A humanist wedding ceremony is all about you, created for you and alongside you both and for many couples it’s incredibly difficult to know where to start when considering which, if any, readings to include.

There are literally millions of stories, quotations, poems and beautifully written words to choose from that will make your wedding ceremony even more bespoke and personal to you. Do you choose a traditional Shakespeare sonnet, or something from your favourite book that you love?

Well, here’s a thought – why not look at some song lyrics instead of traditional readings and include them in your ceremony in the spoken word format. Most of us have songs that we love that conjure up memories and emotion and that are important to us both individually and as a couple. Perhaps ask a close loved one or your celebrant to read these out. You may even consider song extracts to be used as part of your vow exchange.

Perhaps it’s the song that reminds you of when you first met, or when you got engaged. Perhaps it’s a song that you both just love but you don’t think it would sound right to play at your wedding.

I’d like to share a few song lyrics with you now that I’ve used as alternative readings during ceremonies I have conducted.

Poetry in a Song

The Cure, Lovesong

Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am whole again

Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am fun again

Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am clean again

However far away, I will always love you
However long I stay, I will always love you
Whatever words I say, I will always love you
I will always love you.

The Proclaimers, Let’s Get Married

We’ve been going together too long to be vague
When there’s something to say if it’s not now then it’s never
So I’ll say it straight out, ‘cause I have no doubt.

Let’s get married.
I love you and I want to stay with you,
Have kids and grow old and grey with you,
Hold hands, walk in the park
You can get a cat as long as it barks

We know other people who drifted apart and broke each other’s hearts
But we ain’t other people so we’ll do things our way
We’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna be more than okay.

Let’s get married.
We’re ready for tying the knot, set the seal on the feelings we’ve got
We can make each other happy or we can make each other blue
Yeah, it’s just a piece of paper, but it says, “I love you.”
For the good times and the days when we can do no wrong
For the bad times and the moments when we think we can’t go on
For the family and the lives of the children that we’ve planned
Let’s get married.

When we’re old if they ask me “How do you define success?”
I’ll say, “You meet a woman and you fall in love
You ask her and she says, ‘Yes.'”
C’mon darlin’, please take my hand.

James Arthur, New Tattoo

I wear you like a new tattoo
The design I desire, I don’t wanna remove
You’re the kind of thing that I could love forever
I wear you like a new tattoo
And I’ll be so happy that I’m stuck with you
And we cannot deface in any weather.

Do you ever look in the mirror
And not know who you are, or know where you’re going?
Well, I’ve been that boy for what feels like 500 years
Now I’m finally finding me

Before today I didn’t know if I’d make it
But now it’s all making sense.

Elvis Presley, I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You

Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you

Shall I stay? Would it be a sin?
If I can’t help falling in love with you

Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes.
Some things, you know, are meant to be.

Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you.

Jonas Brothers, Sucker

We go together better than birds of a feather, you and me
We change the weather.
I’m feeling heat in December when you’re around me

I’ve been dancing on top of cars and stumbling out of bars
I follow you through the dark, can’t get enough
You’re the medicine and the pain, the tattoo inside my brain
And, baby, you know it’s obvious I’m a sucker for you
You say the word and I’ll go anywhere blindly,
I’m a sucker for you.
Any road you take, you know that you’ll find me.
I’m a sucker for all the subliminal things no one knows about you
And you’re making the typical me break my typical rules
It’s true, I’m a sucker for you.

Ed Sheeran, Perfect

I found a love for me
Oh darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

‘Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you’re holding mine

Baby, I’m dancing in the dark with you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I’ll share her home
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I’ll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don’t deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight.
I have faith in what I see.

There, I really hope you enjoyed those as much as I do. Did anything strike a chord about your relationship (get the musical reference!)? Are Ed, Elvis, James and the rest of them saying exactly how you feel, but so much better than you could say it?

No, I Won’t Sing!

When I do get asked to use lyrics in a ceremony though I always promise that I won’t sing of course! But seriously, if any of those song lyrics spoke to you and made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, why not have a think about including some lyrics in your ceremony.

Tell your story your way. After all, it’s your ceremony!

Lucy Haden
Celebrant at Fuze Ceremonies