Shakespeare in Love

I have already told this story in class but I will repeat it here as it leads into the second half of my post. A few years ago two of my good friends became engaged and on Zack's ring, Shannon had engraved: IV. iii. 288-289. The act, scene and line numbers are in reference to Much Ado About Nothing when Beatrice proclaims to Benedick "I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest." Beatrice loves Benedick so entirely that she will no longer pretend she does not or hold back; she will love Benedick completely. How sweet, right?

Now, my older sister has become engaged and as her Maid of Honor she has asked me to keep my eyes peeled for possible readings for the wedding ceremony. Her love and knowledge of Shakespeare is concentrated on Romeo and Juliet. I suggested she use the scene when Romeo and Juliet first meet which is actually written as a sonnet. Notice the three stanzas of four lines with the rhyme scheme A B A B finishing with a rhyming couplet:

ROMEO: If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

ROMEO Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

JULIET Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
ROMEO Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.

Clever, huh? Remember how this love-at-first-sight-now-I-can-speak-in-sonnets happens to Beatrice when she finds out Benedick loves her?

What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?
Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?
Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!
No glory lives behind the back of such.

And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee,
Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand:
If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee
To bind our loves up in a holy band;

For others say thou dost deserve, and I
Believe it better than reportingly.

And that "holy band" she talks about - she means a wedding ring!

QUESTION: Do you think when Shakespeare has his characters speak in sonnet form he is showing the strength of love or making fun of them?