Here are just 20 of the poems, readings and extracts, that were included in recent Liverpool Celebrant weddings (there were many more!). Free download near the bottom of the page.
Marriage Advice was written in 1886, by Jane Wells, and was read by a bride’s granddad. The wedding was held in the garden of the bride’s parents - it was perfect for that family, and that wedding.
Let your love be stronger than your hate or anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise for it is better to bend than to break.
Believe the best, rather than the worst,
for people have a way of living up, or down to your own opinion of them.
Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.
The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesy and kindness you bestow on friends.
Please hand this down to your children and your children's children.
Some were passages from favourite books:
Extract from 'His Dark Materials', written by Philip Pullman
Extract from 'Amber Spyglass', also written by Philip Pullman
Extract from 'The Bridge Across Forever', written by Richard Bach
Some were a reminder that love and marriage (and people) are real, not perfect
Love is blind, author unknown
They say love is blind. I disagree. Infatuation is blind, love is all-seeing and accepting. Love is seeing all the flaws and blemishes and accepting them.
Love is accepting the bad habits and mannerisms, and working around them.
Love is recognising all the fears and insecurities, and knowing your role is to comfort.
Love is working through all the challenges and painful times.
Infatuation is fragile and will shatter when life is not perfect.
Love is strong and strengthens because it is real.
He’s not perfect, written by Bob Marley
(Plus: She’s not perfect…
andYou’re not perfect… each adapted from the original)
There were quite a few that I hadn’t come across before such as this one:
Nuptials, written by John Agard
River, be their teacher, that together they may turn their future highs and lows into one hopeful flow
Two opposite shores feeding from a single source.
Mountain, be their milestone, that hand in hand they rise above familiarity's worn tracks into horizons of their own Two separate footpaths dreaming of a common peak.
Birdsong, be their mantra, that down the frail aisles of their days, their twilight hearts twitter morning and their dreams prove branch enough.
And this, which had a very special place in the couple's love story...
Some of the readings that have been around for a while still proved popular:
Friendship, written by Judy Bielicki
Today’s the day, author unknown
Excerpt from ‘The art of a good marriage’, written by Wilfred Arlan Peterson
Blessing for a marriage, written by James Dillet Freeman
Maybe, author unknown
Love monkey, written by Edward Monkton, brought a tear to quite a few eyes when this mum read it at her daughter’s wedding (photo by Lucy Hannah Photography)
During the year, there were plenty of readings and poems with elements of humour and some that had been written by guests - also one written by a bride and (at another wedding) one penned by a groom.
These three poems with ‘vow’ in their title went down very well (not together, they were in three different weddings!)
A Vow, written by Wendy Cope
Vow: The Simplest, Hardest and the Truest Thing, written by Liz Lochhead
Vow, written by Roger McGough
And to finish, a trio with a scientific and philosophical feel:
Speak to me the song of science, written by Tyler Knott Gregson
Gravitation, written by Albert Einstein
Reflections, written by by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Recognise that the very molecules that make up your body, the atoms that construct the molecules, are traceable to the crucibles that were once the centres of high mass stars that exploded their chemically rich guts into the galaxy, enriching pristine gas clouds with the chemistry of life.
So that we are all connected to each other biologically, to the earth chemically and to the rest of the universe atomically.
That’s kinda cool!
That makes me smile and I actually feel quite large at the end of that. It’s not that we are better than the universe, we are part of the universe.
We are in the universe and the universe is in us.
The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things in life like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock.
The most successful people in life recognise, that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation.
For me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday.
And lessen the suffering of others.
You’d be surprised how far that gets you.
Tap here for the full text of all of the above readings (and a few more...)
If I am your Celebrant...
I have put together a compilation of texts, extracts, lyrics, blessings and poems which I will offer to send to you.
I do warn you that it is quite a long list (there are currently 150 - and I am still adding to it!) but it is intended to be an optional resource - I only ever aim to help, never to overwhelm!
Some couples choose from the list, others find (or write) their own or choose not to have any at all – and all of those things are absolutely fine.
If you do choose to include readings, I provide printed copies on good quality paper or parchment – so that they are easy to read and look good on the photos! I do a similar thing for your vows, should you choose to read them.
If you have a wedding theme, colour scheme, logo or favourite font I try to incorporate those preferences when I print them out (not that I’m suggesting you have to have any of those - but if you do, I take them into account).
Readings are just one of the elements that can personalise your wedding ceremony, there are many others. I will listen to you, discuss all of your ideas and support you in any way that you wish, to ensure that you have the wedding ceremony that is personal to, and perfect for, you.
Contact Me...
If you are planning your wedding and having a personal and personalised ceremony is important to you, please call, message or email me to check my availability, or for more information about how I can help you have the ceremony that you truly want.
To contact me please email: lorraine@liverpoolcelebrant.co.uk or call: 0744 932 3988
Hi, I am Lorraine Hull, an award-winning Celebrant, based in Liverpool.
I am most usually asked to conduct ceremonies in North-West England and North Wales but I am happy to travel anywhere within the U.K. or abroad.
At the risk of shouting (and sounding extremely cheesy) "I LOVE MY JOB!".
I really love getting to know the couples and families that ask me to be part of their special celebration, whether that is for a Wedding/Civil Partnership, Renewal/Reaffirmation of Vows, Naming/Welcoming, or Celebration of Life/Funeral
I love hearing, writing and telling love and life stories (and also finding out about hopes and dreams - which are the stories of the future!)
I love to create and conduct unique, meaningful ceremonies that are perfect for each couple, individual, and/or family.
I love helping to create and celebrate happy and poignant moments, which form memories that will last a lifetime (that also includes the memories that I get to keep too - what's not to love?)
I believe that ALL people (and animals) should all be treated kindly, fairly and with respect.
I think for myself and act for others. I advocate anti-racism, the appreciation and celebration of diversity, dignity, justice, equity and equality for ALL through everything that I say and do: Love is Love, Family is Family, Life is Life.
You may like to know that I was trained to the highest level as a Celebrant and have continued my professional development. I hold Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. I adhere to a strict code of conduct and I am committed to identifying, developing and sharing best practice with my Celebrant colleagues, so that we can all be the best Celebrants that we can possibly be.
To contact me please email: lorraine@liverpoolcelebrant.co.uk or call: 0744 932 3988