One of my favorite things about planning a Catholic wedding is choosing the Readings for the wedding Mass. This is such a special way to speak to the hearts of all who come to your wedding and draw them back to the Lord. While there’s nothing wrong with “Love is patient, love is kind”, here are 5 beautiful options for scripture during the wedding Mass that you may not have thought of!

Isaiah 62:1-5 | As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you.

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
    for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still,
Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
    and her salvation like a burning torch.
Nations shall behold your vindication,
    and all kings your glory;
You shall be called by a new name
    bestowed by the mouth of the Lord.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord,
    a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No more shall you be called “Forsaken,”
    nor your land called “Desolate,”
But you shall be called “My Delight is in her,”
    and your land “Espoused.”
For the Lord delights in you,
    and your land shall be espoused.
For as a young man marries a virgin,
    your Builder shall marry you;
And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
    so shall your God rejoice in you.

John 2:1-11 | The Wedding Feast at Cana

I love reflecting on this Gospel for weddings - not because it takes place at a wedding, but because every Bride and Groom is reminiscent of the servants, who listen to Mary’s words “do whatever He tells you”. They listen to Jesus, even when they don’t understand - and because of this, they are partakers in a beautiful miracle of love! What a great illustration for each and every one of us!

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.  When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”  His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.  Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.  And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom  and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”  Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

Philippians 2:1-11 | Complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love

If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.  Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,

Who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    coming in human likeness;
    and found human in appearance,
     he humbled himself,
        becoming obedient to death,
        even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
    and bestowed on him the name
    that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
    Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Ruth 1:16-17 | Wherever you go, I will go.

But Ruth said, “Do not press me to go back and abandon you!

Wherever you go I will go,
    wherever you lodge I will lodge.
Your people shall be my people
    and your God, my God.
Where you die I will die,
    and there be buried.

May the Lord do thus to me, and more, if even death separates me from you!”

Tobit 8:4-8 | Grant that we may grow old together.

Tobiah rose from bed and said to his wife, “My sister, come, let us pray and beg our Lord to grant us mercy and protection.”  She got up, and they started to pray and beg that they might be protected. He began with these words:

“Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors;
    blessed be your name forever and ever!
Let the heavens and all your creation bless you forever.
 You made Adam, and you made his wife Eve
    to be his helper and support;
    and from these two the human race has come.
You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone;
    let us make him a helper like himself.’
 Now, not with lust,
    but with fidelity I take this kinswoman as my wife.
Send down your mercy on me and on her,
    and grant that we may grow old together.
Bless us with children.”

 They said together, “Amen, amen!”

Bonus: Use a Reading that has special meaning to YOU!

Maybe it’s the Bread of Life Discourse, the Beatitudes, or a particular parable that holds a dear place in your heart. Maybe it’s a verse you’ve prayed with since childhood, or a piece of scripture that you and your fiance reflected on during your relationship. If there’s a reading that stands out to you, incorporate it into your wedding Mass!

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