Readings · Poetry
Sonnet 18
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate…
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Where it fits in the ceremony
In most ceremonies the readings follow the officiant’s welcome, before the vows; a second reading can come between the vows and the exchange of rings. In a civil ceremony, some registrars ask to see readings in advance to confirm they contain no religious content — this one will pass.
Pair it with
Two readings that balance this one, one sacred and one secular:
- Jeremiah 31:31–34 — A new covenant, written on the heart.
- Proverbs 31:10–12, 25–31 — “Her price is far above rubies” — the Bible’s portrait of a capable, respected wife.