs: Strength In Love
Love also encapsulates the storms of life; it can't escape them, and so both of your love will stand strong, or will be hurt. Forgiveness and showing love can be hard at times, and even may seem impossible, but do it. Grow closer together. If God brought you two together, fight for one another, believe in one another. Put it in perspective with the help of these beautiful, inspirational Bible verses.
Proverbs 17:9
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
There are three things that amaze me—no, four things that I don’t understand: how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.
Romantic Bible Verses About Sacrificial Love
Love is sacrificial. Jacob knew this. Love is also so deep that it spans across time. Always treasure the love you have for one another. Remember the sacrifices. Remember the giving of yourself and of your partner. In marriage, giving yourself up for the sake of another is one of the most beautiful truths to this life-long commitment.
So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Lastly, don't forget what love is. Where are you both today? How far have you come? Continue to hold fast to the hope within you. Continue to hold fast to the hope and love in God's Word and what He declares over you. Today, hold each other tighter, rejoice in the truth and always trust in each other's love.
1 Corinthians 13:4–8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…
Classic Literary Quotes
"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you directly without problems or pride: I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love, except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams." —"100 Love Sonnets" by Pablo Neruda
"To love another person is to see the face of God." —"Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo
"I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self respect. And it's these things I'd believe in, even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn't all she should be. I love her and it is the beginning of everything." —F. Scott Fitzgerald
"There is only one happiness in life: To love and be loved." —George Sand
"when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her" —E. E. Cummings
"Love her. The way you do just the one time." —"Red Wind" by Raymond Chandler
"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." —Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Shakespearean Quotes
"God, the best maker of all marriages, Combine your hearts in one." —"King Henry V", Act V by William Shakespeare
"Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears. What is it else? A madness most discreet, A choking gall, and a preserving sweet." —"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare
Movie Quotes
"If you're a bird, I'm a bird." —The Notebook
"I've come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is, and always will be, yours." —Sense and Sensibility
"Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with." —Juno
"It doesn't matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other." —Good Will Hunting
"If you're not willing to sound stupid, you're not worthy of falling in love." —A Lot Like Love
"People do fall in love. People do belong to each other, because that's the only chance that anyone's got for true happiness." —Breakfast at Tiffany's
"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back." —Meet Joe Black
"I feel like men are more romantic than women. When we get married, we marry one girl, 'cause we're resistant the whole way until we meet one girl and we think 'I'd be an idiot if I didn't marry this girl.'" —Blue Valentine
"I knew that when I kissed this girl I would be forever wed to her. So I stopped. I stopped and I waited. I waited for a moment longer. Then I just let myself go." —The Great Gatsby
"This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime." —Bridges of Madison County
"I am someone else when I'm with you, someone more like myself." —Original Sin
"You need to be kissed. Often. And by someone who knows how." —Gone with the Wind
"It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together, and I knew it. I knew it the first time I touched her. It was like coming home, only to no home I'd ever known. I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew it. It was like magic." —Sleepless in Seattle
Proverbs From Around the World
"It is love that makes the impossible, possible." —Indian proverb
"Where there is love, there is no darkness." —Burundian proverb
"Let your love be like the misty rain, coming softly but flooding the river." —Liberian proverb
"There is no cure for love other than marriage." —Irish proverb
"He who treads the path of love walks a thousand meters as if it were only one." —Japanese proverb
"A life without love is like a year without summer." —Lithuanian proverb
Biblical Quotes
"No sooner met but they looked; No sooner looked but they loved; No sooner loved but they sighed; No sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; No sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; And in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage..." —"As You Like It" by William Shakespeare
"Doubt thou the stars are fire, Doubt the sun doth move, Doubt truth to be a liar but never doubt thy love." —"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
"Two are better than one." —Ecclesiastes 4:9
"I found the one whom my soul loves." —Song of Solomon 3:4
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." —1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"Follow the way of love." —1 Corinthians 14:1