Nonreligious wedding readings

Some of the best readings don’t come from a book at all. They come from a song the couple already loves. One of my couples brought me the lyrics to “Never Stop” by SafetySuit and asked to use part of it as a reading. That’s a common request. Over the years I’ve read lyrics from a Jack Johnson song and even from a metal band, Avenged Sevenfold. Ask your couple if there’s a song that means something to them, then see whether a few lines would work read aloud.

Never Stop by SafetySuit, the wedding version

SafetySuit is an alternative rock band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. “Never Stop” first came out in 2008, and in 2012 they released a slower, piano driven rerecording called the Wedding Version on their Hallelujah EP. That’s the one couples use. It runs under three minutes and it’s built almost entirely on a string of promises, which is a big part of why it reads so well out loud.

Watch the Wedding Version on YouTube

Why it works as a wedding reading

The whole song is a list of small, everyday promises, each one starting with “I’ll never stop.” That repetition is the secret. It builds a steady rhythm, so even read aloud it carries a natural cadence and momentum. The promises are concrete and human, holding a hand, opening a door, choosing each other again, rather than lofty and poetic. It lands as sincere and modern, which is exactly right for a couple who wants something heartfelt but not old fashioned.

Who it fits

It suits modern, romantic couples who want a reading that feels like them. If the song already means something to the two of them, it will mean even more to the room. Match the reading to the couple standing in front of you, every time.

When to use it

Unlike a funny reading you’d save for the close, this one is sincere, so it sits comfortably in the body of the ceremony as one of your readings. It also makes a lovely piece to hand to a guest reader, more on that below.

How to deliver it well

• Match your tempo to the song, don’t sing it.Read at roughly the pace the song moves. I know my abilities, and singing isn’t one of them, so I never try. Reading it with the right tempo carries all the feeling without the risk.
• Consider handing it to a guest reader.A song reading is a great way to honor someone who isn’t in the wedding party. It lets the couple include a person who matters to them and gives that guest a real role in the day.
• Ask the guest reader if they’ve practiced out loud.Reading aloud is nothing like reading in your head. If they haven’t rehearsed, suggest it kindly. Now and then a reader waves me off and says they’ve got it. Nine times out of ten those are the ones who trip over the words. I gently remind them we all want to do right by the couple, and that a quick run through before the ceremony makes that easier.
• Ride the repetition.Those repeated “I’ll never stop” lines set the rhythm. Lean into them and leave a small beat between each promise so they land one at a time.
• Slow down on the last line.Ease off the tempo for the final promise and let it settle before you move on. That’s the moment the room feels it.

A few common questions

A song the couple loves can be one of the most personal parts of a ceremony. If a reading like this is on the table, ask what the song means to them and build the moment around that. For more, see Grow Old With You from The Wedding Singer, or my post on how to reduce your and your couple’s stress. You can also see how to officiate a wedding from start to finish.