6 Wedding Readings You've Never Heard

Fed up of hearing the same wedding readings time and time again? Yup, so are we! That's why we've searched far and wide (and read many, many books, of course!) to discover the unsung heroes of wedding readings and bring them to you on the Wedding Planner blog!

1. Love and Friendship, Emily Bronte

Love is like the wild rose-briar 
Friendship like the holly tree 
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms 
But which will bloom most constantly? 
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring, 
Its summer blossoms scent the air 
Yet wait till winter comes again 
And who will call the wild-briar fair? 
Then, scorn the silly rose-wreath now 
And deck with thee the holly's sheen, 
Then when December blights thy brow 
He still may leave thy garland green.

2. Never Marry But For Love, William Penn

Never marry but for love; but see that thou lovest what is lovely. He that minds a body and not a soul has not the better part of that relationship, and will consequently lack the noblest comfort of a married life. 
Between a man and his wife, nothing ought to rule but love. As love ought to bring them together, so it is the best way to keep them well together. 
A husband and wife that love one another show their children that they should do so too. Others visibly lose their authority in their families by the contempt of one another, and teach their children to be unnatural by their own examples. 
Let not enjoyment lessen, but augment, affection; it being the basest of passions to like when we have not, what we slight when we possess. 
Here it is we ought to search out our pleasure, where the field is large and full of variety, and of an enduring nature; sickness, poverty or disgrace being not able to shake it because it is not under the moving influences of worldly contingencies. 
Nothing can be more entire and without reserve; nothing more zealous, affectionate and sincere; nothing more contented than such a couple, nor greater temporal felicity than to be one of them. 

 3. Blessing For A Marriage, James Dillet Freeman

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance and understanding. 
May you always need one another not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. 
A mountain needs a valley to be complete; 
the valley does not make the mountain less, but more; 
and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. 
So let it be with you and you. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. 
May you want one another, but not out of lack. 
May you entice one another, but not compel one another. 
May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. 
May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces. 
May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults. 
If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back. 
May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities. 
May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. 
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another! 

4. Extract from Hamlet, William Shakespeare 

Doubt that the stars are fire 
Doubt that the sun doth move 
Doubt truth to be a liar 
But never doubt I love thee

5. On Love, Thomas Kempis

Love is a mighty power, 
a great and complete good. 
Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth. 
It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders 
all bitterness sweet and acceptable.

Nothing is sweeter than love, 
Nothing stronger, 
Nothing higher, 
Nothing wider, 
Nothing more pleasant, 
Nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God.

Love flies, runs and leaps for joy. 
It is free and unrestrained. 
Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds. 
Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil, attempts things beyond its strength.

Love sees nothing as impossible, 
for it feels able to achieve all things. 
It is strange and effective, 
while those who lack love faint and fail.

Love is not fickle and sentimental, 
nor is it intent on vanities. 
Like a living flame and a burning torch, 
it surges upward and surely surmounts every obstacle.

6. Foundations Of Marriage, Regina Hill

Love, trust, and forgiveness are the foundations of marriage. In marriage, many days will bring happiness, while other days may be sad. But together, two hearts can overcome everything...In marriage, all of the moments won't be exciting or romantic, and sometimes worries and anxiety will be overwhelming. But together, two hearts that accept will find comfort together. Recollections of past joys, pains, and shared feelings will be the glue that holds everything together during even the worst and most insecure moments. Reaching out to each other as a friend, and becoming the confidant and companion that the other one needs, is the true magic and beauty of any two people together. It's inspiring in each other a dream or a feeling, and having faith in each other and not giving up... even when all the odds say to quit. It's allowing each other to be vulnerable, to be himself or herself, even when the opinions or thoughts aren't in total agreement or exactly what you'd like them to be. It's getting involved and showing interest in each other, really listening and being available, the way any best friend should be. Exactly three things need to be remembered in a marriage if it is to be a mutual bond of sharing, caring, and loving throughout life: love, trust, and forgiveness.