Wedding readings across the Christian traditions

01 How wedding readings are chosen

The five major Christian tradition families approach reading-selection differently. Catholic weddings draw from a defined lectionary: the Order of Celebrating Matrimony lists nine Old Testament, fourteen New Testament, and ten Gospel options, with the couple choosing one OT and one NT (the Gospel is normally selected by the priest) in conversation with the priest during marriage preparation. Orthodox weddings have a fixed set: Ephesians 5:20-33 and John 2:1-11 (the wedding at Cana). The Orthodox readings are not chosen by the couple; they are the appointed readings for the crowning service.

Anglican / Episcopal weddings follow the lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer with the couple choosing from approved options; the 1979 BCP lists a similar range to the Catholic lectionary. Mainline Protestant practice typically leaves the choice to the couple in conversation with the pastor, with the conversation narrowing the field to two or three options. Evangelical and non-denominational practice is the most open: the pastor advises, the couple chooses, often with one of the recurring readings (1 Corinthians 13 most commonly) plus one personal favorite.

02 The principal readings

Ten scripture passages cover most of what is read at US Christian weddings. The pill on each row notes the convention or category; the link opens the full chapter on Bible1.org.

03 Tradition-specific selections

Beyond the principal readings, each tradition has its own conventional patterns.

Catholic lectionary

The Catholic Order of Celebrating Matrimony defines the lectionary: 9 Old Testament options (Genesis 1:26-28, 31a; Genesis 2:18-24; Genesis 24:48-51, 58-67; Tobit 7:6-14; Tobit 8:4b-8; Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16a, 8:6-7a; Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16; Jeremiah 31:31-32a, 33-34a), 14 New Testament options (Romans 8, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Corinthians 12-13, Ephesians 4, Ephesians 5, Philippians 4, Colossians 3, Hebrews 13, 1 Peter 3, 1 John 3, 1 John 4, Revelation 19, Revelation 21), and 10 Gospel options (Matthew 5, Matthew 7, Matthew 19, Matthew 22, Mark 10, John 2, John 15, John 17). The couple selects in conversation with the priest. The complete lectionary is published in the Order of Celebrating Matrimony and in most Catholic missalettes.

Orthodox readings

The Orthodox crowning service has appointed readings: Ephesians 5:20-33 (the Pauline teaching on marriage) and John 2:1-11 (the wedding at Cana, which Orthodox theology reads as Christ's blessing of marriage). These are not selected by the couple; they are the readings of the rite. Where additional readings are desired by the family, the priest can advise on what may be added.

Anglican / Episcopal selections

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the 2019 ACNA BCP each provide a lectionary with options covering the same scriptural range as the Catholic lectionary. The selection is the couple's with the rector's guidance. Common Anglican choices: 1 Corinthians 13; Genesis 2:18-24; Song of Songs 2:10-13; Ephesians 3:14-19 or 5:1-2, 21-33; Mark 10:6-9; John 15:9-12.

Mainline Protestant common selections

Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Reformed weddings draw most often from: 1 Corinthians 13; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Ruth 1:16-17; Ephesians 5:21-33 (variably included); 1 John 4:7-12. The selection is the couple's in conversation with the pastor. The denominational service books (the United Methodist Book of Worship; the Evangelical Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Service Book; the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship) each list recommended readings.

Evangelical popular selections

Evangelical and non-denominational practice tends toward the well-known passages: 1 Corinthians 13 is universal; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ("a cord of three strands") is one of the most commonly cited Evangelical wedding readings; Song of Songs and Ruth 1 appear frequently. The Ephesians 5 passage is preached as foundational in many Evangelical congregations and is commonly chosen. Selections from Proverbs (Proverbs 31:10-31, the wife of noble character) appear in some Evangelical contexts.

04 Contested readings: Ephesians 5:21-33

The passage in Ephesians 5:21-33, on the relationship between husbands and wives in Christian marriage, is contested across the Christian traditions and across individual couples. The opening verse ("Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ") frames the passage; the verses that follow develop the Pauline analogy between marriage and the union of Christ and the Church. The phrasing "wives, submit to your husbands" in verse 22 (and parallel commands to husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church) has generated substantial pastoral and theological literature.

The site's editorial discipline on contested questions (Decision 10) is to name the dispute, name the traditions accurately, and not take a position. Catholic teaching includes the passage in the lectionary; couples may choose it or another option. Orthodox teaching reads Ephesians 5:20-33 at every wedding; the passage is appointed and not chosen. Anglican / Episcopal practice includes it in the lectionary; couples select or omit. Mainline Protestant practice varies sharply: many couples request the passage; others ask for it to be omitted. Evangelical teaching often emphasizes the passage as foundational; many couples explicitly request it.

Where the couple is undecided, the conversation with the officiant is the substantive way through. The passage cannot be partially read in most traditions; the choice is to include or omit. Where the passage is included, the officiant's homily normally provides the contextual framing the family chooses to hear.

05 Common questions

06 Pastoral note