Top 15 Beautiful Wedding Poems That Will Warm Your Heart

Wedding ceremonies are a tapestry of love, commitment, and tradition, woven with words that resonate with the hearts of those present. Incorporating poems into these ceremonies adds a layer of profound beauty and emotional depth.

Poems have the unique ability to capture the essence of love, partnership, and the journey ahead in a few, well-chosen words. They can reflect the couple's feelings, hopes, and dreams, making the ceremony even more personal and memorable. From classic verses to modern compositions, each poem carries with it a world of meaning and sentiment.

Top 15 Wedding Poems

This curated selection of wedding poems offers a range of expressions from deep romance to joyful celebration, each capturing a unique aspect of the love and commitment shared by a couple.

1. "I Carry Your Heart With Me" by E.E. Cummings

I carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and its you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder thats keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

E.E. Cummings' "I Carry Your Heart With Me" is a deeply romantic poem that speaks of an intimate and profound connection. Its lyrical verses convey the idea that the beloved is an integral part of the speaker's being, carrying their heart within them wherever they go. This poem is a favorite for its ability to express the indescribable depth of love and unity in a relationship.

2. "The One" (Author Unknown)

When the one whose hand youre holding
Is the one one who holds your heart
When the one whose eyes you gaze into
Gives your hopes and dreams their start,
When the one you think of first and last
Is the one who holds you tight,
And the things you plan together
Make the whole world seem just right,
When the one whom you believe in
Puts their faith and trust in you,
Youve found the one and only love
Youll share your whole life through.

"The One" is a touching poem that celebrates the deep bond and shared dreams between partners. It beautifully articulates the realization that when you find the person who holds your heart, every aspect of life seems brighter and more meaningful. This poem is perfect for couples who have found their true partner in life and love.

3. "This Day I Married My Best Friend" (Author Unknown)

This day I married my best friend.
The one I laugh with as we share lifes wonderous zest,
as we find new enjoyments and experience all thats best.
The one I live for because the world seems brighter
as our happy times are better and our burdens feel much lighter.
The one I love with every fibre of my soul.
We used to feel vaguely incomplete, now together we are whole.

This poem joyfully captures the essence of marrying one's best friend and life partner. It speaks to the shared laughter, lighter burdens, and the sense of completeness that comes from marrying the one who understands you best. It's a celebration of love and friendship, all wrapped into one.

4. "Wedding Prayer" by Robert Louis Stevenson

Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow,
for the health, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.

Robert Louis Stevenson's "Wedding Prayer" is a heartfelt ode to family, love, and unity. It's a prayer of gratitude for the love that binds a couple and the peace and hope that their union brings. This poem is often chosen for its spiritual depth and the blessings it bestows upon the newlyweds and their future together.

5. "These I Can Promise" by Mark Twain

I cannot promise you a life of sunshine;
I cannot promise riches, wealth, or gold;
I cannot promise you an easy pathway
That leads away from change or growing old.
But I can promise all my hearts devotion;
A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow;
A love thats ever true and ever growing;
A hand to hold in yours through each tomorrow.

Mark Twain's "These I Can Promise" is a sincere and heartfelt promise of enduring love and devotion. Unlike traditional vows of perfection, this poem speaks to the realities of life, offering a love that is steadfast through the ups and downs. It's a beautiful testament to the enduring nature of true love.

6. "Eskimo Love Song" (Author Unknown)

You are my husband, you are my wife
My feet shall run because of you
My feet dance because of you
My heart shall beat because of you
My eyes see because of you
My mind thinks because of you
And I shall love, because of you.

The "Eskimo Love Song" is a simple yet profound expression of love and partnership. Its words convey the idea that love is not just an emotion but an essential force that drives life and brings joy. This poem is a favorite for its charming simplicity and deep meaning.

7. "Love's Philosophy" by Emily Bronte

Love is like the wild rose-briar
Friendship like the holly tree
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then, scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck with thee the hollys sheen,
Then when December blights thy brow
He still may leave thy garland green.

Emily Bronte's "Love's Philosophy" is a classic poem that explores the interconnectedness of love and nature. It delves into the idea that everything in the universe is connected through love, making it a perfect metaphor for the union of two souls. This poem is often chosen for its romantic imagery and philosophical depth, embodying the kind of timeless romance that one might find in the top 10 wedding venues in Texas.

8. "How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Profound Affection

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being an ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every days
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhoods faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet, "How Do I Love Thee?" is a profound exploration of the depths of love. This famous piece counts the ways of her deep affection, stretching from the everyday necessities of life to the spiritual and idealistic. Browning's ability to articulate such a comprehensive and deep love makes this sonnet a timeless choice for weddings, resonating with couples who feel a profound and multifaceted love for each other.

