It’s all about who.

Before even thinking about what will be said, think about who will say it.

Readings are a beautiful way to include someone special to you in your ceremony. It’s best to ask someone who is comfortable speaking in front of people. Then choose someone who can impart a little wisdom, entertain or surprise you. Maybe it’s…..

• The old family friend who always has a pearl of wisdom to share.

• The third wheel in your relationship or the person who introduced you.

• Your grandparent with a 50 year wedding under their belt and knows a thing or two about relationships.

• Your kiddos.

Once you’ve selected someone, think about asking them to write something or choose a reading themselves. It can be a wonderful surprise for you on the day when Nan whips out a lovingly crafted poem or your housemate has written a song for you both.

Just make sure whoever you choose knows this isn’t usually the time to bust out the embarrassing drunk stories from your younger days - save that for the reception!

If you need a little inspiration to make the decision, here’s some tried and true examples….

I Wanna Grow Old With You (The Wedding Singer)

"I wanna make you smile, Whenever you’re sad, Carry you around when your arthritis is bad

All I wanna do, is grow old with you

I’ll get you medicine when your tummy aches Build you a fire if the furnace breaks

So, it could be so nice growing old with you,....

I’ll miss you. Kiss you. Give you my coat when you are cold. Need you. Feed you. Even let you hold the remote control.

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink

Put you to bed when you’ve had too much to drink Oh I could be the man that grows old with you

I wanna grow old with you."

Better Together by Jack Johnson

There is no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard

No song that I could sing, but I can try for your heart

Our dreams, and they are made out of real things

Like a, shoebox of photographs

With sepia-toned loving

Love is the answer,

At least for most of the questions in my heart

Like why are we here? And where do we go?

And how come it’s so hard?

It’s not always easy and

Sometimes life can be deceiving

I’ll tell you one thing, it’s always better when we’re together

Everlong by Foo Fighters

And I wonder. If everything could ever feel this real forever

If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I’ll ever ask of you

You’ve got to promise not to stop when I say when