How Do I Credit Authors For Wedding Quotes Correctly?

Walking into a tiny chapel last summer, I was struck by how often the same lines from scripture made everyone sniffle and smile. Couples tend to pick verses that speak about love, unity, and commitment, and a few favorites keep popping up. '1 Corinthians 13:4-8' is basically the wedding playlist staple—it talks about patience, kindness, and how love endures; I’ve heard it read with a hush on the congregation. 'Genesis 2:24' is another go-to when people want the theological foundation for marriage: two become one flesh. For more pastor-style readings, 'Ephesians 5:25-33' shows up when people want imagery of sacrificial love and mutual respect, and 'Colossians 3:14' is a sweet short choice: love binds everything together. If a couple wants something poetic, 'Song of Solomon 2:10' or '8:6-7' brings romantic language, while 'Ruth 1:16' gives that vow-like tone for loyalty. I always tell friends planning the ceremony to read these aloud beforehand—some verses sound different when you say them yourself, and that helps pick the perfect one.

I get a little giddy thinking about wedding invitations — they're tiny story starters, and the quote you pick sets the whole mood. From my side of things, I love quotes that feel like an honest heartbeat: short, sincere, and a little poetic. For a whimsical garden or sunset ceremony I often recommend lines that sound like a whispered secret between the couple and the guests. Examples I reach for: 'Two hearts, one love, forever begins today.' or 'Today we begin our favorite adventure.' Those feel light and hopeful and sit nicely at the top of an invite like a headline. If your vibe is softer and more lyrical, a line like 'We found each other in a world of chances' or 'Together is our favorite place to be' reads like a gentle promise. When I’m in a slightly more romantic mood, I look for quotes that lean into timeless warmth. Classic-sounding choices I adore: 'Love is not just looking at each other, but looking outward together in the same direction.' or 'Once in a while, right in the middle of ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.' These fit beautifully on invitations that want to feel like they’re inviting guests into something heartfelt and quietly grand. I also like mixing a line like that with a shorter subtitle — for instance: 'Once in a while…' above the names and then your full names and details below. It breaks the text up and gives the invite a little theatrical beat. If you prefer something really concise — ideal for minimalist or modern layouts — go for a crisp line such as 'Today we say yes.' or 'Join us as we tie the knot.' Minimal doesn’t mean cold; it means every word counts. For religious ceremonies, phrases like 'With God’s blessing, we unite our lives' or 'Two souls, one faith, one future' carry reverence without being overly ornate. I always try to match the quote to both the ceremony tone and the couple’s personality. A slightly quirky couple might choose a playful line like 'We’re getting married! Drinks afterwards!' — yes, I’ve actually seen invites lean into that charmingly casual vibe — while a couple who loves literature might quote something like 'Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.' (If you want to borrow from writers, double-check attribution and permissions for long excerpts.) Finally, a practical tip I’ve learned from making invites for friends: place the quote where it enhances, not competes with, the details. Let it be the mood-setter on an outer flap or the header on the main card. Keep it to one or two lines at most; guests tend to scan. And if you’re torn between romantic and funny, you can even use both on separate components — a poetic line on the invitation and a cheeky one on the details card or RSVP. That little contrast always makes me smile.

I get a little emotional thinking about vows, so here’s my warm, practical take. I’ve watched friends freeze at the mic and others bring everyone to tears with one simple line — the trick is picking quotes that feel like you, then folding them into a promise. I like mixing a short, well-chosen line from a book or movie with something personal. Lines that work well: a pared-down 'Pride and Prejudice' vibe like "you have bewitched me" pared with "and I choose to love you every day," or a gentle, modern line such as "I choose you" followed by a memory that proves it. References to 'The Little Prince' — "You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed" — can be powerful if you immediately explain what you’ll care for in them: laughter, safety, curiosity. Practical tip: don’t lift giant blocks of someone else’s text. Use a sentence or two that resonates, then translate it into your own promise. That keeps the moment intimate and legal-free, and your guests will feel the truth behind the words. If you want, I can help tailor a short vow that blends a quote you love with a personal line.

Sunlight through the magnolia trees always makes me want to write something on a wedding invite — something simple, seasonal, and full of promise. I love pairing a short quote with the practical details: it sets the tone without stealing the whole show. For a spring wedding I’d pick lines that speak of new beginnings, lightness, and lasting love. If you want classic romance, try: "Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be." — Robert Browning. For something poetic and a touch wistful: "Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." — Kahlil Gibran (you can find this feeling echoed in 'The Prophet'). For a quietly profound option that fits both modern and traditional invites: "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments." — from 'Sonnet 116'. For a breezy, seasonal vibe: "Spring is a lovely reminder of how beautiful change can be." or "Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment." — e.e. cummings. If you want a faith-leaning line, "Love is patient, love is kind." — 1 Corinthians 13 is short and recognizable. My little tip: keep the quote to one or two lines on the main invitation and use a longer poem or personal note on an enclosure card. I usually test fonts and paper with the quote printed large — that look often tells me if the line truly fits the day. If you want, tell me the vibe (romantic, playful, literary), and I’ll help pick one that pairs perfectly with your stationery.

