The importance of readings at your wedding part 1
Increasingly, couples are aiming to personalise their weddings. One way they can do this is by the readings that are chosen. In another associated blog I will talk about the kinds of readings that we can go for. But here are a couple of ideas around how to manage the use of readings.
Typically, we ask people that we care about to do readings for us – those who we see as significant to us, people who play a key role in our lives but who are not playing the more visible roles of bridesmaid, best man etc.
Although people typically feel very honoured to be asked to play a role on our wedding day, they can also feel incredibly intimidated by the thoughts of speaking in public. A reading may not be a key speech or something they have had to write themselves, but it’s still a time when they will put themselves forward and address a large group of people. It might be a first for them! So, it’s really important that we consider who we are asking to carry out this very important task.
It may well be that people choose to write their own readings, but we tend to leave that for the speeches where humour and storytelling comes in and there is an element of surprise coupled with some predictability regarding the various key players – I.e., the bride and the groom etc.
A reading tends to be more heartfelt, sincere and even poetic. It may delve deeper into love – which at the end of the day, is what the wedding is all about. The secret is to look at a range of potential readings and not only choose one that is relevant to you as the couple, but (and probably more importantly) choose one that is relevant to the person doing the reading. How will they sound verbally doing the reading? Will they sound a bit ridiculous? Is the style in keeping with their personality? Will they sound authentic? Will they trip over words or will they be eloquent? We really need to tailor the reading to the person who we have asked to do it.
In addition, it is really important to give that person plenty of warning. There’s nothing worse than being put on the spot with a reading with insufficient time to prepare it. Make sure they have time to familiarise themselves with the length, content and language of the reading so they can read it with flair and ease.
So, in summary, choose your readings well in advance, suited to you and your readers and give them plenty of time to practice and read through it so they feel eloquent and it feels natural.
Readings are a very special part of a wedding – it is the moment that can bring tears of joy to your congregation of family and friends – people love to feel moved at weddings – you owe it to them! So, choose your readings carefully and choose the people that are going to do those for you.