10 Alternative Wedding Readings

You’re getting married and now comes the time to plan your wedding ceremony. You probably have your location sorted and the legal process in place but now’s time to start focusing on the details of that service- which includes ‘Readings’

What are Wedding Readings?

Simply put a wedding reading is the part of the ceremony where someone stands up and reads out something chosen by the couple. I’d love to tart it up but that’s the truth, in a religious ceremony it would have been selected from a holy text but for those not getting married in a place of worship this reading can be anything!

As a vibrant wedding photographer, I’m all about the details, (even the ones I cant photography), I think Readings are a really beautiful way as a couple you can add a bit more flare to your day, especially if you’re a bit alternative. This is your chance to personalise what can be see as the boring part of the day and bring it to life with your unique taste.

Alternative wedding readings- Nerdy wedding Readings — **Things to consider when choosing your wedding readings**

**How many readings do you have at a wedding?**
Normally it’s around 2 maybe even 3 if you’ve selected smaller ones.
**Who will you choose to read at your wedding?**
Short answer? Anyone! I’ve seen best friends, parents, the person who got the couple together, siblings. Personally, when my husband and I were choosing who would do our readings, we wanted someone from each side of our families and then we had a joint friend. It was a really nice way to balance out the roles each side of the family were playing in the day. Similarly I saw a wedding where both the Brides brother and the Grooms brother did a reading. But if that doesn’t float your boat then pick who feels right to you.
**Top tip-** to make life easy for those reading, if possible seat them at the end of an aise to make getting into place and have the text printed out for them. This allows things to run smoothly, meaning they wont get flustered.

The Hobbit Wedding Reading- Nerdy wedding reading- Alternative wedding reading — **How do you pick your wedding readings?**

Good news- this is the fun bit! There isn’t really a limit to what you can choose as your readings; Is there a Movie or TV show that you both love? Is there a book you’ve bonded over? Or have you got a song that the lyrics fit your personality? This is your way to reflect your love story and your personality in your ceremony. Take the time to have a think what really connects you and see if you can find something that ties in, whatever you choose will become a part of your wedding forever- I say that not to scare you or be over dramatic but as a ‘wow we get to make this all about us’ way.
**Just Consider-**
Does it match your personality
Does it match the vibe of your wedding; is it funny, emotional, romantic.
Does it demonstrate your views and values (don’t feel pressured into having some outdated notion of marriage)
Don’t choose something to difficult to say or too long

As a bit of inspiration and to get the ball rolling I have included below 10 Alternative wedding readings. These are taken from all sorts of sources in pop culture, rock songs, there’s even a little bit of cheese in there for good measure.

1. I Wanna Be Yours - John Cooper Clark (Poem)

“I wanna be your vacuum cleaner
Breathing in your dust
I wanna be your Ford Cortina
I will never rust
If you like your coffee hot
Let me be your coffee pot
You call the shots
I wanna be yours

I wanna be your raincoat
For those frequent rainy days
I wanna be your dreamboat
When you want to sail away
Let me be your teddy bear
Take me with you anywhere
I don’t care
I wanna be yours

I wanna be your electric meter
I will not run out
I wanna be the electric heater
You’ll get cold without
I wanna be your setting lotion
Hold your hair in deep devotion
Deep as the deep Atlantic ocean
That’s how deep is my devotion”

It’s become a bit of a favourite since the Arctic Monkeys used it but it still sounds awesome with just an edge of grittyness that comes with JCC’s style.

2. I’m Gonna Be- The Proclaimers (Song)

“When I'm workin', yes, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's workin' hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I do
I'll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home (When I come home), oh, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow old, well, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's growin' old with you”

Honestly i think it’s such a romantic song about promising everything to your better halve.

3. The Greatest Adventure : A Hobbit’s Tale- JRR Tolkien (Song form a Book)

“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
The chances, the changes are all yours to make.
The mold of your life is in your hands to break.”

This reading featured in a wonderfully nerdy wedding I second shot at and it think it’s perfect given I belive that loving someone is having a partner to all your adventure’s big and small.

4. I Belive In A Thing Called Love- The Darkness (Song)

‘‘Can’t explain all the feelings that you’re making me feel
My heart’s in overdrive and you’re behind the steering wheel

Touching you, touching me
touching you, god you’re touching me

I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There’s a chance we could make it now
We’ll be rocking ’til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
Ooh!’’

This is perfect for a couple who doesn’t take themselves too seriously, just imagine your guests chuckling away to themselves when they realise what the source is!

5. A Quote from ‘The Girl Who Waited’ spoken by Amy Pond- Doctor Who (TV)

‘‘You know when sometimes you meet someone so beautiful and then you actually talk to them, and five minutes later they’re as dull as a brick.

Then there’s other people, and you meet them and think, not bad, they’re okay. And then you get to know them, and their face just sort of becomes them, like their personality’s written all over it.

And they just turn into something so beautiful.’’

Amy and Rory’s story is one of friends ship that grows into love, making this quote is perfect for any Whovian’s getting married.

6. A Quote from ‘About Time’ spoken by Bill Nighy’s character. - About Time (Movie)

‘‘I'd only give one piece of advice to anyone marrying.

We're all quite similar in the end.

We all get old and tell the same tales too many times.

But try and marry someone kind.’’

This is one of my favourite films, a lesson in finding the joy in the everyday, it always gets me in fits of laughter and floods of tears. The Wedding in this movie is full of personal touches and the dad’s speech is one of many heart touching moments.

7. A Quote from ‘The Princess Bride’ spoken by The Grandfather- The Princess Bride (Movie)

That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying ‘As you wish,'

what he meant was, ‘I love you.'

And even more amazing was the day she realized she truly loved him back.

Growing up The Princess Bride was a film quoted again and again by my family, and to me it’s arguably the most romantic cult classic there is.

8. Amy’s Wedding vow- Brooklyn 99 (TV)

Life is unpredictable,

not everything is in our control,

but as long as you're with the right people,

you can handle anything.

This one’s short but sweet but I think it sums up the commitment two people make to each other perfectly- the promise that you’ll go through everything together.

9. Jack & Sally's Song- A Nightmare Before Christmas (Movie)

My dearest friend, If you don't mind,

I'd like to join you by your side.

Where we could gaze into the stars,

and sit together, now and forever.

For it is plain as anyone could see,

we're simply meant to be.

Here’s one for the spooky amongst us or the Disney fan looking for some alternative to the classic happily ever after the princess’ provide.

10. Damn it Janet- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Song)

‘‘The river was deep but I swam it (Janet)
The future is ours so let's plan it (Janet)
So please don't tell me to can it (Janet)
I've one thing to say and that's
Dammit, Janet, I love you

The road was long but I ran it (Janet)
There's a fire in my heart and you fan it (Janet)
If there's one fool for you then I am it (Janet)
I've one thing to say and that's
Dammit, Janet, I love you

Here's a ring to prove that I'm no joker
There's three ways that love can grow
That's good, bad or mediocre
Oh J-A-N-E-T I love you so’’

Ok, hear me out, this one may sound strange, but This is Brad proclaiming his love and how far he’d go, and imagine your wedding guests listening to it and the chuckle that’ll spread across the room. Bonus point’s if you can get your guest’s to call out the Janet’s and double point’s if one of your names are Janet!