Wedding Poems & Readings
The following database of poems and readings is an ever-expanding list of verses useful for anyone planning a wedding ceremony. Some of the verses have been written by me; others have been used in my ceremonies; yet more are simply verses that I like, and believe can be useful in certain scenarios.
Verses are listed by category, and alphabetically. So, if you’re searching for a poem for a second marriage, scroll down to ‘S’ or hit ‘Ctrl+F’ to find ‘second marriage’ on this page; this can be done for a couple who love walking, who enjoying watching TV soaps, who bring laughter into each other’s lives, or any other topic you can think of.
You can also find an index of topics at the top of this page. You can click on a topic of interest, and you’ll then find a collection of readings on that topic and a short summary of each, and you can click or scroll again to be taken to the full text.
All verses featured on this website are free to use during any ceremony, although it is good practice to make sure the author is mentioned, if known. Should you require a celebrant for your ceremony, be it a funeral, a wedding, a naming ceremony or something else, feel free to get in touch. I am a double award-nominated Family and Funeral Celebrant covering the entire UK, and would be happy to help you commemorate in a meaningful and personal way.
Wedding Poem Topics
Adventure
Birds
Equality
Friendship
International Couples
The Outdoors
Second Marriage
Strength
Adventure
Poems for couples who love new experiences, the great outdoors, and generally understand that life is an adventure.
- Compass Hearts – Mark Gregory
A beautiful poem describing life as an adventure, and how a couple can anchor themselves in each other, wherever the road takes them. - Love’s Philosophy – Percy Bysshe Shelley
A romantic argument that everything in nature is meant to join — rivers, mountains, and souls. - Not Just In Far-Flung Lands – Mark Gregory
A sonnet designed to remind that love doesn’t just flourish in the big adventures, but also in the smaller moments. - The Road Not Taken – Robert Frost
A timeless classic about choosing your own path — perfect for couples embarking on life’s biggest shared journey.
Compass Hearts
by Mark Gregory
We have no map, no compass true,
only the steady pull of you.
Mountains rise, rivers twist,
and still, our path insists—
forward, always forward.
We stumble, we soar, we stop for breath,
and find wild beauty in the mess.
We’ve crossed deserts of doubt,
and oceans of laughter,
anchored by faith,
lifted by wonder.
There are days when the road grows rough,
and our patience wears thin,
but the smallest glance between us
becomes a flare in the fog—
a promise:
we will find our way again.
Every sunrise is a checkpoint,
every sunset, a page turned.
Our hearts—those wandering compasses—
never point north,
only toward each other.
So let the journey twist as it must;
let the storms and stories come.
For no matter where the horizon hides,
we are already home.
Love’s Philosophy
by Percy Bysshe Shelley
The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine?—
See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou kiss not me?
Not Just in Far-Flung Lands
by Mark Gregory
Not just in far-flung lands our hearts take flight,
But in the quiet turning of each day;
A whispered joke beneath the fading light,
Outshines the peaks we dreamt of far away.
We’ve lost our way on roads that had no names,
Yet laughed until the compass spun anew;
For love is also found in fun and games,
And all the best mistakes lead back to you.
We’ve walked through fear, and danced through gentle pain,
And found the world grows wider when we care;
Each step we take rewrites what dreams contain,
Each mile reminds us why we started there.
The world expands each time our hands entwine,
For love’s the grandest journey—yours and mine.
The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Birds
Poems for couples who love birdwatching, birdsong, or even playing board games about birds!
- Invitation to Love – Paul Laurence Dunbar
A lyrical invitation embracing love’s arrival at any time, using natural imagery to convey longing and the comfort of companionship. - The Owl and the Pussycat – Edward Lear
A whimsical narrative of an owl and a cat who embark on a fantastical journey, culminating in their charming and unconventional marriage. - Two Doves – Anonymous
A poetic depiction of two doves symbolising the union of two souls, highlighting harmony, unity, and the beauty of shared love. - Two Doves (Revised Version) – Mark Gregory
A modern adaptation focusing more deeply on avian imagery to represent the merging of lives and the elegance of marital unity. - Wedding Poem – Ross Gay
An observation of a goldfinch and a sunflower, serving as a metaphor for the joy and simplicity found in love and partnership.
Invitation To Love
an excerpt, by Paul Laurence Dunbar
You are sweet, O Love, dear Love,
You are soft as the nesting dove.
