Nonreligious wedding readings
Not every couple wants scripture, and that’s fine. There are plenty of nonreligious wedding readings to pick from. Robert Fulghum’s “Union” is one of my favorites. So is Taylor Mali’s How Falling In Love Is Like Owning a Dog. A lot of the best readings come straight from song lyrics, like Never Stop by SafetySuit, or even a few lines from a movie. One of the most requested of all is Adam Sandler’s little song from The Wedding Singer.
Grow Old With You, the song from The Wedding Singer
The song is “Grow Old With You,” written and performed by Adam Sandler for the 1998 film The Wedding Singer. In the movie, Robbie sings it on a plane to win Julia back, and it’s the scene that sends the whole theater home smiling. It runs under two minutes, which is a big part of why it works so well spoken aloud at a ceremony.
Watch the scene on YouTube
In the clip, the song starts around the 1:35 mark.
Why it works as a wedding reading
The magic is the mix. It pairs real tenderness with everyday humor, so a room laughs and then goes quiet for a second. The promises are small and domestic, things like fetching medicine when someone’s sick or splitting the chores, instead of grand and poetic. That’s what makes it feel like a real couple rather than a greeting card, and it’s why guests connect with it fast.
Who it fits
Save it for laid-back couples with a sense of humor. If your couple wants a formal or solemn ceremony, pick something quieter and keep this in your back pocket for the next one. Always match the reading to the two people standing in front of you.
When to use it
It shines at the end of a ceremony, right before or as part of your closing. It sends everyone into the celebration smiling, which is exactly where you want the energy. It makes a poor opener and a wonderful closer.
How to deliver it well
- Read it, don’t sing it, unless you’re truly confident.I’ve thought about singing it and always talked myself out of it, no interest in bombing in front of a crowd. I did watch one guest reader sing it once and he crushed it, the whole room was laughing with him. If that’s not you, reading it lands just as well.
- Find a rhythm and tempo before the day.It has a natural bounce even when spoken. Practice it out loud a few times so the funny lines have room to breathe.
- Set it up in one sentence.Tell guests it’s from The Wedding Singer before you start. Half the room will recognize it right away and lean in.
- Mind your pauses.The laughs live in the gap between a sweet promise and a silly one. Don’t rush past them.
- Slow down on the last line.The closing line is the button. Let it land, hold a beat, then move into your send off.
A few common questions
Can you use song lyrics as a wedding reading?
Yes. Song lyrics make some of the best non-religious wedding readings because they’re short, familiar, and easy to feel. Read them aloud like a piece of writing rather than reciting them stiffly, and always credit the artist.
Is Grow Old With You a good wedding reading?
It’s one of the most popular light, nonreligious options going. It’s best saved for the close of a relaxed ceremony where a little humor fits the couple.
Should the officiant sing it?
Only if you’re a confident singer. For most officiants, reading it with a good tempo gets the same laughs and warmth without the risk.
Fun, nontraditional, nonreligious readings can make a whole ceremony shine. Weddings are celebrations, and it’s fine to have fun with them. Somber and sincere isn’t the only way to do it. If you want more ideas, browse the rest of the blog or see how to officiate a wedding start to finish.
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