The Spanish language and the world-renowned works and poetry written in it have provided couples with heartwarming words to describe their commitment. Even more, Spanish culture has given us romantic traditions and ideals to aspire toward.
Works by Spanish-speaking writers like Pablo Neruda, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, and Gabriel García Márquez, along with musicians like Miguel Bosé and Armando Manzanero, are wonderful sources of Spanish wedding readings for your ceremony.
Below are 13 poems, quotes, and lyrics you can use as a reading for your Spanish wedding ceremony. The original Spanish text and its English translation are both provided. Lastly, a sample ceremony script is also given.
Meaningful Spanish Wedding Readings for Your Ceremony
1. “Sonnet XVI” by Pablo Neruda, tr. Gustavo Escobedo
Amo el trozo de tierra que tú eres,
porque de las praderas planetarias
otra estrella no tengo. Tú repites
la multiplicación del universo.
Tus anchos ojos son la luz que tengo
de las constelaciones derrotadas,
tu piel palpita como los caminos
que recorre en la lluvia el meteoro.
De tanta luna fueron para mí tus caderas,
de todo el sol tu boca profunda y su delicia,
de tanta luz ardiente como miel en la sombra
tu corazón quemado por largos rayos rojos,
y así recorro el fuego de tu forma besándote,
pequeña y planetaria, paloma y geografía.
(English Translation)
I love the piece of earth you are,
because in all the planetary prairies
I do not have another star. You repeat
the multiplication of the universe.
Your wide eyes are the light that I have
of the vanquished constellations,
your skin pulses like the roads,
which the meteor follows in the rain.
Of so much moon were your hips to me,
of all the sun your deep mouth and its delight,
of so much burning light like honey in the shade
your heart burnt by long red rays,
and this way I follow the fire of your form kissing you,
small and planetary, dove, and geography.
This romantic poem by Pablo Neruda will melt everyone’s hearts; it describes the beauty of your partner and the passion you share.
2. “Rima LIII (Volverán las oscuras golondrinas)” by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, tr. Brian Cole
Volverán las oscuras golondrinas
en tu balcón sus nidos a colgar,
y otra vez con el ala a sus cristales
jugando llamarán.
Pero aquellas que el vuelo refrenaban
tu hermosura y mi dicha a contemplar,
aquellas que aprendieron nuestros nombres…
¡esas… no volverán!
Volverán las tupidas madreselvas
de tu jardín las tapias a escalar,
y otra vez a la tarde aún más hermosas
sus flores se abrirán.
Pero aquellas, cuajadas de rocío
cuyas gotas mirábamos temblar
y caer como lágrimas del día…
¡esas… no volverán!
Volverán del amor en tus oídos
las palabras ardientes a sonar;
tu corazón de su profundo sueño
tal vez despertará.
Pero mudo y absorto y de rodillas
como se adora a Dios ante su altar,
como yo te he querido…; desengáñate,
¡así… no te querrán!
(English Translation)
The black swallows will return
to hang their nests on your balcony,
and once again will knock in play
against your window panes;
but those that stopped their flight and perched to observe your beauty and my good luck,
those who learned to know our names…
those… will not return!
The honeysuckle will return,
to climb the walls in your garden,
and open once again at evening
their even more beautiful flowers,
but those blooms that were full of dew
where we saw the trembling drops
fall like tears of the day …
those… will not return!
Ardent words of love will return
to sound and resound in your ears;
and your heart from the depths of sleep
perhaps will wake again;
but silent, absorbed, on bended knee,
as men worship God at His altar,
as I have loved you … make no mistake,
they’ll not love you like that!
This work by Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer is a unique and wonderful choice for your Spanish wedding reading. It describes the fleeting nature of life, but it also declares that real love and happiness will always find their way back to you.
3. “Sonnet XVII” by Pablo Neruda, tr. Mark Eisner
No te amo como si fueras rosa de sal, topacio
o flecha de claveles que propagan el fuego:
te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras,
secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma.
Te amo como la planta que no florece y lleva
dentro de sí, escondida, la luz de aquellas flores,
y gracias a tu amor vive oscuro en mi cuerpo
el apretado aroma que ascendió de la tierra.
Te amo sin saber cómo, ni cuándo, ni de dónde,
te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo:
así te amo porque no sé amar de otra manera,
sino así de este modo en que no soy ni eres,
tan cerca que tu mano sobre mi pecho es mía,
tan cerca que se cierran tus ojos con mi sueño.
