Planning a non religious wedding ceremony or renewal of vows ceremony? 🎉 Get ready to dive into these ten amazing ceremony love poems that will sprinkle some magic and fun into your special day!

The role of poetry in your non religious ceremony

Whether you’re marking a milestone, honouring a season of change, or simply celebrating your journey together, poetry can bring depth and a softness to the moment. This collection is curated for couples seeking a non religious, heartfelt ceremony—words that speak to growth, friendship, passion and enduring love. From timeless classics to modern voices, these selections are full of heart and meaning. Some have been chosen by couples I’ve had the joy of working with—woven into their ceremonies with love. It’s always a privilege to see these words come to life on such a special day and be there with you all.

The benefit of a celebrant led ceremony

Celebrant led wedding ceremonies are one of a kind, they give you the choice and breadth to express yourselves how you want to and to create a unique celebration that you and your guests will remember forever. Celebrant led vow renewals are poignant events and a chance to pause, reflect, and say “I still choose you.” It's a great opportunity for couples who may have married in more traditional ways years ago to benefit from the freedom to choose and express their love with the guidance of a celebrant .

If you’re planning a wedding ceremony or a vow renewal ceremony 💍 and want help choosing readings or shaping your vows, I offer gentle guidance through my Ceremony Starter Kit and Vow Support Add-On. These resources are available by request—just message me to learn more. “If you're planning a ceremony, check out my approach here and here ❤️

10 Heartfelt Love Poems Perfect for Your Wedding Ceremony or Renewal of Vows Ceremony

1.      Wedding Poem by Whitney Hanson- excerpt

A short modern love poem but one with a gentle punch. The words reflect on the slow burn energy of a love that lasts , comparing it to a river reaching for the sea rather than a bright fire that eventually goes out. Written by an American poet, who is known for reading her poems on social media.

‘'They say that sometimes love starts with a spark.

And that might be true,

but if I were to wish you a love,

I wouldn't wish fire for you.

You see, fire is powerful.

It burns bright and then it's gone.

It's beautiful and warm, but it doesn't last long.’’

Full reading is here: Ceremony Reading: Wedding Poem by Whitney Hanson | OneFabDay.com

 Also listen to it here TikTok - Make Your Day

2.   Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières - excerpt

A famous poem which many of your guests may have heard before taken from the book, which became a popular film back in 2001 . It is similar in content to Whitney Hanson's poem above , but this time comparing long term love to the roots of a tree. This poem has the power to really capture our imagination, and this power does not fade no matter how many times you hear or read it. So yes, it's a love poem wedding or renewal of vows ceremony classic.

“Love is a temporary madness;

it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.

And when it subsides you have to make a decision.

You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together

that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.

Because this is what love is.”

Full reading is here Wedding Readings: Captain Correlli’s Mandolin 'Love is a Temporary Madness

3.    Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 116 is a timeless classic penned by the legendary wordsmith himself—William Shakespeare. And truly, who better to grace your wedding or vow renewal ceremony than the bard who captured love in its purest form? In this sonnet, Shakespeare celebrates the steadfast and forgiving nature of true love—one that neither seeks to alter its beloved nor abandons them in the face of age or illness, but remains unwavering through all time.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments; love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no, it is an ever-fixèd mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wand'ring bark

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be

taken.

Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and

cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come.

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom:

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

4.     The Bright Field by R. S. Thomas - Excerpt

Sometimes we need to step back , and this poem encourages us to do just that. To stop thinking about what the past could have been or what the future will hold. Instead to look, really look at who and what we have in front of us that is so precious that we want to marry them and renew our vows, to celebrate our love.

‘’I have seen the sun break through to illuminate a small field for a while,

and gone my way and forgotten it.

But that was the pearl of great price,

the one field that had treasure in it.

I realise now that I must give all that I have to possess it.’’

The full reading is here: ‘The Bright Field’ by R. S. Thomas | A poem for every day

Listen to the author reading it here R.S. Thomas reads his poem "The Bright Field." - YouTube

5.     The Art of a Good Marriage by Wilferd Arlan Peterson - excerpt

Reading this poem brings to mind a recent vow renewal ceremony I had the privilege of officiating in a quiet field beside a teepee in Northamptonshire. The couple requested a simple, heartfelt gathering—no elaborate speeches or grand gestures. As a trained celebrant, you're often taught to delve deeply into a couple’s love story, to narrate and celebrate every twist and turn. But this couple didn’t need or want that- so that's what they got! Theirs is a quiet, beautiful kind of love. Steady. Enduring. The kind that doesn’t need embellishment because it speaks for itself.

After 20 years of marriage, they still held hands. They still said “I love you” every morning and every time they parted. They embraced each other’s differences, celebrated their shared values, and built a beautiful family rooted in love and mutual respect. Their bond resonated not only between them but extended warmly to their friends and wider family—just as Wilferd Peterson describes in his poem below.

‘’The little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry.

It is never taking the other for granted;

the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.’’

