If you’re planning a non-religious wedding ceremony, you have a lot more freedom when it comes to choosing a reading. It doesn’t have to be a traditional wedding poem, and it certainly doesn’t have to mention marriage or love at all.

A great reading might come from a favourite book, a poem you’ve loved for years, a film you both quote constantly, a children’s story that reminds you of home, or even something you’ve written yourselves.

The important thing is that it means something to you. As a celebrant, that’s usually what makes a reading memorable — not whether it was written specifically for weddings, but whether your guests can understand why you chose it.

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A non-religious wedding reading is simply a piece of writing, poetry, prose or another spoken passage included in your ceremony that doesn’t rely on religious beliefs or scripture.

That leaves a huge amount of room for creativity. Your reading can be romantic, funny, thoughtful, nostalgic or completely unexpected.

And there is no rule saying that a reading has to be about romantic love. A passage about friendship, adventure, family, home, growing older or simply choosing someone to share your life with can be just as meaningful.

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If you’re not sure where to start, think about the books, films, music and stories that have been part of your lives. Here are some places I would look.

1. Poetry

Poetry can be beautiful in a ceremony because it says a lot in relatively few words. You don’t necessarily need a famous wedding poem, either.

You might explore poets such as E. E. Cummings, Robert Frost or Rainer Maria Rilke, as well as Australian poets such as Les Murray, Judith Wright or Oodgeroo Noonuccal.

Look for poems that speak to companionship, connection, ordinary life or the experience of sharing something with another person — not just poems that contain the word “love”.

2. Books and novels

A favourite book can make a wonderful source of a wedding reading, particularly if it has been important to one or both of you for a long time.

It could be a passage from a novel, memoir or essay that captures an idea you both believe in. Australian authors can be a particularly good place to start, but don’t feel restricted to Australian writing.

You could even choose a book that has nothing to do with romance but reminds you of a particular period of your relationship or something you’ve experienced together.

3. Films and television

If you and your partner have a favourite film or television show, a memorable line or short passage can be a lovely way to bring some of your shared personality into the ceremony.

It doesn’t have to come from a romantic film. Perhaps you have a film you watched together on your first date, a comedy you both quote constantly, or a scene that has somehow become part of your shared language.

Australian couples might find inspiration in films such as The Castle, Muriel’s Wedding or Strictly Ballroom — particularly if those films have a personal connection for you.

4. Song lyrics

Music is closely tied to memory, so a favourite song can be an obvious place to look for inspiration.

Think beyond obvious wedding songs. Is there a song you listened to constantly when you first met? One that reminds you of a road trip? Something you both sing terribly in the car?

The personal connection is often more important than whether the song was written as a love song.

5. Children’s books

Some of the simplest children’s stories contain surprisingly beautiful ideas about friendship, kindness, loyalty and love.

A childhood favourite can also be particularly lovely if children are part of your wedding or if the book has a special family connection.

Think about the books you grew up with, books you now read to your own children, or a story that someone important in your life used to read to you.

6. Personal letters and stories

Sometimes the most meaningful words aren’t published anywhere.

You could write something for each other, share part of a letter you’ve exchanged, or ask someone close to you to write a few words about your relationship.

Another option is to tell a short story from your relationship. It doesn’t have to be polished or poetic. A genuine story that makes your guests understand something about the two of you can be far more powerful.

7. Something from the stage

Plays, theatre productions and stage shows can provide wonderful material for a ceremony reading.

Shakespeare is an obvious example, but don’t feel that you need to go classical. A favourite Australian play, musical or stage production can be just as meaningful.

Choose a passage that works when spoken aloud and makes sense without requiring your guests to know the entire story.

8. Speeches and essays

A speech, essay or piece of non-fiction can provide a different perspective on partnership, equality, friendship or the way we live our lives.

You might find something in the work of writers such as Maya Angelou, or discover a contemporary Australian writer whose ideas resonate with you.

Don’t feel obliged to choose something that is explicitly about weddings. The best passage may simply express an idea that matters to the two of you.

9. Something funny

A wedding ceremony doesn’t have to be serious from beginning to end. A funny reading can be a wonderful way to let your personalities come through.

