The Velveteen Rabbit is one of the most popular wedding readings around. Margery Williams' timeless tale is well thought of it was picked by Prince Harry for Zara and Mike's big day. But what makes a great wedding reading? And does Velveteen Rabbit hold the key to the perfect modern wedding reading?
'What is REAL?' asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. 'Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?' 'Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When someone loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, buy REALLY loves you, then you become Real.' 'Does it hurt? Asked the Rabbit. 'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.' 'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?' ' It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.'
What's fantastic about the Velveteen Rabbit is that like so many children's tales it works on many different levels. Along with this gorgeously gentle description of what it means for two people to grow old together it's not too mushy or religious.
Most couples look for words that carry a personal meaning. Readings that reflect their feelings towards love, marriage, family and friends. Something that encapsulates all of that and more. Which Williams' passage does extremely well.
This timeless tale of love follows a stuffed toy rabbit who comes to life because of the love of a little boy. "'Real isn't how you are made,' said his friend the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you."
Just like marriage. After all, some might say, who are we until we are truly loved?
Meanwhile it's packed with humorous nods to old age such as your 'hair gets loved off'. And we are constantly reminded about loving for who we are just like a child who loves their velveteen rabbit: 'once you are real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand'.
With such worthy sentiment, it's no wonder The Velveteen Rabbit got the royal seal of approval.
Visit the Confetti.co.uk website to find out how to choose the perfect wedding reading.