A Favorite Wedding Ceremony Reading Comes From Talking to Kids…

Non-traditional ceremony readings aren’t easy to come by. We work hard to find you creative ideas from unlikely places. Alternative ceremony ideas can come from books, movies, music and even from the children in your life…

Photo by Sally Pinera

Ashley Lachney, the owner of Alston Mayger Events, is a wedding expert. Her wedding celebrations range from traditional to non-conventional. Thus, she’s listened to a number of different ceremony readings throughout in her career. So, no doubt, when she got married herself she was keen to come up with a creative and heartwarming ceremony for her own wedding. While not including kids in her wedding guest list, she found a clever way to include them in her wedding ceremony:

Photo by Kristen Kilpatrick

Ask the Kids in Your Life, “What Does Love Mean?”

“For my own wedding, we opted for guests 21+ only. To include kiddos in a special way, we had their parents ask them, “What does love mean?” During our ceremony, our officiant read their names, ages, and answers. It was a heartfelt way to inject a moment of laughter and comedy into the ceremony, and some of the answers were surprisingly thoughtful!” – Ashley Lachney, Owner of Alston Mayger Events

Photo of Shay Sweeney wearing Needle & Thread London

Our love for this idea is two-fold. First, it’s a unique alternative to the traditional wedding ceremony readings that will be unique to you thanks to the children in your life. Second, it’s a fabulous way to involve kids in your wedding if you’re not inviting them as guests. Even if you do invite children to your wedding, it’s a creative way to keep things lighthearted and pure during your ceremony.

Framed Table Numbers by Birch and Bliss via Etsy

How to Add Your ‘What Does Love Mean?’ Answers to Your Wedding Decor

Maybe the kids in your life shared some serious wisdom on love? You can incorporate their quotes in your decor, as well! Consider including their answers in your wedding stationery suite or ceremony programs. Or perhaps, hire a calligrapher to make sign to display at each reception table. We also recommend writing them in your keepsake vow books, so you can look back at these sweet thoughts for years to come.

Photo by Corey Johnson Photography

That’s not all, we have even more readings to inspire your modern wedding ceremony.