Look for writing that reflects the reality of relationships rather than simply inserting a collection of wedding jokes. Humour about compromise, everyday life, getting to know someone’s quirks or growing old together can work beautifully.

Just make sure the humour is something you’d genuinely say to each other. Your ceremony isn’t the place to discover that your reader has accidentally been handed a five-minute stand-up routine.

10. Write your own

You don’t need to find the perfect existing reading. You can create one.

It could be a letter, a short reflection on your relationship, a list of things you love about each other, or a few paragraphs about the life you’re looking forward to building together.

If you’re worried about writing something yourself, don’t overthink it. Start with how you would actually talk about your partner to a close friend. You can always edit it afterwards.

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When couples ask me about readings, I think there are five questions worth asking before you settle on one.

1. Does it actually mean something to you? Don’t choose a reading because it’s considered a classic. Choose it because you connect with it.
2. Does it sound good when spoken aloud? Some writing looks beautiful on a page but becomes difficult to follow when read to a room.
3. Is it the right length? A reading doesn’t need to be long to have an impact. A short passage that leaves people wanting a little more can be much more effective.
4. Does it suit the person reading it? Think about their confidence, their relationship with you and whether the tone feels natural coming from them.
5. Does it fit your ceremony? Think about what comes before and after the reading. It should feel like part of your ceremony rather than something dropped into the middle of it.

If you’re still working out how your reading fits into the wider ceremony, it can help to understand what a celebrant actually says and does during a wedding ceremony.

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There isn’t a required length for a wedding reading. Practically, though, shorter is often better.

Your guests are listening rather than reading, so something that takes a few minutes to say can feel considerably longer in the room than it did when you were choosing it at home.

As a celebrant, I’d rather hear a short passage that has everyone thinking about it afterwards than a long reading that loses its impact halfway through.

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A reading can be a lovely way to involve someone important to you. It might be a parent, sibling, close friend, member of your wedding party or even one of your children.

You can also read something yourselves, or ask your celebrant to deliver the reading.

One thing I’d consider is whether the person you’ve chosen will actually enjoy standing up and speaking. There’s no obligation to give everyone a role, and it’s perfectly fine to choose someone who will feel comfortable rather than someone who simply seems like the obvious choice.

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Absolutely. One reading can be enough, but two readings can work beautifully if they have different purposes or come from different people who are important to you.

For example, you might have one heartfelt reading and one that is more playful. Or one could speak about partnership while another tells a story about your life together.

There’s no need to add readings simply to make the ceremony feel more complete. If one is perfect, one is enough.

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If you’re using an existing poem, book excerpt, song lyric, speech or other creative work, it’s worth checking the copyright position before reproducing the words.

In particular, there can be a difference between having someone recite material and copying, printing, emailing, projecting or otherwise communicating a copy of that material in a ceremony. Copyright can also apply to adaptations or changes to someone else’s work.

If you’re unsure, check with your celebrant or Copyright Agency before copying or publishing the material. The rules can depend on exactly how the work is being used.

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No. A wedding reading is not a legal requirement for an Australian marriage ceremony.

There are specific legal requirements for an Australian marriage ceremony, including the required wording, an authorised marriage celebrant and two witnesses. A reading is optional ceremony content that you can use to make the experience more personal.

That means you don’t need to include one unless you genuinely want to. And if none of the traditional reading ideas feel like you, that’s completely fine too.

If you’re planning a ceremony with a celebrant, the personalised wedding ceremony service can include readings, music, stories and other elements that reflect your relationship.

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There are hundreds of lists online containing “the best wedding readings”. They can be useful for inspiration, but you don’t need to choose something simply because it appears on one of them.

Start with your own relationship. Think about the books you’ve loved, the films you’ve watched, the music you’ve listened to, the things you laugh about and the people who have shaped your lives.

Then look for words that capture something real about the two of you. That’s what will make the reading feel like it belongs in your ceremony.

And if you’re still working out how all the different pieces of your ceremony fit together, you can see how I guide couples through the ceremony planning process from our first conversation through to the wedding day.