I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as one loves certain obscure things,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
(English Translation)
I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries
the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself,
and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose
from the earth lives dimly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.
Another sonnet from the prolific writer Pablo Neruda, this poem describes the uniqueness of the love you feel for a partner. Over the course of your relationship, you find ways of renewing this love and redefining it—resulting in a strong and resilient love.
4. Lyrics from Miguel Bosé’s “Te Amaré” (I Will Love You), tr. from LyricsTranslate
Con la paz de las montañas te amaré
Con locura y equilibrio te amaré
Con la rabia de mis años
Como me enseñaste a ser
Con un grito en carne viva te amaré
En silencio y en secreto te amaré
Arriesgando en lo prohibido te amaré
En lo falso y en lo cierto
Con el corazón abierto
Por ser algo no perfecto te amaré
Te amaré, te amaré
Como no está permitido
Te amaré, te amaré
Como nunca se ha sabido
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Porque así lo he decidido
Te amaré
(English Translation)
With the calm of the mountains, I will love you
with insanity and balance, I will love you
with the fury of my years
the way you taught me to be
with a powerful raw scream, I will love you
In secrecy and in silence, I will love you
risking (bordering) in what’s forbidden, I will love you
in what’s false and in what’s true with my heart wide open
because you’re something that’s not perfect, I will love you
I will love you, I will love you in a way that’s not allowed
I will love you, I will love you in a way that’s never been known of
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Because that’s what I have decided,
I will love you
Miguel Bosé’s Te Amaré is a powerful declaration of your commitment to love your partner, making it a perfect choice for a Spanish reading at your wedding. You can also use this as inspiration for original vows.
5. Lyrics from Rigoberta Bandini’s “Canciones De Amor A Ti” (Love Songs to You), tr. from Gio the Sailor, LyricsTranslate
Que ahora sólo te puedo escribir canciones de amor a ti
Que ahora sólo puedo descubrir mi amor a ti desde aquí
Que habrás hecho, que sólo te puedo escribir canciones de amor a ti
Ya no existe más nada, no hay nada más importante sin ti aquí
Que ahora sólo te puedo escribir canciones de amor a ti
Qué has hecho, que ahora solo te puedo escribir canciones de amor a ti
Y que espero que el mundo se encargue de que estemos siempre así
Que papá nos haga boloñesa todos los domingos (y más cosas)
Que algún día podamos ver todos juntos las de Sorrentino
Que los hombres de este nuevo mundo lloréis bien tranquilos
(English Translation)
That now I can only write love songs for you
That now I can discover my love for you from here
What did you do, that I can only write love songs for you
Nothing exists anymore, there’s nothing more important without you here
That now I can only write love songs for you
What did you do, that I can only write love songs for you
And I hope the world takes care we stay like this forever
That dad cooks us bolognese every Sunday (and more stuff)
That someday we’re able to see the Sorrentino together
That the men of this new world cry very calm
This song is a beautiful declaration of love for your partner. The lyrics describe a sense of wonder at the fact that you have found the love of your life, looking forward to a bright and kind future for the two of you.
6. A Quote from Gabriel García Márquez’s Biography, “Gabriel García Márquez: a Life” by Gerald Martin
The problem with marriage is that it ends every night after making love, and it must be rebuilt every morning before breakfast.
This is a succinct description of marriage from Gabriel García Márquez, a Colombian author and one of the most prolific writers in the Spanish language. It holds a simple truth: marriage requires constant work and commitment, something that newlyweds need to take to heart.
7. A Quote from Paulo Coelho
El amor no necesita ser entendido, simplemente necesita ser demostrado
Love does not need to be understood. It just has to be shown.
If you need a short Spanish reading for your wedding, consider this quote often attributed to Paulo Coelho. Regardless of where you look, there are infinite definitions of love. However, every love is unique and does not need to be defined; all you need to do is to show it to your partner.
