My daughter is getting married in a register office and she wants a reading, has anyone any suggestions please as she is getting worried, she doesnt like William Shakespeare. All replies welcome.

I got married recently and we had a choice of readings from the registrar in our ceremony pack, does she have one?

Loads here http://www.hitched.co.uk/plan/readings/index.asp - no responsibility taken if they're vomit inducing LOL.

Lyrics from a favourite song?

M.

I went to a wedding recently. This was printed at the back of the order of service, not read out - just for everybody to read. I think it's so moving.....and made me tearful throughout the whole service !.

'What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to strengthen each other in all labour, 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.'
- George Elliot

This is nice - from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, usually known as "On Marriage":

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

LE  Not sure you can have that as it mentions God and a civil service is supposed to be non religious (but may be down to the individual registrar)

V3ctra22 is right, you can not mention anything religious or God related at a civil ceremony.

Here is my favourite poem.  My sister read it our wedding, also a civil ceremony there wasn't a dry eye in the house!! I hope you like it as much as I do.

    The Art of Marriage - Wilferd Peterson
: >
: > The little things are the big things.
: > It is never being too old to hold hands.
: > It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
: >
: > It is never going to sleep angry.
: > It is at no time taking the other for granted;
: > the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
: > it should continue through all the years.
: >
: > It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
: > It is standing together facing the world.
: > It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
: > It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude
: > of duty or sacrifice,
: > but in the spirit of joy.
: >
: > It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating
: > gratitude in thoughtful ways.
: > It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have
: > wings of an angel.
: > It is not looking for perfection in each other.
: >
: > It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a
: > sense of humor.
: > It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
: > It is giving each other an atmosphere in
: > which each can grow.
: >
: > It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
: > It is a common search for the good and
: > the beautiful.
: > It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
: > dependence is mutual and
: > the obligation is reciprocal.

: > It is not only marrying the right partner,
: > it is BEING the right partner.
: >

Oops, never thought of the God bit for a civil ceremony!  Miss the first verse out? :)