Come to my heart and bring it rest
As the bird flies home to its welcome nest.
The Owl And The Pussycat
by Edward Lear
I
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
“O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!”
II
Pussy said to the Owl, “You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?”
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
III
“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?” Said the Piggy, “I will.”
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
Two Doves
Author Unknown
Two doves meeting in the sky
Two loves hand in hand eye to eye
Two parts of a loving whole
Two hearts and a single soul
Two stars shining big and bright
Two fires bringing warmth and light
Two songs played in perfect tune
Two flowers growing into bloom
Two doves gliding in the air
Two loves free without a care
Two parts of a loving whole
Two hearts and a single soul
Two Doves (Revised Version)
by Mark Gregory
Two doves meeting in the sky,
Two loves hand in hand, eye to eye,
Perfect partners winging together
Through clear or cloudy weather.
Seeking their harbour in the west,
They build a tranquil, happy nest.
Where never sorrows dim the eye,
And love grows never old or shy,
Perfect companions through life’s flight,
In happy peace, in gliding light.
Together rise, together soar,
Forever and ever, more and more.
Wedding Poem
by Ross Gay
Friends I am here to modestly report
seeing in an orchard
in my town
a goldfinch kissing
a sunflower
again and again
dangling upside down
by its tiny claws
steadying itself by snapping open
like an old-timey fan
its wings
again and again,
until, swooning, it tumbled off
and swooped back to the very same perch,
where the sunflower curled its giant
swirling of seeds
around the bird and leaned back
to admire the soft wind
nudging the bird’s plumage,
and friends I could see
the points on the flower’s stately crown
soften and curl inward
as it almost indiscernibly lifted
the food of its body
to the bird’s nuzzling mouth
whose fervor
I could hear from
oh 20 or 30 feet away
and see from the tiny hulls
that sailed from their
good racket,
which good racket, I have to say
was making me blush,
and rock up on my tippy-toes,
and just barely purse my lips
with what I realize now
was being, simply, glad,
which such love,
if we let it,
makes us feel.
Equality
- First Poems – Rainer Maria Rilke
A brief verse expressing the desire for shared aspirations and mutual understanding between partners. - He Is My Husband, She Is My Wife – Mark Gregory
A celebration of equal partnership in marriage, highlighting mutual support, admiration, and shared responsibilities. - To Love Is Not To Possess – James Kavanaugh
A reflection on love as a union that respects individuality, emphasizing freedom, personal growth, and mutual commitment.
First Poems
by Rainer Maria Rilke
Understand, I’ll slip quietly
Away from the noisy crowd
When I see the pale
Stars rising, blooming over the oaks
I’ll pursue solitary pathways
Through the pale twilit meadows,
With only this one dream:
You come too.
He Is My Husband, She Is My Wife
by Mark Gregory
He is very selfless; when asked, he’ll never say ‘no’,
He shows me a side of him that others will never know
She understands the ins and outs of everything I do
She’s strong and proud and driven; her flaws are but a few
He’s caring, tender, warm, and kind, and makes me cups of coffee
He shows me every day just how much he loves me
She inspires me and lifts me up, and clarifies confusion
She helps me grow, keeps me grounded, keeps me human
He is the one to whom I give my loving
She is the one I want to be with all my life.
He is a friend, a partner, now my husband.
She is a friend, a partner, now my wife.
We need each other more than anything or anyone.
We will love each other until both our lives are done.
To Love Is Not To Possess
by James Kavanaugh
To love is not to possess,
To own or imprison,
Nor to lose one’s self in another.
Love is to join and separate,
To walk alone and together,
To find a laughing freedom
That lonely isolation does not permit.
It is finally to be able
To be who we really are
No longer clinging in childish dependency
Nor docilely living separate lives in silence,
It is to be perfectly one’s self
And perfectly joined in permanent commitment
To another–and to one’s inner self.
Love only endures when it moves like waves,
Receding and returning gently or passionately,
Or moving lovingly like the tide
In the moon’s own predictable harmony,
Because finally, despite a child’s scars
Or an adult’s deepest wounds,
They are openly free to be
Who they really are–and always secretly were,
In the very core of their being
Where true and lasting love can alone abide.
Friendship
Poems celebrating the deep bond of friendship that forms the foundation of lasting love.
