Ceremony Readings
Here are a few possibilities for different readings during the ceremony:
From The Awakened Heart by Gerald May
"Love is the 'why' of life: why we are functioning at all... I am convinced love is the fundamental energy of the human spirit, the fuel on which we run, the wellspring of our vitality. And grace, which is the flowing, creative activity of love itself, is what makes all goodness possible. ...Love should come first; it should be the beginning of and the reason for everything."
1 John 4:7-19 (Today's New International Version)
God's Love and Ours
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
This is too short, but I like it (and David loves Shakespeare!). I may try to use it somewhere else.
"I mean that my heart unto yours is knit: so that but one heart we can make of it." -A Midsummer Night's Dream
From The Awakened Heart by Gerald May
"Love is the 'why' of life: why we are functioning at all... I am convinced love is the fundamental energy of the human spirit, the fuel on which we run, the wellspring of our vitality. And grace, which is the flowing, creative activity of love itself, is what makes all goodness possible. ...Love should come first; it should be the beginning of and the reason for everything."
1 John 4:7-19 (Today's New International Version)
God's Love and Ours
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
This is too short, but I like it (and David loves Shakespeare!). I may try to use it somewhere else.
"I mean that my heart unto yours is knit: so that but one heart we can make of it." -A Midsummer Night's Dream
Special Music
These are my favorites so far. They might change by the time the wedding rolls around though.
Ceremony (All instrumental versions performed by Stephen Bright with Cathedral Guitar)
Seating of the parents: "Inevitable" by Anberlin
Processional: "Let That Be Enough" by Switchfoot
Bride's Entrance: "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessional
Communion: TBA
Sand Ceremony: "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab For Cutie
Recessional: "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
Reception
First Dance: "A Wink And A Smile" by Harry Connick Jr.
Father/Daughter Dance: "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder
Mother/Son Dance: "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack
Guest Requests
Jason Mraz - Lucky
The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Chicago - Colour My World
Ben Folds - I Am The Luckiest
Huey Lewis and the News - Happy To Be Stuck With You
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
John Denver - Annie's Song
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
The Isley Brothers - Twist and Shout
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Ceremony (All instrumental versions performed by Stephen Bright with Cathedral Guitar)
Seating of the parents: "Inevitable" by Anberlin
Processional: "Let That Be Enough" by Switchfoot
Bride's Entrance: "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessional
Communion: TBA
Sand Ceremony: "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab For Cutie
Recessional: "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
Reception
First Dance: "A Wink And A Smile" by Harry Connick Jr.
Father/Daughter Dance: "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder
Mother/Son Dance: "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack
Guest Requests
Jason Mraz - Lucky
The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Chicago - Colour My World
Ben Folds - I Am The Luckiest
Huey Lewis and the News - Happy To Be Stuck With You
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
John Denver - Annie's Song
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
The Isley Brothers - Twist and Shout
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
