Biblical Wedding Readings 

The following wedding readings can be read by friends or relatives are appropriate in a more religious ceremony. 

• 1st Corinthians - "Love never fails"

• Book of Ruth - "Where you go, I will go"

• 1st John - "God is love"

This Corinthians passage is the most famous biblical wedding reading because it speaks directly of love. This reading can either be just the first paragraph, or both paragraphs may be read.  

1st Corinthians - Chapter 13   

Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have no love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up. Love rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

But where there be prophecies, they shall fail; where there be tongues, they shall cease; where there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became an adult, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Here's some words about the text, which may be read by the minister:

"Love never fails". Love is what the couple promises to each other.  The bible describes love as a commitment:   Rather than thinking of love as a feeling, that one can fall in or out of love, thinking of love as a commitment means that it is a deliberate decision to do loving things.  To love is a deliberate decision to be patient and kind.  It's a deliberate decision not to be envious, boastful, proud, rude, or self-seeking. A couple who shows love to their marriage partner has made a deliberate decision not to be easily angered, not to remember past wrongs, not to delight in evil. The couple has made a deliberate decision to protect, trust, hope, and persevere. Love is not an accident. It doesn't just happen.  Love requires this commitment, this marriage of wills, this wedding of shared purpose.

Many people love the following reading from the Book of Ruth because it is one of the parts of the bible really focusing on a woman, plus it's a meaningful and heartfelt message about commitment.

A Reading from the Book of Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die --there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well, if even death parts me from you!"

Here's some words about the text, which may be read by the minister:

"Where you go, I will go." This passage speaks of a relationship that is a commitment that pierces expectations.   It's about having a relationship with another human being that slices through cultural boundaries, a relationship that is life-long and unswerving. This message is about family and relationships and commitment and love.  It's an affirmation of love that speaks of creating a family.  We are called into relationships, into commitment and caring. We were meant to be with one another. We were meant to be life-committed partners through all that comes to us. We are meant to reach out and say, "I'm not going away. I love you. I'm here for the long haul. I'm here across the chasms and the differences; across the faults and the failures. I'm here and you're more important than any task. You're more significant than the expectations placed on me by work or by society. I'm here and I love you no matter what." "I will walk with you. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God.  Where you live I will live and where you die I will die." We are gifts to one another in a time of isolation and alienation. We can reach out in hope, in love, in unlimited compassion to each other; to reach out to a world that runs the same race we run, that bears the same wounds we bear, and that needs the same loving touch that we need. And so let us walk with Ruth... We're saying here...I'm not going away. Wherever you go I will go. Your people will be my people. Your God my God. Where you live I will live, and where you die.....I will die.

"God is love."

For many people, this is their favorite passage from the bible and the meaning, "God is Love", sums up their personal relationship with God.

1st John - Chapter 4

We read in the first epistle of John, 
Let us love not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.... Let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love....    He who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.