8. Excerpt from “Te Quiero” by Mario Benedetti, tr. Paul Archer
Tus manos son mi caricia
mis acordes cotidianos
te quiero porque tus manos
trabajan por la justicia
si te quiero es porque sos
mi amor mi cómplice y todo
y en la calle codo a codo
somos mucho más que dos
tus ojos son mi conjuro
contra la mala jornada
te quiero por tu mirada
que mira y siembra futuro
tu boca que es tuya y mía
tu boca no se equivoca
te quiero porque tu boca
sabe gritar rebeldía
(English Translation)
Your hands are my caress
my daily reminders
I love you because your hands
work hard for justice
if I love you, it’s because you are
my love my accomplice my all
and out in the street arm in arm
we are much more than two
Your eyes are my lucky charm
against the bad days
I love you for your gaze
that watches and seeds the future
Your mouth that’s yours and mine
Your mouth that’s never wrong
I love you because your mouth
knows how to yell like a rebel
An influential Uruguayan writer, Mario Benedetti’s poem Te Quiero is an exploration of love in a passionate and revolutionary lens. It speaks of a love that is liberating, a love not only for each other but for the people.
9. Lyrics from Armando Manzanero’s “Contigo Aprendí” (With You I’ve Learned), tr. from LyricsTranslate
Contigo aprendí
Que existen nuevas y mejores emociones
Contigo aprendí
A conocer un mundo nuevo de ilusiones
Aprendí
Que la semana tiene más de siete días
A hacer mayores mis contadas alegrías
Y a ser dichoso, yo contigo lo aprendí
Contigo aprendí
A ver la luz del otro lado de la luna
Contigo aprendí
Que tu presencia no la cambio por ninguna
Aprendí
Que puede un beso ser más dulce y más profundo
Que puedo irme mañana mismo de este mundo
Las cosas buenas ya contigo las viví
Y contigo aprendí
Que yo nací el día en que te conocí
(English Translation)
With you I’ve learned
That there are new and better emotions
With you I’ve learned
To know a world full of dreams
I’ve learned
That the week has more than seven days
To make my joys even greater
And to be happy, I’ve learned it with you
With you I’ve learned
To see the light behind the moon
With you I’ve learned
That I wouldn’t change you with anyone else
I’ve learned
That a kiss could be bigger and deeper
That I may leave this world tomorrow
Because I’ve already lived the best things with you
And with you I’ve learned
That I was born the day I’ve met you
This song was written by Armando Manzanero, one of the most celebrated Mexican composers of romantic music. As a Spanish wedding reading, your guests will see what your partner means to you—the line “I may leave this world tomorrow because I’ve already lived the best things with you” is especially profound and touching.
10. A Quote from Amado Nervo
El amor verdadero hace milagros, porque él mismo es ya el mayor milagro.
True love performs miracles, for it is itself the greatest miracle.
Amado Nervo, a Mexican poet and journalist, described love as the greatest miracle a person will ever experience in their life. After all, love can move mountains and push you toward overcoming any obstacle that comes your way.
11. Lyrics from Il Divo’s “La Vida sin Amor” (Life Without Love), tr. from MotoLyrics
La vida sin amor
Es un fuego sin pasión
La vida sin amor
No sirve ya a mi corazón
Pues olvidé amar
(English Translation)
Life without love
Is a fire without passion
Life without love
Is now not suited for my heart
Then you forget to love
Once you find the love of your life, you will find that a life without love is not worth living. The song describes it like a “fire without passion.” Dedicating this Spanish reading to your partner will show them how much your life has changed for the better because of them.
12. “Contigo” (With You) by Luis Cernuda, tr. from Spanish Academy
¿Mi tierra?
Mi tierra eres tú.
¿Mi gente?
Mi gente eres tú.
El destierro y la muerte
para mi están adonde
no estés tú.
¿Y mi vida?
Dime, mi vida,
¿qué es, si no eres tú?
(English Translation)
My world?
You are my world.
My people?
You are my people.
For me, exile and death
are where you are not present.
And… My life?
Tell me, my life,
What is it, if it’s not you?
This short but expressive poem by Luis Cernuda is a beautiful ode to partnership. Once guests hear this wedding reading at your Spanish ceremony, they will see just how much your partner means to you.
13. “El Arte de la Unión” by Wilfred Arlan Peterson (Church of Ancient Ways’ Spanish translation of “The Art of Marriage”)
En el amor y la unión, las pequeñas cosas son las cosas grandes.
Nunca eres demasiado viejo para tomarse de las manos.
Recuerda decir “te amo” por lo menos una vez al día.
Nunca vayas a dormir enojado.
Está tomando nunca el otro para concedido.
Tener los mismos valores y objectivos.
Juntos afrontan el mundo.
Formar un círculo de amor que junte a la familia.
