Suggestions for a wedding reading for an 11 year old please

Auntie_Social

We're getting married in a Civil Ceremony in just over 4 weeks time and would like to include my partners son in the proceedings, he's 11 so too old for "page boy" duties, and as there are only around 20 people attending, not really any need for an usher. We have asked him if he would like to do a reading and he is happy to. The problem we have is all the readings we have found so far are either from an adults perspective, too long or too complicated. Does anyone have any suggestions please, something around 10-12 lines would be ideal.

Thanks

CH27

I love this bit from The Velveteen Rabbit.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Person_one

I know its not quite what you asked for, but a friend of mine got married last year and they put a little bit into the ceremony where her son came up to the front and her husband made a separate promise to him to be his stepdad and always care for him etc etc. and then they made a declaration about being a family now.

I'm not sure if you can change the civil service to put bits like that in, but it was really touching, not a dry eye in the place, and I thought it was a fantastic gesture to include and acknowledge him.

Crabapple

We had this at our wedding:-

Us Two

Wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do,
"Where are you going today?" says Pooh:
"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too.
Let's go together," says Pooh, says he.
"Let's go together," says Pooh.

"What's twice eleven?" I said to Pooh.
("Twice what?" said Pooh to Me.)
"I think it ought to be twenty-two."
"Just what I think myself," said Pooh.
"It wasn't an easy sum to do,
But that's what it is," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what it is," said Pooh.

"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh.
"Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me.
We crossed the river and found a few-
"Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh.
"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew.
That's what they are," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what they are," said Pooh.

"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh.
"That's right," said Pooh to Me.
"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh,
And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo!
Silly old dragons!"- and off they flew.

"I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he,
"I'm never afraid with you."

So wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
"What would I do?" I said to Pooh,
"If it wasn't for you," and Pooh said: "True,
It isn't much fun for One, but Two,
Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. "That's how it is," says Pooh.
- See more at: http://allpoetry.com/Us-Two#sthash.rH4E82kq.dpuf
http://allpoetry.com/Us-Two

Can't beat Winnie the Pooh!

Mojisola

The 11 year old boys I know wouldn't want to read in public from Winnie the Pooh.

pmlindyloo

Depending on the circumstances this might be suitable:

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/15117-cute-ceremony-reading-child-to-parents/

codemonkey

I like Edward Monkton's 'A lovely love story' but it might not be an 11 year old's thing.

A Lovely Love Story

The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice.

Although it was cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, his cage.

Then along came the Lovely Other Dinosaur.

The Lovely Other Dinosaur melted the Dinosaur’s cage with kind words and loving thoughts.

I like this Dinosaur thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.

Although he is fierce he is also tender and he is funny.

He is also quite clever though I will not tell him this for now.

I like this Lovely Other Dinosaur, thought the Dinosaur.

She is beautiful and she is different and she smells so nice.

She is also a free spirit which is a quality I much admire in a dinosaur.

But he can be so distant and so peculiar at times, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.

He is also overly fond of things.

Are all Dinosaurs so overly fond of things?

But her mind skips from here to there so quickly thought the Dinosaur.

She is also uncommonly keen on shopping.

Are all Lovely Other Dinosaurs so uncommonly keen on shopping?

I will forgive his peculiarity and his concern for things, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.

For they are part of what makes him a richly charactered individual.

I will forgive her skipping mind and her fondness for shopping, thought the Dinosaur.

For she fills our life with beautiful thoughts and wonderful surprises. Besides,

I am not unkeen on shopping either.

Now the Dinosaur and the Lovely Other Dinosaur are old.

Look at them.

Together they stand on the hill telling each other stories and feeling the warmth of the sun on their backs.

And that, my friends, is how it is with love.

Let us all be Dinosaurs and Lovely Other Dinosaurs together.

For the sun is warm.

And the world is a beautiful place


I was at a wedding once where the son was brought to the front similar to Person_One's post and he was asked if he took the bride to be his step mother and she was asked if she took him to be her stepson. There was not a dry eye in the house. That was a civil ceremony I think.

Spendless

Mojisola wrote: »

The 11 year old boys I know wouldn't want to read in public from Winnie the Pooh.

Well, not one that directly mentions 'Pooh', though it depends on the child, the boys around the same age who go to the same drama class as my daughter could read it without the giggles that my own 'toilet humour' 14yo son would do. This is also from Winnie The Pooh and is written on the walls of my dd's drama studio but not sure it's really wedding material

If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together. There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you.”



I've been goggling ideas for the OP but admit I'm struggling to suggest anything.

wiogs

Something simple like this?

You two are here, in front of friends
To marry and become as one.
In witness of this and out of love for you
This is why we have come.

To attend this joyous occasion
And celebrate with you
The love you share together
Unending, strong and true

Everything lies before you
Now having a partner for life
We wish you every happiness
For your future as husband and wife

CRANKY40

The Apache Wedding Prayer

Now you will feel no rain, For each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, For each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness, For each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two bodies, But there is one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place, To enter into the days of your togetherness. And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

- See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/apache-wedding-blessing.html#sthash.TFh3Ogok.dpuf

maman

CH27 wrote: »

I love this bit from The Velveteen Rabbit.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

I was asked to read that at a friend's wedding. Not a dry eye in the house.:)


When DD2 got married out DGD (DD1's DD) read the Owl and the !!!!!cat. It was particularly apt as DD2 and now SIL had been together for years. Registrar not best pleased at being compared to a turkey though!;)