NO PRESSURE, BUT YOUR VOWS
ARE THE REASON FOR YOUR
WEDDING DAY
These meaningful words help bind you into marriage during your
ceremony. They might be some of the most important words you
ever speak because all eyes and ears are on you – so you have to
make them good.
If you’re having a religious ceremony, many officials require that
you speak the traditional “to have and to hold” vows that we’ve all
heard millions of times before. If this is the case, you are one lucky
bride and have nothing to worry about.
However, if you’ve decided to go the non-traditional route, you
have to get that thinking cap on and make those vows good! Sure,
writing your own vows sounds like a wonderfully romantic idea,
but when it comes time to put pen to paper, writer’s block usually
appears in full-force. How can you possibly put your love for your
spouse into words? And how can you possibly express yourself
without sounding cheesy?
Luckily, these tips will help you churn out some vows that you
can feel proud reciting and that will make your guests and your
partner a little teary-eyed (score for you!).
MATCH THE VOWS TO THE CEREMONY
If you’re having a sunset sand ceremony, don’t be afraid to play
up the romance in your vows. On the other hand, if you’re reciting
vows right before Bungee jumping off a ledge, feel free to up the
fun factor a little. Once you’ve pinpointed the appropriate tone of
your vows, you can start thinking about the content.
INTERVIEW YOURSELF
To get in the lovey-dovey mood essential for writing honest and
memorable vows, ask yourself a few pivotal questions about your
relationship. Write down the answers and be as honest as you can.
Here are a few questions to get you started:
- When did I realize I was in love with this person?
- What is the thing I love most about this person?
- What does marriage mean to me?
- What do I look forward to the most in our life together?
Read over your answers and find ways to incorporate your
responses into your vows. These answers are the best material to
use because they are honest answers and straight from your heart.
GO TO THE EXPERTS
There’s nothing wrong with “borrowing” material from people
who have said it better than you can. Whether it’s “You had me
at hello” or “How do I love thee?”, feel free to use the lines that
perfectly capture what you’re trying to say. And to make your
vows a tad more special than all the other Shakespeare-laden
ones, here are some unique quotes to consider:
“Love doesn’t make the world go round, love is what makes the ride
worthwhile.” Elizabeth Browning
“To love is to return to a home we never left, to remember who we are.”
Sam Keen
“Love is like a friendship caught on fire.” Bruce Lee
“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.”
George Sand
“Take love, multiply it by infinity and take it to the depths of
forever, and you still have only a glimpse of how I feel for you.”
“Meet Joe Black”
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with
somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
“When Harry Met Sally”
KEEP IT BRIEF AND SIMPLE
You might have a lot to say about how your first date went, how
you can’t wait to have his babies, and what names you have picked
out for your three boys and two girls, but the truth of the matter
is – nobody cares! Keeping your vows simple will not onl y make
them more memorable but will keep your guests from snoring in
their seats. A good rule of thumb is to keep your original vows as
long as the traditional ones – about 30-40 seconds long. If you’re
overflowing with emotion and must approach the minute-mark,
don’t go over.
PRACTICE!
Whether it’s walking down the aisle or reciting vows, there’s
nothing worse than a stumbling bride or groom. This is when the
old adage of “Practice makes perfect” comes into play. Rehearse
your vows daily till you have them memorized.
Repeat them to a trusted friend so they can tell you whether
they’re too long, too short, too sappy, not sappy enough or contain
the perfect amount of sob-worthiness.
VOWS WRITTEN? CHECK!
Once you get a few thoughts jotted down, writing the rest of
your vows will come easily. Just speak from the heart, and soon
enough you’ll be able to check off “Write vows” from your toolong to-do list. Then, you can move on to more pressing matters,
like making sure your hubby- or wife-to-be doesn’t forget to write
his/her own.
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