For those who love the idea of the little ones playing a speaking role in the wedding ceremony, we’ve put together five of our favourite wedding readings from children’s books. From well-loved children’s stories which you might remember from your childhood to sweet and meaningful poetry, we’ve got a lovely selection just below. Read on for our favourite wedding readings from children’s books…
1. Getting Married Means You’ll Have by Nicholas Gordon
Getting married means you’ll have
Someone’s hand to hold,
Even when you’re feeling sick,
Even when you’re old.
It means when you sit down to eat,
Someone will be there,
So you won’t have to tell your day
To an empty chair.
It means that when you need some help,
Someone will help out,
Someone always near to you
So you won’t have to shout.
But best of all is when it’s time
To turn out all the lights:
You won’t have to be alone
Those long and scary nights.
So even though you don’t have toys,
You don’t have to care:
Once you’re married you can be
Each other’s teddy bear.
2. Wedding Readings from Children’s Books – Guess How Much I Love You by Sam Mcbratney and Anita Jeram
Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare’s very long ears. He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening.
“Guess how much I love you,” he said.
“Oh, I don’t think I could guess that,” said Big Nutbrown Hare.
“This much,” said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go.
Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. “But I love YOU this much,” he said.
Hmm, that is a lot, thought Little Nutbrown Hare.
“I love you as high as I can reach.” said Little Nutbrown Hare.
“I love you as high as I can reach,” said Big Nutbrown Hare.
That is quite high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that.
Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea. He tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk with his feet.
“I love you all the way up to my toes!” he said.
“And I love you all the way up to your toes,” said Big Nutbrown Hare, swinging him up over his head.
“I love you as high as I can HOP!” laughed Little Nutbrown Hare, bouncing up and down.
“But I love you as high as I can hop,” smiled Big Nutbrown Hare – and he hopped so high that his ears touched the branches above.
That’s good hopping, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I could hop like that.
“I love you all the way down the lane as far as the river,” cried Little Nutbrown Hare.
“I love you across the river and over the hills,” said Big Nutbrown Hare.
That’s very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. He was almost too sleepy to think any more. Then he looked beyond the thorn bushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be further than the sky.
“I love you right up to the MOON,” he said, and closed his eyes.
“Oh, that’s far,” said Big Nutbrown Hare. “That is very, very far.”
Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night.”
Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, “I love you right up to the moon – AND BACK.”
Read more on wedding readings from children’s books: A few of our favourite non-religious ceremony readings
3. The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger
And then, high up on an icy branch, a scarlet flash.
One more leaf holding tight.
“You’re here?” called the Little Yellow Leaf.
“I am,” said the Little Scarlet Leaf.
“Like me!” said the Little Yellow Leaf.
Neither spoke.
Finally… “Will you?” asked the Little Scarlett Leaf.
“I will!” said the Little Yellow Leaf.
And one, two, three, they let go and soared.
4. What Colour Is Love? By Linda Strachan
“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be green?”
Said old wrinkly granddad “I’m not sure if that’s true the grass is green, so love might be blue”
“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be blue?”
Tiger turned over and rolled on his back “I don’t know little fellow but the sky is blue, maybe love could be yellow?”
“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be yellow?”
Lion looked up too tired to play, he yawned and then said “but this hot sun is yellow, isn’t love red?”
“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be red?”
Parrot looked down from his perch in the tree, “Red is for flowers, but love is so bright It’s really quite simple, love must be white!”
“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be white?”
But Zebra said, “Nooooooo, love isn’t white, I think love is so wonderful it must be pink!”
“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be pink?”
“Pink?” screeched flamingo “No that can’t be right, Love should be orange like the sunset at night.”
Tired and worn out at the end of the day, “I know who to ask” said Small Smooth and Grey.
He left the Flamingo with tall slender legs, and passed by the zebra by the old river bed.
Lion had gone from his rock in the sun, and Tiger out hunting set off for a run.
He went to the water and dipped in his toe, he said to his mother “Does nobody know?
I’ve tried ALL of the colours; from the grass to the flowers, from the sky to the clouds, to the sun up above,
But NO ONE could tell me the colour of love.”
“What colour is love?” I say little one; It’s as dark as the night and as bright as the sun,
Imagine a colour and love is right there, Love’s every colour, everything, everywhere.
“What colour is love? Every colour, all around… Because nothing else matters when it’s love that you’ve found.”
Read more: 6 impactful wedding readings from children’s books
5. Wedding Readings from Children’s Books – A Recipe for Marriage by Claire Young
A pinch of understanding
A tablespoon of trust
A drop of fun and flattery
And a smattering of lust
A teaspoon of adventure
A heap of hopes and wishes
An ounce or two of thoughtfulness
And a scoop of hugs and kisses
A grain or two of constancy
A dash of admiration
A slice of friends and family
And a dip of conversation
A dollop of devotion
A soupcon of surprise
A bunch of boring household chores
And a spot of compromise
A drizzling of honesty
A sprinkling of laughter
A splash of patience and support
Makes… A Happily Ever After
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That’s it for our five favourite wedding readings from children’s books – for more on wedding ceremony planning, have a look at our guides over on the blog here, or see some of our hand-picked memorable literary wedding readings here. We’ve also got an ultimate guide to engagement season here, if you’re interested. For regular updates on real weddings and more, please do follow us on Instagram and Facebook.