Poems for the Ceremony [ Submit a Poem | Toasts/Vows/Speeches Index ]

William Shakespeare, Sonnet CXVI Submitted by: Lisa L. of Arlington, Virginia Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove: O no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come: Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, from Sonnets from the Portuguese Submitted by: Lisa L. of Arlington, Virginia XIV If thou must love me, let it be for nought Except for love's sake only. Do not say 'I love her for her smile—her look—her way Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine, and certes brought A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'— For these things in themselves, Beloved, may Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought, May be unwrought so. Neither love me for Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,— A creature might forget to weep, who bore Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! But love me for love's sake, that evermore Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

My Wedding Vow Submitted by: Andrea of DeWitt, Indiana A poem I have written to present to my fiancée on our wedding day: Because my love for you is deep, I stand here next to you today, And take these vows I will always keep, From now to eternity...come what may. I'll take your hand, I'll walk with you. I'll share with you my hopes and dreams. Always remember my love is true, No matter how good or bad it seems. We'll begin this journey with love as our guide. We'll stroll hand-in-hand down the path of life. My dreams have come true. I can say it with pride, You are my husband. I am your wife.

The Dance, by Wendell Berry Submitted by: Emma of Morgantown, Pennsylvania The Dance, by Wendell Berry I would have each couple turn, join and unjoin, be lost in the greater turning of other couples, woven in the circle of a dance, the song of long time flowing over them, so they may return, turn again, in to themselves out of desire greater than their own, belonging to all, to each, to the dance, and to the song that moves them through the night. What is fidelity? To what does it hold? The point of departure, or the turning road that is departure and absence and the way home? What we are and what we were once are far estranged. For those who would not change, time is infidelity. But we are married until death, and are betrothed to change. By silence, so, I learn my song. I earn my sunny fields by absence, once and to come. And I love you as I love the dance that brings you out of the multitude in which you come and go. Love changes, and in change is true.

A Personal Poem — 12/23/99 Submitted by: A. of O'Brien of Nashville, Tennesee There once was a boy Who fell fast for a girl His love was in music Hers for the world He’d see her in passing She’d see him too What the two of them felt Nobody knew She’d cross the street And he’d cross her mind And he’d think of her As she left him behind But one special day When the sunshine was good The two of them spoke As if always they would She was delightful And he made her smile And the two of them thought Good things all the while He loved her smarts And her ways all around He found her beauty Enchanting and sound She loved his innocence And his silliness too And his goodness is Something she just right away knew So the two of them walked And the two of them played And the two of them cherished All of their days So it came to be known All over the town That the boy and the girl Would forever be bound And the two of them knew From the moment they met That no other would do So the boy and girl wed.

Vow from Bride to Groom Submitted by: Kathryn of Willcox, Arizona I vow to love you all my days. For richer or poorer now and always. I'll comfort your soul when tommorow's unclear And clear life's path of heartache and fear. To thee mine heart always be true. To love and cherish my whole life through. By your side I'll stand through struggles and strife From this day forward your loving wife.

Vow from Bride to Groom - Poem #2 Submitted by: Rebecca W. of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA When I got engaged I began to think about what being married meant to me and what I wanted to promise to my husband in our vows, that led me to write these.. Wedding Vows You are not the air that I breathe, You are the sweet scent that drifts upon it You are not the sounds that I hear, You are the music of my life You are not the food that I need, You are the nourishment of my soul You are not my will to survive You are my reason for living It is with you that I experience the wonders of the world It is with you that I triumph over the challenges in my path It is your partnership that will lead me to the fulfillment of my dreams It is your friendship that guides me as I grow and learn It is your patience and wisdom that calms my restless nature It is through you that I know my true self I do not take you for granted, I cherish you I do not need you, I choose you I choose you today in witness of all the people who love us I choose you tomorrow in the privacy of our hearts I choose you in strength and weakness I choose you in health and in sickness I choose you in joy and sorrow I will choose you, over all others, every day for all the days of my life

A Pledge Submitted by: Michelle H. of Kent, Washington, USA I cross stiched this poem to my husband on our 1st anniversary It would make a lovely promise for all lovers that are to be wed! We pledge our all in solemn vow, And look to God above. To bless the ties that bind are hearts, Eternally in love.

An Excerpt on Marriage from “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran (1923) Submitted by: Regina of Monroe, Louisiana, USA 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.

An Excerpt of a Poem by Maya Angelou Submitted by: Pamela of Lansing On the front of our wedding invitation, we used this excerpt from a poem by Maya Angelou: Then you rose into my life like a promised sunrise. Brightening my days with the light in our eyes. I've never been so strong. Now I'm where I belong.

Promises Submitted by: Stephanie of San Antonio, Texas, USA Promises I cannot promise not to be erratic. I cannot promise to always be strong. I cannot promise to be faultless. I cannot promise to always be the same. I cannot promise to never be moody. I cannot promise not to hurt your feelings sometimes. I promise to share my thoughts with you. I promise to be supportive of you. I promise to be honest with you. I promise to help you achieve your goals. I promise to understand you. I promise to love you.

Half Submitted by: Shelley of Lubbock, Texas, USA When my maid of honor and I came across this, we knew it would be perfect for a ceremony. "No I'll not take the half..." by Yevgeny Yevtushenko No, I'll not take the half of anything! Give me the whole sky! The far-flung earth! Seas and rivers and mountain avalanches - All these are mine! I'll accept no less! No, life, you cannot woo me with a part. Let it be all or nothing! I can shoulder that! I don't want happiness by halves. Nor is half of sorrow what I want. Yet there's a pillow I would share, Where gently pressed against a cheek, Like a helpless star, a falling star, A ring glimmers on a finger of your hand.

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