re: BIL's wedding reading choice?

[MountainDew]

Been many a laugh in our house today!

We are getting married in a few weeks. Asked BIL to do a reading. DP wasn't happy with any of my suggestions, couldn't be arsed to find any himself, so we asked BIL if he could find something. The exact word we used "maybe there is a passage from a book you've read or something".

He got back to us. Typed up a lovely reading, very sweet. Everyone happy.

Until today! I am finalising the plans for the registrar, readings, music, etc. I write out the reading from BIL. Note down the book it is from. Then I think, "that is an odd title for a book I'm having a reading from... I'll just google it..."

It's only a bloody erotica novel! 'The Black Widow' by Lena Austin. Can't link as on my phone, but christ on a bike! The cover and blurb are hilarious. :o

Anyway, my AIBU is... AIBU to use it anyway? DP says absolutely use it. My sister says no way. Also, should we tell BIL we know where it is from. I'mthinking of calling him, all innocent like, to say "the registrar has rejected your reading. Do you have any idea why?" :o

What a great story - use it!

Oh you must post the text of the reading.

Hmm. Obviously the reading itself isn't a problem, so - in twenty years, will it be a good pub story or still a source of regret and anguish that your day of romance was sullied so?

If the latter, say priest has rejected it - if the former, translate the book title into another language and put that on the order of service. How about Italian: La vedova nera - by Lene Austienna

You were happy with the reading before - so yes I'd use it and have a bit of a giggle. Though I would definitely want specific thanks in the speeches to BIL "for sharing with us such a special reading" or words along those lines. Just in case anyone thought it was MY favourite book...

Ach not priest - registrar. Was thinking of religious readings being rejected and wrote priest instead!

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1173&bih=513&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=CSjgHNRmEksuGM:&imgrefurl=www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-widow-lena-austin/1006854087&docid=VQDxbe0KRSUNQM&itg=1&imgurl=img2.imagesbn.com/images/103850000/103850571.jpg&w=300&h=400&ei=734VT_a4HNTG8QPf9cjFAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=101&vpy=127&dur=409&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=103&ty=142&sig=114939469811657169141&page=1&tbnh=155&tbnw=116&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here's the cover :o

What is that thing she's holding - that's not your average whip, is it?

Haha, will post it later when on an actual pc. Can't face typing the whole thing on my teeny phone keyboard...

Love the speeches idea! Oooh yes. :o

Or just put (written by Lena Austin) after the text for the reading, you don't need to mention it's called 'The Black Widow'!

Cum' on! Let him do the reading!

It is a Noble publication, what harm can it do?

Erotica or not, actually thinking about it having a reading from something called 'The BLACK WIDOW' at your wedding is, well...

Is this the reading?

?Now you will no longer fear the storm, for you find shelter in each other. Now the cold cannot harm you, for you warm each other with love. Now when strength fails, you will be the wind at the other's back. Now the darkness holds no danger, for you will be the light to each other's path. Now you will defy despair, for you will bring hope to each other's heart. Now there will be no loneliness, for there will always be a hand reaching out to hold you when all seems darkest. Where there were two paths, there is now one. May your days together be long upon the earth, and each day blessed with joy in each other.?

If the reading is suitable as a stand alone piece of text then do it! Have fun trying to spot the people who recognise it!!

Phwoar!!!! Thats some pretty steamy stuff callow!

And if it's what callow thinks it is then I think it's lovely.

Just put the author's name - no one will know it's actually from an erotica novel!

A favourite bedtime read of yours then callow

Ha.

Agree with just the name of the writer.

Putting "widow" on an order of service just seems odd, tbh.

If the vicar blushes when he reads it you will know he is a fan of erotica. :o

LOL - love it if it's what Callow says.

I would let him do it then PMSL trying to see if anyone recognises it.

Do put the author on it though.

I only looked for a quote from Lena Austin. LOL

I am sure that is what the OP's BIL did. He looked for a few romantic quotes online. Thought this one sounded suitable but didn't think to look for where is came from!

If it is that passage then i'm pretty sure it was pinched from an american indian blessing (sounds v like what we had at our wedding)

What dandelion said. I've definitely seen that before from a blessing of some kind. Check via google- you may be able to use a different attribution.

Sounds very like the Apache wedding prayer, which was written in a Western novel and became popular after it was included in a film. I think that perhaps Lena Austin was inspired by it? How many p's in plagiarism?

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

We had the apache wedding prayer for our wedding 8 yrs ago :)

Yes it is that one callow. Gutted you can just find it online, bah. There was me thinking he was an erotica fan. He might still be... You never know.

It is very like that Apache prayer. But now I know the origins, I want the Lena Austin one! :o