9. "Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare: The Unchanging Nature of True Love

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:
Oh, no! It is an ever-fixed mark.
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
it is the star to every wandering bark,
whose worths unknown, although his height be taken.
Loves not Times fool,
though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickles 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.

Shakespeare's "Sonnet 116" is a powerful testament to the steadfast nature of true love. It argues that love is not love if it changes with circumstances or fades with time. Shakespeare's eloquent and timeless words declare that true love is an ever-fixed mark, unshaken by storms and unaltered by time. This sonnet is a favorite at weddings for its enduring message about the unyielding and constant nature of true love, much like the unwavering light of decoration candles for your wedding.

10. "Love (III)" by George Herbert: The Spiritual Dimension of Love

Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyd Love, observing me grow slack
Form my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lackd anything.

A guest, I answerd, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?

Truth, Lord, but I have marrd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.

George Herbert's "Love (III)" delves into the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of love. This poem personifies love as a gracious host, inviting the soul to a feast despite its feelings of unworthiness. Herbert's exploration of love as a divine and spiritual force offers a deeper, more introspective take on the nature of love, making it a unique and profound choice for a wedding reading.

11. "The Owl and the Pussy-Cat" by Edward Lear: A Whimsical Love Story

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!

Pussy said to the Owl, You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! Too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.

Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring? Said the Piggy, I will.
So they took it away, and were married nest day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

Edward Lear's "The Owl and the Pussy-Cat" is a whimsical and charming narrative poem. It tells the story of an unusual but deeply affectionate pair who set off on a sea adventure and end up getting married. The poem's playful tone and imaginative story make it a delightful and light-hearted choice for weddings, especially for couples who appreciate a touch of whimsy and fantasy in their relationship.

12. "O My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns: The Freshness of Love

O my Luves like a red, red rose,
Thats newly sprung in June:
O my Luves like the melodie,
Thats sweetly playd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a the seas gang dry.

Till a the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o life shall run.

And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
And fare-thee-weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho twere ten thousand mile!

Robert Burns' "O My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose" is a lyrical Scottish poem that compares the speaker's love to a freshly sprung red rose in June. Burns' use of this vibrant imagery captures the freshness, beauty, and intensity of love. This poem is a popular choice for weddings due to its romantic imagery and the heartfelt sincerity in its lines.

13. "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe: An Idyllic Invitation

Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs:
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me and be my love.

The shepherds swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is a pastoral poem that extends an invitation to a life filled with natural pleasures and love. The shepherd promises a life of simple joys and beauty, reflecting an idealized and romantic view of love in harmony with nature. This poem is often chosen for its romantic idealism and its enchanting portrayal of a life built together in love.

14. "The Good-Morrow" by John Donne: Discovering Completeness in Love

I wonder by my troth, what thou and I
Did, till we loved? Were we not weaned till then?
But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers den?
Twas so ; but this, all pleasures fancies be;
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desired, and got, twas but a dream of thee.

And now good-morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room an everywhere.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone;
Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown;
Let us possess one world ; each hath one, and is one.

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemispheres
Without sharp north, without declining west ?
Whatever dies, was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or thou and I
Love so alike that none can slacken, none can die.

John Donne's "The Good-Morrow" is a profound reflection on the awakening and completeness found in love. Donne explores how love transforms the world of the lovers, making their shared life a universe unto itself. This poem is admired for its deep exploration of how love changes one's perception of the world and brings a sense of wholeness and fulfillment.

15. Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms - Thomas Moore

Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly to-day,
Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my arms,
Live fairy-gifts fading away,
Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art,
Let thy loveliness fade as it will,
And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still.

It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear,
That the fervour and faith of a soul may be known,
To which time will but make thee more dear!
No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,
As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets
The same look which she turned when he rose!

This poem by Thomas Moore expresses enduring love that transcends physical beauty and youth. It conveys that true affection remains steadfast, much like a sunflower's unwavering devotion to the sun, regardless of changes in outward appearance or the passage of time.

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Conclusion: The Timeless Power of Love Poetry

These poems, each unique in tone and perspective, collectively capture the essence of love and commitment. From the whimsical to the profound, they offer a glimpse into the many facets of love that a wedding celebrates. The power of poetry in a wedding ceremony lies in its ability to articulate the inexpressible, to capture the depth of emotion and the promise of a shared future, making it an integral part of commemorating the union of two hearts.