A few months ago, at  Royal & Danny’s Wedding, I heard the most beautiful reading during their ceremony. It spoke about the significance of the hands of your best friend, the hands that will forever be there to help you and love you… all the days of your life!
Those words, so honest and true, made me fall even more in love with this couple and their special day. I have been thinking about readings for my own wedding ceremony in May and I keep coming back to this one. In today’s Monday Musings post, I wanted to share these special words with all of you.
Thank you Royal & Danny for inspiring me! Sending you both a big hug!
These Hands
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love,
that hold yours on your wedding day.
These are the hands that will work along side yours as you build your future together.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and care for you throughout the years.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief torments your mind
and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you struggle,
and support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, and help keep your family together as one.
These are the hands that will, countless times, wipe the tears from yours eyes,
tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled with age, will still be reaching for yours,
still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch – – – a touch from these hands.
Absolutely amazing, right? There are quite a few varieties online, with different verses, and many couples customize these words to fit their relationship! But the main message is so incredibly poignant and heartfelt.
As a couple exchanges vows on their wedding day, the officiant often asks them to face one another and hold hands. The holding of hands is such a beautiful act, much more than a symbol, it serves to bring two people closer together and to unite them in a strong and caring gesture.
I’d love to know what your favorite wedding ceremony readings are?
What have you heard or even done for your own wedding that you felt captured the essence of what marriage is all about? I’m always looking for inspiration and my own wedding is right around the corner!
January 21st, 2013 at 8:43 am
We had “Love” by Ray Croft read at our wedding. <3 "I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but what you are making of me." It's so romantic. 🙂
January 21st, 2013 at 11:20 am
One of my all-time favorite readings, ever!! <3 <3 <3
January 21st, 2013 at 11:32 am
Oh I so love this. Jd and I read a poem to each other as vows. “The Art Of Marriage” by Wilferd A. Peterson. We read each line alternating. It was perfect for us. I love vows more than any other part of a wedding. Thank you for sharing this. <3
January 21st, 2013 at 12:06 pm
I knew you’d make me tear up again this Monday! hehe…I even started reading and said this is gonna be a tearjerker, NO crying Carly…But still did…Your imagery and words along withit are just remarkable… xox
January 21st, 2013 at 12:08 pm
I love this reading! We didn’t do any since our ceremony was so short and our wedding was so small, but if we had I would have wanted something like this.
January 21st, 2013 at 1:58 pm
We had the Commitment Reading of the Pueblo Indian read at our wedding. Two of my favorite parts: “When you came to me the sun surged toward the earth and moon escaped from darkness to bless the union of two spirits, so alike that the creator had designed them for life’s endless circle.” and the last line, “We are the reason the world can laugh on its battlefields and rise from the ashes of its selfishness to hear me say in this time, this place, this way- I loved you best of all.”
January 21st, 2013 at 4:23 pm
This is such an amazing reading!
January 22nd, 2013 at 2:12 am
This was totally in the running for us at some point. It truly is so touching!
January 22nd, 2013 at 10:34 am
I LOVE this! Thanks for sharing
January 29th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
I want this framed for my wall – absolutely love it!