Hacer cosas para el otro de corazón y no por obligacion.
Demostrar gratitud y agradecimiento.
No busques perfeccion en tu pareja, cultiva la paciencia y el entendimiento con sentido del humor y tener la capacidad de perdonar y olvidar.
Proporcionar una ambiente en el cual cada uno pueda crecer.
Busca el tiempo para cultivar el espíritu.
Hacer una relación en la cual la independencia y dependencia sean iguales y las responsabilidades reciprocas.
No solo es estar con la pareja adecuada sino también es ser la pareja adecuada.
(English Translation)
In the art of marriage the little things are the big things…
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
“The Art of Marriage” is an iconic wedding reading that used to be more common in the US; it contains plenty of essential advice for newlyweds. As such, incorporating a translation of it into your bilingual ceremony can be practically helpful and culturally profound.
Spanish Wedding Script: Memorable Example
Officiant: Bienvenidos amigos y familiares. Welcome, friends and family. Estamos aquí para celebrar el amor entre (partner’s name) y (partner’s name). We are here today to celebrate the love between (partner’s name) and (partner’s name).
Officiant: El matrimonio es una promesa entre dos personas que se aman, confían, honran y respetan mutuamente. Marriage is a promise between two people who love, trust, honor, and respect each other.
Officiant: As we prepare to hear the selected readings that reflect the journey and essence of love between (partner’s name) and (partner’s name), I am pleased to introduce someone very special. (Reader’s name) is (describe the reader’s relationship to the couple). Please join me in welcoming (reader’s name), who will share words that will resonate in our hearts today.
Reader: [reads the reading, either in Spanish, English, or both]
Officiant: We now come to a sacred and pivotal moment in this ceremony. The exchange of vows is a tradition that binds not just words, but also hearts and souls. These promises, made in the presence of loved ones and the universe, represent the unwavering commitment of (partner’s name) and (partner’s name) to each other. I invite everyone to listen closely and feel the depth of love these two share, as they voice their vows of everlasting love and dedication.
Partner: [recites vows, either in Spanish or English]
Partner: [recites vows, either in Spanish or English]
Officiant: Estos anillos simbolizan el amor eterno y el compromiso que han elegido compartir. Los anillos son símbolos poderosos. Aunque son pequeños en tamaño, su forma perfecta y continua representa el amor eterno, sin fin ni principio.
Officiant: These rings symbolize the everlasting love and commitment you have chosen to share. The rings are powerful symbols. Though small in stature, their unbroken and continuous shape stands for everlasting love, with no end or beginning.
Officiant: Now, (partner’s name), place the ring on your partner’s hand and repeat after me. Con este anillo me caso contigo. Con todo mi amor, te lo entrego.
Partner: [places the ring on the other’s hand] Con este anillo me caso contigo. Con todo mi amor, te lo entrego.
Officiant: Now, (partner’s name), place the ring on your partner’s hand and repeat after me. Con este anillo me caso contigo. Con todo mi amor, te lo entrego.
Partner: [places the ring on the other’s hand] Con este anillo me caso contigo. Con todo mi amor, te lo entrego.
Officiant: [If you want to have a second reading, the officiant can introduce the second reader at this point of the Spanish wedding ceremony script. The second reader will read the reading.]
Officiant: Hemos sido testigos de la unión de (partner’s name) y (partner’s name), y hemos sentido la profundidad de su amor y compromiso. A medida que salen al mundo como marido y mujer, que su vida juntos esté llena de alegría, descubrimiento, y aventuras compartidas. Que los desafíos que enfrenten los fortalezcan y que siempre encuentren refugio el uno en el otro. Que el amor que han proclamado hoy resplandezca brillantemente a lo largo de todos sus días.
Officiant: En presencia de sus seres queridos, y con el poder de su amor y compromiso, los declaro marido y mujer. In the presence of your loved ones, and by the power of your love and commitment, I now pronounce you (husband/wife) and (husband/wife/spouses/partners for life).
Officiant: Ahora pueden besarse. You may now kiss one another! ¡Felicidades!
Final Thoughts
Once you have chosen your reading—be it a poem, some lyrics, or a quote from a book, movie, or film—you may want to look for a trustworthy translation. This can be particularly helpful if you have guests who do not speak Spanish.
Ultimately, wedding readings encapsulate your relationship with your partner; they express your shared views, dreams, and wishes. Choosing the right one can be a challenging but profound activity.
