Wedding Readings: Centuries of Writing and Rituals on Love and Marriage (Paperback)

~ Various (Author), Eleanor Munro (Editor) "The country of marriage, in Wendell Berry's lovely phrase, lies well beyond careless happiness, on the other side of but never out of reach of..." (more)
Key Phrases: eternal space, soul loveth, thou art fair, Wedding Readings, The Country of Marriage, New English Bible (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Munro here gathers appropriate prose, poetry, songs, and prayers from various religions and nationalities. With wedding season rapidly approaching, this is bound to be popular.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Appropriate for either traditional or informal, sacred or secular wedding ceremonies, a collection of writings on love and commitment includes psalms, poems, and prose, including Native American love songs, African prayers, Buddhist homilies, and works by Plato, Donne, Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, and others. Reprint.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140088792
• ISBN-13: 978-0140088793
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #179,638 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for finding readings for a special ceremony!, January 20, 2000

By	Lisa (Chicago, Il.) - See all my reviews

I really enjoyed all the readings this book included. It has religious and non religious readings. It includes sonnets, love poems and passages from the Bible. If you want some alternative selections for your ceremony, I definately recommend this book. Whether you are Jewish, Christian or Atheist this book really has something for everyone. Some of the readings they include in this book would be great to be recited at the reception, or be placed in your wedding program or invitation. I would recommend reading this book from cover to cover so that yu don't miss any of the special passages that you may want to incorporate!

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best by far, August 18, 2003

By A Customer

I'm giving this a low score because the cover claims that the selections are specifically for wedding readings, both traditional and informal. I agree with another reviewer: the few excerpts I liked and could use in a ceremony all appeared in other collections. I'd recommend this only to someone who is reading about love and marriage for a peek into other times and traditions...not to gather readings for a ceremony. The texts were certainly interesting and educational, but most are only appropriate for self-conciously nontraditional events, very brave readers, and highly literate guests. Lots of archaic langauge and rather overwrought expressions of love. I'm planning a small, casual wedding and many of the guests are writers also. I'd be embarassed to have most of these readings presented, so I'm returning my copy. If you're researching wedding rituals or are looking for quotes for an article on commitment through the ages, this might be good for you. If you're a busy-wedding-planning bride looking for some readings that will engage but not challenge your guests, I'd recommend looking at other guides.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Useful Reference and an Interesting Read!, March 13, 1998

By A Customer

This book is just packed with readings drawn from great literature. Some are long, some are short--all are interesting and many make good candidates for inclusion in a wedding ceremony. The book is divided into sections, covering different "themes" relating to love and marriage. Some are even a little racy! At the end, Munro suggests some ideal reading for various members of the family and bridal party. I think those planning a wedding and thinking about the meaning of marriage will find this a good book. The passages are moving and thought-provoking, and if you're looking for a good wedding reading you're sure to find one here.