Vows
When writing your own vows, it can seem a bit daunting professing your love for one another in front of your friends and family. The best way to approach writing your own vows is to keep it simple and remind yourself why you love your partner and are choosing to marry this special person in your life.
Step 1: Start thinking about what you’d like to say and write down any words or phrases that you come up with so you have a little bit to start with. Think about music or tv shows that remind you of your partner.
Step 2: Talk about with your partner how long your vows should be. For example, it can be as simple as an estimated word count or number of stanzas. The average word count for wedding vows is 350-650.
Step 3: Dedicate time to writing your vows. Carve out 30 minutes to an hour for your first draft and use the steps below as a guideline.
Begin by stating what your partner means to you. Name what they represent in your life. They could be a lover, friend, confidant, and all.
Example: “You mean more to me than you will ever know. You are my partner, my strength, and my biggest supporter.”
State what it is you love most about them. Why did you decide to spend forever with your partner? What’s that trait(s) that turns you on and assures you that you’ve chosen right?
Example: “I’ve been waiting for this moment from the second I met you. The first time we met, I was already in love with your smile and your laugh. I knew I wanted to hear that sound the rest of my life.”
Tell a story. Bring this love to life by illustrating it in a story. A memorable personal and intimate story you can’t forget.
Example: “I finally got the courage to ask you out and on our first date, I fell more in love with your sense of humor and your passion for helping others.”
Make promises and personalize them. Promise your spouse that you’ll always be with them. Be specific about the things you hope to do with your spouse. Learn the art of personalizing wedding vows by throwing in some humor or romance.
Example: “ I promise to always be faithful and dedicate my life to you.”
Reassure and show eagerness to the future. Promise your partner once again that you’ll be there no matter what life brings. Remind them that you are ready to walk into the future with them. Tell them that you have a lot of wins to experience together.
Example: “I promise to be with you every step of the way in our life together and you can always count on me.”
Wrap up with one last promise about never parting till death.
Example: “ You make me happier than I ever thought I could be and if you let me, I promise I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way.”
Photography courtesy of Kendra Martin Photography
