Think about what you want the wedding ceremony to reflect upon. Some of the readings may be more suitable than others to your own situation. Read the reading in several different versions of the bible. The traditional version (king James) can prove to be very hard to read and also to understand with it's complex english.) most churches now use a more modern translation of the bible for example The New International Version or the Good News Bible which makes the reading much clearer, easy to read and to understand.

 

The following are the readings usually selected for weddings:

Genesis 2:18:25 or 1:26-28,31 This early story tells of our human need to share life with other people and the first couple.

 

 John 2:1-11 This is an account of how Jesus went with his mother and friends to a wedding and gave some miraculous help when all the wine had been drunk before the end of the feast.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Although Paul is talking about love in a broader sense than marriage, this well known passage from St Paul's letter to his Christian friends is often read a weddings.

 

Ephesians 5:21-33 St Paul compares the marriage bond to the bond between Jesus and his followers.

 

Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Jesus tells a story about two men who built their homes in different places on different foundations to show how important the right foundation is for our lives.

 

Mark 10:6-9 Marriages broke down and men easily divorced their wives in Jesus' time. Jesus reminds people of God's intention that every marriage should be for life.

 

Colossians 3:12-17 St Paul describes how important it is for Jesus to be at the centre of everything we do.

 

John 15:9-12 Jesus tells his disciples about love and the need for us to love one another.

 

Romans 12:1-2,9-13 St Paul describes how love changes us and helps us in the practical things of daily life.

 

1 John 4:7-12 St John shows that God is love, and that because of God's love for us we too should love one another.

 

Ephesians 3:14-21 In this passage St. Paul prays that the reader should know the love of Christ at the very foundation of their life.