Making Your Ceremony Your Own
Ceremony Readings 
There are no absolutes when it comes to the readings and music for the ceremony.
Once more, you should make it your own and choose verses that fit your one of a kind relationship.
Biblical readings never go out of style. After all, God is the originator of love and marriage.
Remember there are a number of versions of the Bible; some translations are a little easier to understand.
Biblical Readings
I Corinthians 13:4 - 8 (love)
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.
Eccl. 4:9-12 & Col 3:12b-14 (companionship & loving qualities)
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Col 3:12b-14 (loving qualities)
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against on another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Eph. 5:25,28-31,33 (love and respect)
Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
1 Peter 3:7 (Love and Respect)
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers
Genesis 2:18, 22 &23 (One Flesh)
It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. And the man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman for she was taken out of man. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh".
Mark 10:6-9 (One Flesh)
But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
Matthew 7:24B - 27 (Solid Foundation)
The wise man built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Yet, the foolish man built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
Secular Readings
Secular readings certainly have a place in any ceremony.
It is important to be sure the presentation of the reading is clear to the guests and is in the appropriate spot during the ceremony
Since the understanding of a poetry piece does not always come easy to everyone, it is often our suggestion that the piece be included in the program as well. This allows guests to read along and to grasp the meaning.
The Hands Poem: (young couple)
These are the hands that will hold your hands for a lifetime.
The hands that will be at the end of every embrace.
They are the hands of your very best friend.
The hands that feel like none other
They are the hands that will build a future together.
The hands that will tenderly hold your children,
And will encircle your family and make it one
The hands that will wipe life's tears of both joy and sorrow.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged
will still be reaching for yours offering the same unspoken support and tenderness with just one touch.
---
The Hands Poem: (couple with children - new family)
These are the hands that will hold your hands for a lifetime.
They are the hands of your very best friends.
The hands that will build a future together.
The hands that will tenderly hold your children,
and grandchildren
And will encircle your family and make it one
They are the hands that will wipe life's tears
of both joy and sorrow.
Bride and Groom, Today you hold hands as a symbol that marriage is a never ending journey.
You are two strong individuals,
but you walk the same path hand in hand,
bound to each other not only in love,
but in sincere commitment.
You are the anchor that holds this family together.
Hold onto each other, love each other and be kind as you journey this life a new family.
___
The Apache Song:
May the sun bring you new energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
And the breeze blow new strength into your being
And all the days of your life may you walk
Gently through the world and know its beauty.
Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be a 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.
You are two bodies
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place
To enter into your days together.
And may your days be good and long on the earth.
---
The wonder of living:
The wonder of living is held within the beauty of silence, the glory of sunlight,
The sweetness of fresh spring air,
The quiet strength of earth,
And the love that lies at the very root of all things.
To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart
and to sing it to them when they have forgotten.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship,
and your hearts joined forever in love.
For there is no remedy for love but to love more.