| feminist wedding readings [message #519659] |
Fri, 02 December 2005 13:13  |
 embo
Messages: 1
Registered: December 2005
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Hi all.
My sig ot and I (both women) are getting married August. We're both feminists and really want to include some feminist readings in the ceremony. We've both thought and talked and talked some more about our concerns about marriage as a misogynist and heterosexist institution, but have joyously decided to enter into marriage (although ours won't have legal recognition) because it's also a valuable institution. And we want to celebrate our commitment with our family and friends.
I know there are several threads explicitly about readings and vows, and some are feminist, but I was wondering if anyone reading this thread has some suggestions of readings they consider feminist.
Thanks,
Embo
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| Re: feminist wedding readings [message #520927] |
Mon, 05 December 2005 07:58  |
Daisy Duck
Messages: 1012
Registered: May 2005
Location: Midwest |
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Hi,
I have 10 months to plan so haven't gotten to the point of coming up with readings for myself and my FH yet, but they'll be feminist or egalitarian in nature, because that's what we're going for in general. I thought I'd share the following with you, just in case you haven't seen the page:
http://www.ritualwell.org/lifecycles/intimacypartnering/wedd ingscommitmentceremonies/sitefolder.2005-06-07.7123390896/
The site, ritualwell.org, about sort of personalizing rituals and ceremonies and that particular link has same-sex wedding ideas and a focus on gender equality is part of what they include. You might look at the Lovers' Covenant (a reworking of a Jewish marriage contract), and the nuptuals section, which has a feminist reworking as well. I think other ideas on the same website might be helpful as well, although it does have a primarily Jewish focus that may or may not work for your particular relationship.
Good luck!
Daisy
"You cannot go against nature, because when you do go against nature, that's part of nature too." -- Love and Rockets, "No New Tale to Tell."
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| Re: feminist wedding readings [message #520930] |
Mon, 05 December 2005 08:06 |
Daisy Duck
Messages: 1012
Registered: May 2005
Location: Midwest |
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The Ballad of Erica Levine has been described as a "feminist wedding song." I suppose it could be recited, although it's a bit long and sort of humorous:
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiELEVINE;ttE LEVINE.html
DD
[Updated on: Mon, 05 December 2005 08:07]
"You cannot go against nature, because when you do go against nature, that's part of nature too." -- Love and Rockets, "No New Tale to Tell."
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| Re: feminist wedding readings [message #552199] |
Thu, 19 January 2006 20:57 |
ducky-duck
Messages: 63
Registered: January 2006
Location: Waterloo, ON |
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we gave our reader relative free range to decide what she wanted to read for our wedding and she's come up with "love to you" by Luce Irigaray (translated by Alison Martin), we're still working on which section she wants to read from but it might be an option
"We grew up founding our dreams on the infinite promise of American advertising."
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| Re: feminist wedding readings [message #552430] |
Fri, 20 January 2006 08:50 |
pinget
Messages: 311
Registered: March 2005
Location: Chicago |
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There are some nice quotes in Goodridge v. Dept of Public Health that talk of the importance of marriage to everyone -- how marriage is a "momentous act of self-definition," among other things. Unusually beautiful for a court decision.
We chose a poem from Margaret Atwood about marriage. While the poem itself wasn't particularly feminist, Atwood is, herself, of course.
Hayduke lives.
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| Re: feminist wedding readings [message #893672] |
Tue, 19 August 2008 00:01 |
lacasadisognozis
Messages: 12
Registered: August 2008
Location: los angeles |
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we're using this one for our lesbian wedding:
Friends, __________ and __________ have invited us here today to share in the celebration of their marriage -- their wedding.
We come together not to mark the start of a relationship, but to recognize a bond that already exists. This marriage is one expression of the many varieties of love. Love is one, though its expressions are infinite.
It is fitting to speak briefly about love. We live in a world of joy and fear and search for meaning and strength in the seeming disorder. We discover the truest guideline to our quest when we realize love in all its magnitudes. Love is the eternal force of life. Love is the force that allows us to face fear and uncertainty with courage.
But, you must "be of love a little more careful than of anything."
For the giving of yourself in love is difficult, for you must learn to give of your love without total submission of yourself. Therefore, in your giving, give your joy, your sadness, your interest, your understanding, your knowledge -- all expressions that make up life. But in this giving, remember to preserve yourself -- your integrity, your individuality. This is the challenge of love within marriage.
__________ and __________, you are marrying because you enjoy each other's company and because you want to be together. You are marrying because each of you can grow in humanity and in love more fully while touching the other. You are marrying because you can be more trusting of life as life mates. Keep this understanding of your marriage fresh and alive in the days ahead.
In marriage a family comes into being. Be joyful in your family. Bring to your family an appreciation of the beauty of each other. Bring to your family a sense of comfort and strength. Bring to your family a joy and thankfulness for being together.
Marriage is a good estate. Bring to it joy. Bring to it the joy of this hour. Bring to it the enjoyment of each other.
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| Re: feminist wedding readings [message #905051] |
Fri, 19 September 2008 17:20 |
Leah Christensen
Messages: 565
Registered: October 2007
Location: Ontario Canada and Arizon... |
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| Icicle wrote on Fri, 05 September 2008 19:52 |
The first chapter of the book of Ruth (bible) is a beautiful example of love. Ruth stays committed to Naomi- saying that "your people shall be my people" It's a great reading for a lesbian wedding- but I think is beautiful just as a reading about love.
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I like that one too. Sadly, I've been to some weddings where the woman vowed that to the man, and it's been taken as "following HIS direction."
I was at another ceremony though, where BOTH PARTNERS read the verse IN UNISON with no one leading, no one following, that thy people shall be my people, as a couple, as a team, equals, not one following the other.
Or even if it's not reead in union, both partners reading/vowing/being involved in that reading is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
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