How to Find a Poem for a Wedding Ceremony

Take into account the personal style of the couple

By Lynette DiPalma

Photo by iStockphoto.com

Whether you're looking for a reading during the ceremony, a tribute to the bride and groom at the reception or just a nice handmade gift for the newlyweds, a poem is a romantic touch for a wedding. You want to make sure that you find just the right poem. Because there are so many good poems out there, you'll want to spend some time and explore several options before settling on the right poem.

• What You Need to Know
• Think about your personal style and poems that may have rung true with you over the years. You may find that those old college textbooks will come in handy too. Of course, you can search the Internet to find poems with particular words or phrases that offer the right sentiment or recall a certain period in the life of the couple.

Step 1:

Find out the style and theme of the wedding. Formal, traditional affairs call for lofty works from Shakespeare, Keats or some other classic, romantic poet. An unconventional wedding may call for the work of a contemporary poet.

Step 2:

Consider the personalities of the bride and groom. If they are mellow and serious, choose a serious poem. However, if they are a fun-loving and lively couple, don't hesitate to use a more quirky poem. Consider a poem from Shel Silverstein's "The Missing Piece" or Ogden Nash's "Tin Wedding Whistle" or even his "A Word to Husbands."

Step 3:

Browse poetry anthologies at a library or bookstore. There are collections dedicated to love songs as well as compilations for weddings that can be found in the wedding sections.

Step 4:

Talk to the wedding planner or officiant. These professionals deal with wedding couples and ceremonies regularly, so they will likely be able to direct you to a selections of good poems.

Step 5:

Use song lyrics if you can't find a poem that's just right. When the music is stripped away, many good songs have lyrics that read just like a love poem. You may be able to use the lyrics from a song that has sentimental value for the couple.

Step 6:

Choose a place or pastime that's meaningful to the bride and groom as a couple and search online poetry databases for a poem that references it. For example, if the couple met on the beach in Brazil during carnival, you can search these terms to find a romantic poem that is set there during that time of year.

Step 7:

Ask if the bride or groom has a favorite poem that they would like to hear at the wedding. You could keep it a secret from one of the two. But be sure both would enjoy hearing it.

Step 8:

Write a poem for the happy couple yourself or hire a professional poet to write one for you. No one is going to ridicule your skills as long as the gesture comes from your heart. If you're not ready to unleash your inner poet, then there are plenty of poets willing to work with you to write a one-of-a-kind sonnet for the wedding.

• Tips & Warnings
• Have the poem written in calligraphy and framed along with the couple's name and wedding date for a personalized gift.
• Don't be afraid to ask workers in the bookstore or library for advice because they are likely to be book lovers and maybe even poets.