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Ceremony, legal and venues · Vows and readings

How many readers for a Catholic wedding?

Answered by the UK Wedding Websites editorial team · Updated 2026-10-12 · For the bridal party

Short answer

There is no fixed number of readers for a Catholic wedding. Usually couples choose two or three readers, but you can have more or fewer. Your priest will guide you on what fits your parish and the liturgy.

There is no set rule for how many readers you must have at a Catholic wedding. The number depends on your parish, the priest, and the length of the Mass or ceremony. Most couples choose two or three readers, often one for the first reading and one for the second reading, with the responsorial psalm sung or read by someone else. Some parishes ask that readers be Catholic and familiar with the scriptures, while others allow anyone who is comfortable reading publicly. You can also have a reader for the Prayer of the Faithful, sometimes called the Bidding Prayers, which usually includes several intentions. That role can be shared among family and friends. The priest will normally read the Gospel, so you do not need a reader for that. It is wise to ask your priest early about parish customs. Some churches have a rota of trained readers, but for a wedding you are usually free to choose your own. Make sure your readers practise the readings beforehand, and check whether they need to stand at a lectern or can read from the front. If you have many people you want to include, you could ask one to do a reading and another to lead the prayers. Keep the number manageable so the ceremony flows well. Your priest is the best person to confirm what is allowed in your particular church.

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