- Friendship – Ralph Waldo Emerson
A profound reflection on the enduring nature of true friendship, emphasising its role as a steadfast companion through life’s journey. - Marry Your Best Friend – Anonymous
A heartfelt reminder that marrying your best friend brings joy, laughter, and unwavering support throughout life’s adventures. - To Be One With Each Other – George Eliot
An eloquent depiction of marriage as a union of souls, where friendship and love intertwine to create a harmonious partnership. - Love and Friendship – Emily Brontë
A comparison between the fleeting nature of passionate love and the enduring strength of true friendship. - Friendship After Love – Ella Wheeler Wilcox
An exploration of the transition from passionate love to a deep, abiding friendship that endures beyond romantic intensity.
Friendship
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
A ruddy drop of manly blood
The surging sea outweighs,
The world uncertain comes and goes;
The lover rooted stays.
I fancied he was fled,—
And, after many a year,
Glowed unexhausted kindliness,
Like daily sunrise there.
My careful heart was free again,—
O friend, my bosom said,
Through thee alone the sky is arched,
Through thee the rose is red;
All things through thee take nobler form,
And look beyond the earth;
The mill-round of our fate appears
A sun-path in thy worth.
Marry Your Best Friend
Author Unknown
Marry your best friend.
I do not say that lightly.
Really, truly find the strongest, happiest friendship
In the person you fall in love with.
Someone who speaks highly of you.
Someone you can laugh with.
The kind of laughs that make your belly ache,
And your nose snort.
The embarrassing, earnest, healing kind of laughs.
Wit is important.
Life is too short not to love someone
Who lets you be a fool with them.
Make sure they are somebody
Who lets you cry, too.
Despair will come.
Find someone that you want to be there with you
Through those times.
Most importantly, marry the one
That makes passion, love, and madness
Combine and course through you.
A love that will never dilute
Even when the waters get deep, and dark.
To Be One With Each Other
by George Eliot
What greater thing is there for two human souls,
Than to feel that they are joined for life—
To strengthen each other in all labor,
To rest on each other in all sorrow,
To minister to each other in all pain,
To be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories
At the moment of the last parting?
Love and Friendship
by Emily Brontë
Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree—
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck thee with the holly’s sheen,
That when December blights thy brow
He still may leave thy garland green.
Friendship After Love
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
After the fierce midsummer all ablaze
Has burned itself to ashes, and expires
In the intensity of its own fires,
There come the mellow, mild, St. Martin days
Crowned with the calm of peace, but sad with haze.
So after Love has led us, till he tires
Of his own throes, and torments, and desires,
Comes large-eyed friendship: with a restful gaze,
He beckons us to follow, and across
Cool verdant vales we wander free from care.
Is it a touch of frost lies in the air?
Why are we haunted with a sense of loss?
We do not wish the pain back, or the heat;
And yet, and yet, these days are incomplete.
International Couples
Poems for those who grew up in different places with different backgrounds, but who were united by love.
- Before We Met – Mark Gregory
A poem telling the story of a couple who were brought together by love. - Love Across Regions – Yusuf Ali
A heartfelt poem celebrating the strength of love that transcends regional and cultural boundaries. - May This Marriage Be Blessed – Rumi
A timeless blessing wishing joy, harmony, and unity in marriage, often used in multicultural ceremonies.
Before We Met
by Mark Gregory
Before we met,
Our lives were different,
Our paths were different,
Our pasts were different.
Different backgrounds,
Different families,
Different languages,
Different homelands.
You grew up in a different way than I.
You were loved by different people than I.
You spoke in a different way than I.
You came from a different place than I.
But then we met.
Our lives met.
Our paths met.
Our pasts met.
And we discovered that despite our differences,
One thing was the same.
Love.
Love united our differences,
And now our future is the same.
Same goals.
Same bed.
Same family.
Same home.
And let love continue to unite our differences,
Today, tomorrow, and all the days thereafter.
Love Across Regions
by Yusuf Ali
Destiny bought us together,
It was hard at first,
Containing all of the pressure.
But it was your smile that brought in the dawn,
And then all my anxiety was withdrawn.
I fell in love at first sight.
But I wasn’t sure if you might.
A Midwestern woman of pride.
Your love is as unconquerable as the mountains.
I am an East Coast man of honor,
My love is as unstoppable as the fountains.
