Poems and Readings for Weddings

by Julia Watson

As recent reports suggest, many fewer weddings are now taking place in church. For those that are not having the traditional wedding service, it can be a problem finding suitable material to be read at a civil ceremony. And even some traditionalists like to have something extra read at their wedding lunch or party. This inspiring book offers 70 poems and readings which celebrate love and union - and offer the prospect of a lifetime's shared happiness.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

113 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2004

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
See this thread for more information.

Julia Watson was born in south Wales, and read English and Drama at the University of Exeter. She plays Dr Baz in the series Casualty. She is married to the poet David Harsent, and they live with their daughter in south-west London.

Reviews

[Ciaran McGuiggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly decent. Found some really good poems for my own wedding

[Marte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this on a whim, because we got a 60% Christmas discount on Penguin books. A lot of it is so cheesy I think I've gained weight just reading it, but I did find four or five readings I really like. Having put violent orange post-it notes on those, I will re-read them months from now to see if I still like them.

Among the more "unusual" entries, may I recommend these gems if you happen to be planning your own wedding:

"And when, throughout all the wild orgasms of love" - I'd cringe if anyone uttered that particular combination of words at my wedding

"The cry of my body for completeness,
That is a cry to you.
My blood beats out your name to me, unceasing, pitiless
Your name, your name." - Slightly creepy, if anyone read this to me I'd run in the opposite direction

"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" - Imagine your dad reading this poem to you

And the worst:

"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

[Akshat Pathak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverse collection of love poems ranging from the period of Renaissance to the modern-day writings. Whether it is Dante, Shakespeare, Marlowe, Burns, Browning, or Eliot, poets from different periods are covered and compiled together to portray the feeling of love, and marriage as a connection between two souls in the book.

Altogether, it is a beautiful set of readings for an everyday reader.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of readings - definitely a bunch to think about for the next year and a bit! But beautifully organised by style and subject, with notes on love and marriage ranging from the cautionary to the hopeful and everything in between. 

[Katie Kilgannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is there much point in reviewing these books? Published in 2004 and probably would’ve felt dated even then. I will say finding other people’s placeholders in these books is making me feel emosh… so much love has crossed these pages

[Ley-Anne Haigh-Forsyth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve given this as many stars as I found good parts. I really don’t know what else to say other than I wouldn’t have 99% of the book read anywhere near my wedding

[Kristi Priestley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As books for wedding readings go, this is the best I have come across! I think I am just realising that there aren't enough poems/passages directly relevant to weddings to choose from!

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but full of lots of old English which is not so relevant for today's ceremonies