Alternative Wedding Readings From Indie Rock Love Songs

Photo from Lisa & Nick’s Hip Rock Music Party in Chicago Wedding by JPP Studios

What kind of readings are you having at your ceremony? My husband and I actually had traditional biblical readings at our 2003 wedding, specifically verses from the Song of Solomon which is in all honesty among our favorite books in the bible. Nowadays, having a 100% customized-to-you wedding is encouraged so it’s entirely up to you to use readings that truly reflect who you are in everyday life, whether they are quotes from movies, literature, or even rock songs you love.

Since I recently resurrected the Indie Wedding Music section, I thought of compiling some unconventionally romantic lyrics from my favorite tunes to inspire you in coming up with alternative wedding readings for your ceremony. (If you’re musically gifted, why not perform the songs yourself during your exchange of vows?)

Some songs are recent discoveries, others I’ve already listed on this guide years ago. Here they are, not necessarily in order of preference:

1. From Words & Music, written and performed by Sondre Lerche

You be words, and I’ll be music
Ain’t you heard, that’s how they do it?
You’re a poem when you’re on your own
I’ll try not to get in your way
But I’ve all the poems I have known, baby, you give me something to say

I’ll be words, and you’ll be music
I concur, I can’t refuse it
You’re a sad little tune by yourself
So lovely I wanna sing along
If there’s one thing I know I can tell, when we get together we’re a song

Whenever I’m with you it’s true it’s
Everything you say and do it’s
Words & music, you & I (more here)

2. From Real Love, performed by Regina Spektor, written by John Lennon

From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for love

Don’t need to be afraid
No need to be afraid

It’s real love

Thought I’d been in love before,
But in my heart I wanted more
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you (more here)

3. From This is the First Day of My Life, written and performed by Bright Eyes

This is the first day of my life
I swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain suddenly everything changed
They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am
I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go… (more here

3. From The Sore Feet Song, written and performed by Ally Kerr

I walked ten thousand miles, ten thousand miles to see you,
And every gasp of breath I grabbed at just to find you,
I climbed up every hills to get, to you,
I wandered ancient lands to hold, just you.

And every single step of the way, of pain,
Every single night and day,
I searched for you.
Through sandstorms and hazy dawns I reached for you.

I stole ten thousand pounds, ten thousand pounds to see you,
I robbed convenient stores ’cause I thought they’d make it easier.
I lived off rats and toads, and I starved for you.
I fought off giants bears and I killed them too.

And every single step of the way, of pain,
Every single night and day,
I searched for you.
Through sandstorms and hazy dawns I reached for you.
I’m tired and I’m weak, but I’m strong for you.
I wanna go home, but my love gets me through. (more here)

4. From Better Together, written and performed by Jack Johnson

There is no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard
No song that I could sing but I can try for your heart
Our dreams, and they are made out of real things
Like a shoebox of photographs
With sepia-toned loving
Love is the answer,
At least for most of the questions in my heart
Like why are we here? And where do we go?
And how come it’s so hard?
It’s not always easy and
Sometimes life can be deceiving
I’ll tell you one thing, it’s always better when we’re together (more here)

5. From The Idea of Growing Old, written and performed by The Features

We can talk all night, We can talk all day
We can play charades when there is nothing to say
You turn me on to the idea of growing old

I can make you angry, you can make me smile
We can make oragami with the kids for a while
You turn me on to the idea of growing old (more here)

6. From I Was Made For You, written and performed by Rivers Cuomo

Little one, how long I’ve waited here
Waited for so many lonely years
Nobody ever could make me smile
‘Til you came ’round with your pretty style

And I will love you so

‘Cause I was made for you
And you were made for me
And that is all I know
You’re all that I can see
‘Cause I was made for loving you
And all the little things you do
Remind me who I am inside

Happiness is such a fickle thing
Nothing compares to what you can bring
You can bring meaning to what I do
That is why I want to be with you (more here)

7. From Home, written and performed by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

I’ll follow you into the park,
through the jungle, through the dark
Girl, I’ve never loved one like you

Moats & boats & waterfalls,
alley ways & pay phone calls
I’ve been everywhere with you

That’s true
We laugh until we think we’ll die,
barefoot on a summer night
Nothin’ new is sweeter than with you  (more here)

8. From The Luckiest, written and performed by Ben Folds

I don’t get many things right the first time,
In fact I am told that a lot.
Now I know all the wrong turns ands tumbles and falls
Brought me here.
Now it was right before the day that i first saw your lovely face.
Now I see it everyday

And I know
That Iam,
I am,
I am the luckiest (more here)

9. From I Just Do, written and performed by Deer and the Headlights

When I look at you,
I’ve caught myself off-guard a time or two
Those funny times I realize that I’ve been staring
Way too long and you’re done talking
Not to mention I’ve stopped breathing

I’m such a mess
I’m rushing to open your car door
You lean and open mine before
I can turn the key and
Oh I just love you Oh I just love you

Calling to say hi on your break
In less than twenty words you made
My whole damn day and
Oh I just love you Oh I just love you (more here)

10. From Such Great Heights, written and performed by The Postal Service

I am thinking it’s a sign that the freckles
In our eyes are mirror images and when
We kiss they’re perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate that God himself
Did make us into corresponding shapes like
Puzzle pieces from the clay
True, it may seem like a stretch, but
Its thoughts like this that catch my troubled
Head when you’re away when I am missing you to death
When you are out there on the road for
Several weeks of shows and when you scan
The radio, I hope this song will guide you home (more here)

Can you recommend more alternative love songs with wedding appropriate lyrics that can be used for readings?