A humanist wedding ceremony tells the personal love story of a couple, and so each one is unique.
Some couples have favourite poems that they’d like to read or have read at their wedding, but what if you like the idea of including a poem but don’t know which to choose?
That’s where your humanist celebrant comes in! Poetry is as diverse as the relationships we celebrate and your celebrant will have a deep knowledge of poetry and a wide selection of poems you can look through before making the choice that’s right for you. They can also help you with choosing something special that is uniquely suited to your personal situation and your story.
Here are five of our celebrants favourite poems for weddings. You might find one that’s perfect for you – or you might be inspired to write your own!
‘That Still and Settled Place’ by Edward Monkton
In that still and settled place
There’s nobody but you
You’re where I breath my oxygen
You’re where I see my view
And when the world feels full of noise
My heart knows what to do
It finds that still and settled place
And dances there with you
On Your Wedding Day (Anon)
Today is a day you will always remember
The greatest in anyone’s life
You’ll start off the day just two people in love
And end it as Husband and Wife
It’s a brand new beginning the start of a journey
With moments to cherish and treasure
And although there’ll be times when you both disagree
These will surely be outweighed by pleasure
You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past
When the secrets of marriage were spoken
But you know that the answers lie hidden inside
Where the bond of true love lies unbroken
So live happy forever as lovers and friends
It’s the dawn of a new life for you
As you stand there together with love in your eyes
From the moment you whisper ‘I do’
And with luck, all your hopes, and your dreams can be real
May success find its way to your hearts
Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys
But today is the day it all starts
‘Temporary and Permanent’ by Nikita Gill
Most people in your life
Were only meant
For dreams,
And summer laughter.
They stay till the wind changes,
And tides turn,
Or disappear
With the first snow.
And then there are some
That were forged
To weather blizzards
And pain with you.
They were cast in iron,
Set in gold
And never ever leave you
To face anything alone.
Know who those people are
And love them the way they deserve.
Not everyone in your life is temporary.
A few are as permanent as love is old.
‘Invisible Kisses’ by Lemn Sissay
If there was ever one
Whom when you were sleeping
Would wipe your tears
When in dreams you were weeping;
Who would offer you time
When others demand;
Whose love lay more infinite
Than grains of sand.
If there was ever one
To whom you could cry;
Who would gather each tear
And blow it dry;
Who would offer help
On the mountains of time;
Who would stop to let each sunset
Soothe the jaded mind.
If there was ever one
To whom when you run
Will push back the clouds
So you are bathed in sun;
Who would open arms
If you would fall;
Who would show you everything
If you lost it all.
If there was ever one
Who when you achieve
Was there before the dream
And even then believed;
Who would clear the air
When it’s full of loss;
Who would count love
Before the cost.
If there was ever one
Who when you are cold
Will summon warm air
For your hands to hold;
Who would make peace
In pouring pain,
Make laughter fall
In falling rain.
If there was ever one
Who can offer you this and more;
Who in keyless rooms
Can open doors;
Who in open doors
Can see open fields
And in open fields
See harvests yield.
Then see only my face
In reflection of these tides
Through the clear water
Beyond the river side.
All I can send is love
In all that this is
A poem and a necklace
Of invisible kisses.
‘How do I declare the ways..?’ by Sheena Bradley (Humanist celebrant)
How do I declare the ways..?
Can words express the way I feel? Can kisses?
Do you understand that there is a little piece of me
That dies every time you leave
Don’t you know, I don’t want you to go
And when you arrive, it’s like we’d never been apart
You have my heart.
It is intoxicating,
Inexplicable and marvellous…
Being with you is what I always hoped it would be like
And I have to pinch myself and ask
What did I do to deserve a gift so precious?
How can I declare the ways?
Yes! I will marry you.
How do we find the perfect poem?
You don’t need to spend hours searching the Internet or trawling the local library to find the perfect poem for your wedding. After meeting you and listening to you speak about your love story, your celebrant will be able to guide you to a range of suitable poems which you can read through until you find the one that’s perfect for you.
Great poets have captured thoughts and feelings and made them beautiful and memorable. Discovering and sharing them can bring us intense joy. Take your time over choosing the one or two that feel right to you to include on your big day.
Finding your celebrant
If you’re starting to plan your wedding and are looking for a celebrant, our online map makes it easy to find a celebrant near you.