Together, our love will stand against the test of time,
We must stop listening to cold whispers.
From our love, the truth will shine,
And overcome the gossip of all drifters.
Every thunderstorm and snowfall,
We will hold on to each other.
I will not you get out my sight,
Hands in hands, our vibe will not shiver.
Keep loving each other no matter what,
We will be stronger than the strongest the river.
I see uncertainty in your eyes,
You may think I have gone crazy from the fever.
Love across the regions,
The legend will echo through the winds.
Keep loving me tenderly,
This is where our story begins.
May This Marriage Be Blessed
by Rumi
May this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk,
this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
The Outdoors
Poems covering a whole range of outdoor activities, but mainly walking, hiking, and spending time in nature.
- The Future – Emma Salmon
A heartwarming vision of married life, depicting a shared future filled with cozy nights, family moments, and the simple joys of domestic bliss. - May The Sun Bring You New Energy – Anonymous
A serene blessing often attributed to Native American traditions, offering wishes for harmony, renewal, and a life intertwined with nature. - Scafell Pike – Adapted from Ra Page
An evocative adaptation celebrating the journey of love and partnership, using the ascent of England’s highest peak as a metaphor for shared adventures and mutual support. - Song of the Open Road – Walt Whitman
A classic ode to freedom and companionship, inviting readers to embrace life’s journey with open hearts and the courage to walk together into the unknown.
The Future
by Emma Salmon
In my future I see you and me,
And a house and garden filled with trees.
I see dinner parties surrounded by friends,
And a vegetable patch we love to tend.
I see cosy nights in front of the fire,
And a four-poster bed for when we tire.
I see our kitchen which will be the heart of the home,
And a Victorian bath brimming with foam.
I see muddy wellies by the front door,
And the kids eating cookies and asking for more.
I see nights in the garden camping under the stars,
And shelves full of mismatching local jam jars.
I see family picnics outside with the dog,
And a little blue shed containing the logs.
I see us sat by the window watching the snow,
And reading the papers and learning to grow.
I see pictures of family in quirky frames,
And letters on the kids’ doors spelling out their names.
I see laughter, pain, kisses and tears,
And helping each other to confront our fears.
I see you as my friend and also my lover,
Your confidant and your children’s mother.
I see a wonderful future for you and I,
And it’s cloaked in love until we die.
May The Sun Bring You New Energy
Author Unknown
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 can feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other.
Now there will be no more loneliness.
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.
Now go to your dwelling to enter into the days of your life together,
And may your days be good and long upon this earth.
Scafell Pike
an adaptation of the original poem by Ra Page
He’s in his element,
finding his stride for every two of hers,
beating the boot-worn path to England’s roof.
She gave her word to go along this once,
to climb her mountain,
but hardly warms to the ‘hard pulse of walking’,
the pace with which they poach their bird’s eye view.
Surely this unexpected tarn will win the resolute town girl round,
this startled blink of blue from sleeping green.
Surely she’ll love heath.
She’s not short sighted,
short legged,
short of breath;
and when at dusk they round the clouded peak,
his heart soars.
Her full gaze brings back the reason he fell.
Song Of The Open Road
by Walt Whitman
The road is before us!
It is safe—I have tried it—my own feet have tried it well—be not detained!
Let the paper remain on the desk unwritten, and the book on the shelf unopened!
Let the tools remain in the workshop! let the money remain unearned!
Let the school stand! mind not the cry of the teacher!
Let the preacher preach in his pulpit! let the lawyer plead in the court, and the judge expound the law.
Camerado, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself before preaching or law;
Will you give me yourself? will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?
Second Marriage
Poems for those who are tying the knot for the second or third time, but are just as in love as they have ever been.
- I’d Love To Be Your Last – Gretchen Wilson
A heartfelt expression of enduring love, this song conveys the desire to be someone’s final and lasting partner, embracing a future together while letting go of past relationships. - Mouthful Of Forevers – Clementine von Radics
A poignant poem that delves into the complexities of love after loss, celebrating the beauty of second chances and the profound connection found in new beginnings. - A Second Chance – Mark Gregory
This poem reflects on the themes of love and loss, emphasizing the hope and renewal that come with being granted a second opportunity at love. - The Second Time Around – Sammy Cahn
Originally popularized by Frank Sinatra, this classic song celebrates the deeper appreciation and enduring nature of love experienced anew.