The full reading is here: The Art Of Marriage Wedding Reading by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Want help choosing readings that reflect your story? I’d love to help you shape a ceremony that feels like you. 🌿 Message me 📩 to request my Ceremony Starter Kit or complimentary Vision call.

 6.    A Vow by Wendy Cope - excerpt

Wendy Cope OBE is a prolific British poet whose work is wonderfully accessible and refreshingly realistic. Her poem A Vow rolls effortlessly off the tongue and is sure to raise a wry smile—or even a laugh—from your guests if you choose it to lighten your ceremony. Sometimes, you don’t need the fluff in a poem—you just want it to say things as they are. And Cope does exactly that.

‘’I cannot promise never to be angry;

I cannot promise always to be kind.

You know what you are taking on, my

darling –

It’s only at the start that love is blind.

And yet I’m still the one you want to be

with

And you’re the one for me – of that I’m

sure.’

The full reading is here: A Vow By Wendy Cope Wedding Poem - Rock My Wedding

Get the book The Orange and other poems: Wendy Cope: Amazon.co.uk: Cope, Wendy: 9780571389513: Books

7.     What is a Soulmate by Emily Matthews - excerpt

This is one of my favourite love poems. It was chosen by a couple whose ceremony I officiated in a marquee set up in the bride’s parents’ back garden on a cold but bright spring day. I had provided a selection of poems, and they chose this one—asking me to read it during their wedding ceremony. I felt genuinely emotional as I read it, because it was clear to me—and to them—that they were - are- soulmates. This poem captures that essence perfectly: the quiet understanding, the deep connection, and the sense of having found your person.

"If you have found a smile, that is the sweetest one you’ve known.

If you have heard, within a voice, the echoes of your own.

If you have felt a touch that stirs the longing of your heart,

And still can feel that closeness in the moment you’re apart.

If you are filled with wonder at the way two lives can blend,

To weave a perfect pattern that is seamless end to end.

If you believe some things in life are simply meant to be,

Then you have found your soulmate, your heart's own destiny."

The full reading is here: Ceremony Reading: What is a Soulmate by Emily Matthews

8.     The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach

From the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, this excerpt from a later work focuses on transformative love—that is, a love imparted by a uniquely compassionate and understanding partner. Such love not only supports but inspires us to grow, transform, and fully become our true selves. This powerful reading, chosen by one of the couples I work with, carries profound meaning for them and is an ideal selection for a celebrant-led wedding ceremony.

‘’A soul mate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we’re pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we’re safe in our own paradise. Our soul mate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we’re two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we’ve found the right person. Our soul mate is the one who makes life come to life..." 

Preview the book here on Google Books

9.     Love by Roy Croft - excerpt

I picked the final verse of Roy Croft’s poem because it just gets it. It’s a simple, powerful way to express what it feels like to be truly loved. Not in a flashy, over-the-top way—but in that quiet, grounding way that makes you feel more like yourself. Couple's who chose this poem they just want something real. And that’s what love does: it lets you be unapologetically you, with someone who sees you, supports you, and makes life better just by being in it- together.

"I love you. Because you have done. More than any

creed. Could have done To make me good. And more

than any fate. Could have done. To make me happy.

You have done it. Without a touch, Without a word,

Without a sign. You have done it. By Being yourself.

Perhaps that is what. Being a friend means. After all’'

The full reading is here: Love by Roy Croft - Famous poems, famous poets. - All Poetry

10.  “100 Love Sonnets: XVII” by Pablo Neruda- excerpt

To end this collection, I’ve chosen a poem that speaks to the quiet, soul-deep kind of love—the kind that doesn’t shout, but simply is. The Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda (1904- 1973) ’s Sonnet XVII from 100 Love Sonnets is a masterclass in intimacy. It’s not about grand declarations or poetic flourishes—it’s about loving someone so deeply that the boundaries between you blur, and your love becomes part of your very being. This sonnet is perfect for couples who feel their connection is rooted in something timeless and unspoken. It’s a love that exists “between the shadow and the soul,” and that’s what makes it unforgettable.

"I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz, or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: I love you as one loves certain obscure things, secretly, between the shadow and the soul…''

The full poem is here: One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII | The Poetry Foundation

Search for the book source: The Essential Neruda: Selected Poems (City Lights Books, 2004)

So there you have it, what a list to choose from!

 So there you have it—10 brilliant poems to explore, each with its own vibe and story. Some have been chosen by real couples for their celebrant-led weddings, and others are personal favourites or ones that just stand out . Including non-religious heartfelt poems in your ceremony adds that extra layer of meaning—moments where different voices speak, fresh perspectives shine through, and everyone gets a chance to pause and really feel the love in the air. It’s not just about the words—it’s about creating an experience that hits home for you and your guests. And that's what I'm all about

💌 Let’s Create Something Beautiful Together For Your Non- Religious Ceremony

Thanks so much for reading my blog! If you're planning a wedding ceremony or a renewal of vows ceremony and want a celebrant who’s all about meaningful, personal vibes and personal stories—I'm here for it. Drop me a message at ritesofw@gmail.com, text or call 07305 002858, or fill out the contact form on the welcome page so we can chat about how we can make your day unforgettable.