Good literary vibes only

Carefully-curated short readings can add extra dimensions of meaning-laden beauty to a wedding ceremony. One of the joys of a humanist wedding is the freedom to weave themes, ideas and images throughout the ceremony. So that any readings are not only beautiful or meaningful in their own right, but make sense in context and enhance the whole experience, for the couple and their guests. So, if you’re including readings in a wedding, think about the atmosphere you’re aiming to create.

It’s a key part of the skillset of your celebrant (hopefully me!) to work with you to select the individual elements of your wedding, including any readings, so that they add up to much more than the sum of the parts. There’s no such thing as the perfect reading for weddings, but there will be perfect reading/s for your wedding.

One of my favourite finds of the Summer, shared by a colleague, is Strawberries, by a gay Scottish poet called Edwin Morgan. It’s sensual and evocative, inspired by the poet’s long-term lover, John Scott. As a wedding reading it could easily work for a straight or queer couple, if it suits them and their wedding style. I’m excited to look out for the right context to suggest using Strawberries in a wedding ceremony. Perhaps yours?

Strawberries, by Edwin Morgan

There were never strawberries
like the ones we had
that sultry afternoon
sitting on the step
of the open french window
facing each other
your knees held in mine
the blue plates in our laps
the strawberries glistening
in the hot sunlight
we dipped them in sugar
looking at each other
not hurrying the feast
for one to come
the empty plates
laid on the stone together
with the two forks crossed
and I bent towards you
sweet in that air
in my arms
abandoned like a child
from your eager mouth
the taste of strawberries
in my memory
lean back again
let me love you

let the sun beat
on our forgetfulness
one hour of all
the heat intense
and summer lightning
on the Kilpatrick hills

let the storm wash the plates