We're having a civil ceremony with FiL as registrar and he says that its usual for either one or two readings for a civil ceremony otherwise it can be over in 10 mins lol.

But I need HELP!!!! Who does the readings?!? (don't think my father will because he's too nervous about his speech already!!) I think I would be too emotional and just fall to pieces! lol

Where/how/why have you chosen your reading? xx

I went on the council wedding site and they had some poems you can select from (it was leeds council) would keep any reading short when i had to do a reading for a friend i was trying my best to hold in the tears.

See a couple of readings I quite like, as I was looking for something a bit light hearted and non-gushy:-

Maybe…We are supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the Right one, so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
Maybe...it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives
Maybe...the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their Way.
Maybe...the best kind of love is the kind you where you can sit on a sofa together never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best Conversation you've ever had
Maybe...you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
Maybe...you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.
Maybe Love is not about finding the perfect person; it's about learning to see an imperfect person perfectly. When you do what you can, love will do what you can't

I rely on you

I rely on you
like a Skoda needs suspension
like the aged need a pension
like a trampoline needs tension
like a bungee jump needs apprehension
I rely on you
like a camera needs a shutter
like a gambler needs a flutter
like a golfer needs a putter
like a buttered scone involves some butter
I rely on you
like an acrobat needs ice cool nerve
like a hairpin needs a drastic curve
like an HGV needs endless derv
like an outside left needs a body swerve
I rely on you
like a handyman needs pliers
like an auctioneer needs buyers
like a laundromat needs driers
like The Good Life needed Richard Briers
I rely on you
like a water vole needs water
like a brick outhouse needs mortar
like a lemming to the slaughter
Ryan's just Ryan without his daughter
I rely on you

I have asked my best mate to do a reading and we quite like this one

4lb of love
1lb butter of youth
1/2lb of good looks
1lb of sweet temper
1lb blindness of faults
1lb of self forgetfulness
1lb of pounded wit
1lb of good humour
2 tablespoons of sweet argument
1 pint rippling laughter
1 wine glass of common sense
1oz of modesty
Put the love, good looks and sweet temper into a well furnished house. Beat the butter of youth to a cream and mix well with the blindness of faults. Stir the pounded wit and good humour into the sweet argument, then add the rippling laughter and common sense.
Work the whole together until everything is well mixed and then bake gently for ever.

I also like this as well, my sister read this at her best friends wedding but she changed a few words to make it more relative to them but this is the original copy

Yes, I'll Marry You

Yes, I'll marry you, my dear,
And here's the reason why;
So I can push you out of bed
When the baby starts to cry,
And if we hear a knocking
And it's creepy and it's late,
I hand you the torch you see,
And you investigate.

Yes I'll marry you, my dear,
You may not apprehend it,
But when the tumble-drier goes
It's you that has to mend it,
You have to face the neighbour
Should our labrador attack him,
And if a drunkard fondles me
It's you that has to whack him.

Yes, I'll marry you,
You're virile and you're lean,
My house is like a pigsty
You can help to keep it clean.
That sexy little dinner
Which you served by candlelight,
As I do chipolatas,
You can cook it every night!

It's you who has to work the drill
and put up curtain track,
And when I've got PMT it's you who gets the flak,
I do see great advantages,
But none of them for you,
And so before you see the light,
I do, I do, I do!

I didnt know you could have readings at a civil ceremony. OHH will look into this as then i could get martyns sister and my brothr to do one as they are not in the wedding party but felt bad they where not doing anything might get them to do this.

Thanks for the thread

Oh wow that is absolutely beautiful xx

I know I love it too! I pinched it off another girl off here and just can't find anything that even comes close. So think we are defo sticking with that one now xx

We are having a civil ceremony and none of our family wanted to read they said they couldnt do it in front of people and our parents said they would be emotional enough lol. Which i can understand so i didnt want to pressurise anyone. and the regitra said they can do a reading but they done one at my brothers reading and it was really cold and not personal at all having a stranger do it so i didnt want that. So i have booked a singer and she is going to sing a song instead of having a reading.It will make the ceremony last longer and i reckon the guests will love it. she is singing first time ever i saw your face. xx

Of course use it please do it was lovely. My brother choked when he read it on the day he had learnt it off by heart too x