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Wedding readings for father
Dads often want a role but not a spotlight. A well-chosen reading gives them exactly that — a few lines of real feeling, said once, well, and then a step back into the front row.
These are the readings we return to when a father is reading, or when the couple wants to honour him without asking him to speak.
Readings that honour a father
- 01
For a new beginning
by John O'Donohue, 1956 ~ 2008The delight when your courage kindled and out you stepped onto new ground
Read the full poem → - 02
Gift from the Sea
by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1906 ~ 2001The only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity – in freedom
Read the full poem → - 03
Habitation
by Margaret Atwood, b. 1939With wonder at having survived this far, we are learning to make fire
Read the full poem → - 04
House of Stone
by Carmen Bugan, b. 1970May your tears and your smiles happen always face to face.
Read the full poem → - 05
Learned in Kindergarten
by Robert Fulghum, b. 1937Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up
Read the full poem → - 06
Most like an arch
by John Ciardi, 1916 ~ 1978All I do at piling stone on stone apart from you is roofless around nothing
Read the full poem → - 07
Oh, the places you will go!
by Dr. Seuss, 1904 ~ 1991Things can happen and frequently do, to people as brainy and footsy as you
Read the full poem → - 08
On Love
by Kahlil Gibran, 1883 ~ 1931Let love be a moving sea between the shores of your souls
Read the full poem → - 09
On marriage
by Kahlil Gibran, 1883 ~ 1931Be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night
Read the full poem → - 10
Sonnet 116
by William Shakespeare, 1564 ~ 1616If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved
Read the full poem → - 11
The master speed
by Robert Frost, 1874 ~ 1963Once you agree that life is just life forevermore, together, wing to wing and oar to oar
Read the full poem → - 12
The Wedding March
by Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1844 ~ 1889I to him turn with tears, whose wonder-wedlock deals triumph and immortal years
Read the full poem → - 13
Wedding Toast
by Richard Wilbur, 1921 ~ 2017The world's fullness is not made, but found.
Read the full poem →
Choosing your reading
How many readings should we have?
One or two is typical for a shorter ceremony; three works well if you'd like to give more guests a role. Vary the tone so the ceremony doesn't sit on one note.
Who should read?
Choose people whose voices you love hearing — siblings, close friends, a parent, a chosen family member. Send the reading in advance so they can practise.