I’d Love To Be Your Last
by Gretchen Wilson
If I had it my way, this would be the first time
That I made love
And I would be the first girl that your hands touched
But we’ve both done our share of livin’
Taking chances we’ve been given
I’ve never been too big on looking back
I don’t care if I’m your first love,
But I’d love to be your last.
If I could do it over I’d have waited for this moment
So I could give my heart to you unbroken
But if our mistakes brought us together
Does it really matter whether
We were saints or sinners in the past?
I don’t care if I’m your first love,
But I’d love to be your last.
All I know is what I see when I look at you
And what I see when I look at you
And all I see is what I’m feeling down inside
And all I’m feeling is this feeling
That I’ve finally got it right
When I wake up tomorrow I’m gonna wrap my arms around you
And thank my lucky stars I found you
Cause I know your heart has so much more than anyone has
Touched before, and nothing matter more to me than that
I don’t care if I’m your first love,
But I’d love to be your last.
Mouthful Of Forevers
by Clementine von Radics
I am not the first person you loved.
You are not the first person I looked at
with a mouthful of forevers. We
have both known loss like the sharp edges
of a knife. We have both lived with lips
more scar tissue than skin. Our love came
unannounced in the middle of the night.
Our love came when we’d given up
on asking love to come. I think
that has to be part
of its miracle.
This is how we heal.
I will kiss you like forgiveness. You
will hold me like I’m hope. Our arms
will bandage and we will press promises
between us like flowers in a book.
I will write sonnets to the salt of sweat
on your skin. I will write novels to the scar
of your nose. I will write a dictionary
of all the words I have used trying
to describe the way it feels to have finally,
finally found you.
And I will not be afraid
of your scars.
I know sometimes
it’s still hard to let me see you
in all your cracked perfection,
but please know:
whether it’s the days you burn
more brilliant than the sun
or the nights you collapse into my lap
your body broken into a thousand questions,
you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I will love you when you are a still day.
I will love you when you are a hurricane.
A Second Chance
I never knew
After all we’ve been through
That I was open to meeting
Someone like you.
We have both had someone,
And had daughters and sons;
Spent almost a lifetime
Having already won.
And then came the news
We were battered and bruised:
We lost the last person
We ever wanted to lose.
But that very first glance
Gave us both a second chance
To start a new chapter
Full of fun and romance.
So here’s to the past!
We have both had a blast –
You were not my first love,
But I hope you’re my last.
The Second Time Around
by Sammy Cahn
Love is lovelier the second time around
Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground
It’s that second time you hear your love song sung
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young.
Love’s more comfortable the second time you fall
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we’ve found?
There are those who’ll bet love comes but once, and yet:
I’m oh, so glad we met the second time around
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we’ve found?
There are those who’ll bet love comes but once, and yet
I’m oh, so glad we met the second time around.
Strength
Poems for those couples who have been through hard times together, but emerged on the other side stronger than ever.
Resilient Threads – Mark Gregory – A poem emphasising the beauty of patching things up together.
Unbreakable Bond – Catherine Pulsifer – A short poem about standing together through thick and thin.
Resilient Threads
by Mark Gregory
In the tapestry of us, threads frayed, colors dimmed,
Moments when the fabric seemed ready to tear.
Yet, in those fragile places,
We wove new patterns,
Strengthened the seams with tears and laughter,
Stitched with the needle of understanding.
Our hands, though trembling, never let go,
Guiding each other through the labyrinth of trials.
Emerging from shadows,
We found that the wear and tear
Had only made our tapestry
More intricate, more beautiful,
A testament to love’s enduring art.
Unbreakable Bond
by Catherine Pulsifer
When storms descend, fierce and wild,
We stand as one, both strong and mild.
Through thunder’s roar and lightning’s flare,
Our hands entwined, hearts laid bare.
For in each struggle, shoulder to shoulder,
We find our strength, we grow much bolder.
An unbreakable bond, forged by fight,
Together we walk, through shadow and light.
All poems featured on this website are free to use during any ceremony, although it is good practice to make sure the author is mentioned, if known. Should you require a celebrant for your ceremony, be it a funeral, a wedding, a naming ceremony or something else, feel free to get in touch. I am a double award-nominated Family and Funeral Celebrant covering the entire UK, and would be happy to help you commemorate in a meaningful and personal way.