Lemur L'amour: Love Never Fails

After my father walked me down the aisle, it was his turn to do a reading. Although our ceremony was not in a church, we wanted a way to express the importance of our faith, and we were able to do that through readings and a song. The first reading was from Ephesians 5.

All pictures by Niki Marie Photography.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

After my dad finished reading, my mom, Mr. Lemur's mom, and two of Mr. Lemur's sisters sang "O Wondrous Love," a song about the love of God. I still cry when I hear this song played because it reminds me of standing there with Mr. Lemur's arm around me listening to some of the most important women in my life sing about our faith.

O wondrous love that will not let me go 
I cling to You with all my strength and soul 
Yet if my hold should ever fail 
This wondrous love will never let me go

O wondrous love that rushes over me 
I can’t escape this river’s glorious flow 
You overwhelm my days with good 
Your wondrous love will never let me go

Finally, Mr. Lemur's dad read from I Corinthians 13, the chapter of the Bible commonly known as the love chapter.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Our officiant shared a few words of encouragement and admonition.

To which we apparently listened very intently.

And all too quickly, it was time for vows.

How did you choose readings for your wedding? What personal elements did you choose to include?

The wedding day began at 5:30 am and continued as we got ready at the venue. We had our perfect first look and then took couples pictures in the road. After bridal party pictures and family pictures, it was time to begin the ceremony! I walked down the aisle...