What is a "reading"?

I'm googling "what is a wedding reading" .. i guess i should ask a more specific question.. like who reads, what is the significance of someone else reading at your wedding? I am not getting it

It's just that a meaningful poem, psalm, exert, etc that you chose someone to read at your wedding. We re have a non-religious ceremony and having two readings during the ceremony. One will be read by one of my best friends and one by a family member. We chose Union by Robert Fulgrum and Captain Corellis mandolin (can't remember the author)

Thank you for helping me understand. So this takes the place of a christian ceremony? I assumed our minister (who is FH fiance) would read from the bible.. so do "readings" replace this for some people or is it in addition to what the minister reads?

I'm wondering if it is something i should add?

Religious ceremonies can also have readings (I always see Corinthians 13). You can have someone important to you do a reading to include them in the wedding.

Thank you both. We are having a short but sweet traditional ceremony. The minister along with the two of us will be saying everything else.. (minister will have verses from the bible to read). would it be awkward to have someone else read.. Would it be someone from the audience?

They can be scripture or they can be secular readings, poems, even lyrics.

my pinterest board has a lot of readings of all kinds, from a number of different officiants.

http://pinterest.com/celiamilton

The reading and vow board is near the top.

@Tracey B.: You might talk to your minister about this. The readings can be given by the minister. But in some instances, couples want to have someone special to them do one or more of the readings. It's really up to you and your minister.

I talked to a friend about reading a verse and she said she couldn't... not because she'll be 8 months pregnant... but because she ONLY follows KJV of the Bible, which i think it sort of mean and just bogus. ...don't you think so?

To sum up what the girls said, no you don't have to have a religious ceremony to do readings. The readings can be anything:a bible verse, a poem, a verse from a love song. Anything that applies to you as a couple or reflects your life together.

Readings are not mandatory. If you chose to have one (or more) try to find one that takes around a minute or less to read. (Not trying to offend anyone, but IMO guests tend to "lose focus" when they're too long.)

The reader can be anyone you choose: a family member, a close friend, someone you want to include in the wedding but didn't have a spot for. You don't usually just pick someone out of the audience. You should ask them ahead of time so they have time to prepare.

Hope all this helps

Side note: once you choose a reading and select a reader, just let your minister know and they will work it in to the ceremony. At the rehearsal, the minister should be able to tell the reader when they will read, where to stand, etc.