There are moments in a ceremony when a line about calm, steadiness, or 'serenity' lands like a soft chord — and I learned that the hard way after watching my own vows play out beneath a willow. For me, using a quote that evokes 'serenity' worked best not as an opener but as a bridge: after we promised the big, dramatic things and before we got into the everyday practical vows. It felt like a breath. If your relationship leans into peacefulness, steady presence, or recovery and healing, a whispered line referencing 'serenity' can make the audience lean in and give the vow a quiet, sacred weight. If you're thinking of borrowing something specific — say a line from the 'Serenity Prayer' — give credit and place it with intention. I slipped a short, adapted phrase into mine instead of the whole prayer, and that kept the moment intimate rather than sermon-like. Also consider the setting: an outdoor, low-key ceremony suits a gentle quoted line more than a raucous reception hall. Practice aloud to avoid it sounding rote; a quote about serenity should feel lived-in, like it’s already part of your daily small kindnesses. Finally, avoid overusing the word or putting it in quotation marks just for emphasis. Quotation marks can create distance or irony, which is the opposite of what you probably want. Use the idea of serenity to highlight a promise — to stay calm together, to return to one another after storms — and let it be a quiet promise that your voice can hold without needing extra punctuation.

When I'm designing invitations for friends (or procrastinating with a cup of coffee and a stack of paper samples), I always start by hunting through places where people actually collect tiny beautiful lines. Pinterest is my go-to moodboard — search wedding quotes, short wedding sayings, or even vintage poetry lines and you'll have dozens of one-liners ready to copy-paste or remix. Canva and Paperless Post both have quote libraries built into their templates, so you can see how a line looks in script versus a clean sans-serif. If I need something more literary, I flip through poems and novels: 'The Prophet' has spare, poetic phrases; 'The Little Prince' holds tender simplicity; even a line from a favorite film can be perfect. For quick searchable options, BrainyQuote, Goodreads lists, and The Knot have curated short quote lists. Etsy sellers often list hand-lettered quote packs that spark ideas, and Instagram hashtags like #weddingquotes or #invitationinspo show real-world uses. Some tiny samples I’ve used or loved: Together is a beautiful place to be; All because two people fell in love; Join us for the beginning of forever; With joyful hearts. My little tip: pick something under 12 words so it breathes on the card, and try a few fonts — sometimes the typeface makes a two-word line feel classic or playful. If you want, tell me the vibe (formal, casual, whimsical) and I’ll toss a handful of tailored lines your way.

I still get a little teary thinking about the speech I gave at my sister's wedding, so here are lines that actually landed for me and ideas on how to use them. Start with a warm, specific memory to bracket a quote. I opened with a silly childhood anecdote — then slid into Carol Saline's line: "Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other." It felt honest and grounded; people nodded because everyone understands that kind of steady presence. After that I used an anonymous, sweeter line: "Because I have a sister, I will always have a friend." It worked as a gentle bridge into my toast. If you like literary touches, drop a short paraphrase from 'Little Women' about sisterhood and loyalty, but keep it brief so the bride remains the focus. Finish with something playful and personal—mine was, "May your biggest fights be about the remote and your biggest joys be shared over coffee at midnight," which got the room laughing and felt true. Pick two quotes max: one to set the mood, one to close, and weave your own little story in between.

I get a little giddy thinking about wedding speeches — there's something delightfully theatrical about capturing 'hubby' in a single line that makes everyone laugh or sigh. When people ask me which hubby quotes land best, I usually pull out a mix of sweet, funny, and slightly cheeky lines that feel personal but universal. For light-hearted moments, I love short zingers like 'My hubby still steals the covers — and my heart,' or 'To my hubby: you fixed my Wi‑Fi, now fix my broken heart' (corny works when delivered with a grin). For tender beats, try 'My hubby is my best friend, my favorite storyteller, and the one who makes ordinary days feel like magic' or 'I married my person — my calm in chaos, my loudest cheerleader.' If you want playful nostalgia, there are classics like 'He said “forever” and I suspected he was serious. I said “liar” and somehow he still signed the paperwork' or 'My hubby promised to love me in sickness and in health, and honestly, his cooking has put that vow to the test.' For a slightly more cinematic line, you can do something like, 'I found my plot twist: a husband who became my favorite chapter.' Mix these with a quick anecdote — the time he nervously burnt toast at our first breakfast or the disastrous camping trip — and the quote lands harder. One practical tip from my many speech rehearsals: keep a balance. Drop one really memorable quote, add a tiny story that proves it, and finish with a warm toast. People remember the feeling more than the exact words, so pick a hubby line that matches your vibe: goofy, romantic, or wise. It makes the whole room lean in, and honestly, I live for that moment when everyone smiles together.