Good Luck - Susan Artup, The Marriage Celebrant

This anonymous reading is often used as a final blessing … the fact that it suggests that the success of your marriage should be based on gentle manipulation is beside the point I suppose! It’s humorous and realistic and talks of the balancing act that it sometimes takes to keep a relationship humming along.

“ When you marry her, love her.
After you marry her, study her.
When she is blue, cheer her.
When she is talkative, by all means, talk to her.
If she dresses well, compliment her.
When she is cross, humour her.
If she is jealous, cure her.
If she is lonely, comfort her.
When she looks pretty, tell her so.
Let her feel you understand her.
But never let her know she isn’t boss.

When you marry him, love him.
After you marry him, study him.
If he is secretive, trust him.
If he is sad, cheer him.
When he is talkative, listen to him.
When he is quarrelsome, ignore him.
If he is jealous, cure him.
If he cares naught for pleasure, coax him.
If he favours society, accompany him.
When he deserves it, kiss him.
Let him think you understand him.
But never let him know you manage him.”

Usually a family member will read this – an aunt, for example ( i.e. in a position to offer such sage advice!)