Let’s admit – weddings will not be complete without the exchange of vows.
It’s the highlight of the ceremony – a celebration of love.
I don’t know about you, but this is my favorite part!
You get to witness the couple at their most vulnerable state; expressing their emotions and reciting their vows and promises of a lifetime.
Writing your own wedding vows can be a little tricky, though. It might look and sound easy, but to some, it can be challenging to express their feelings in a few sentences.
Some couples prefer to just wing it, and say what’s on their mind during the ceremony while others would take weeks and some drafts before they settle for something that feels right.
Yes, writing your vows can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.
You don’t need to be poetic. It just needs to come from the heart.
If you need help in creating meaningful wedding ceremony vows, then read on.
1. Start by expressing how your better half makes you feel
Before you get started with your promises, this is the perfect time to express everything you feel about your soon-to-be spouse. Share how your partner makes your day better and how you’re looking forward to wake up every single day next to him or her. It may be common, but trust me, this never gets old.
This is your celebration. Make the most out of it and express how you really feel. Show your most vulnerable self and your spouse will forever remember this.
2. Incorporate your favorite memories
Highlight your favorite moments together by including them in your vows. Share how you felt during that time and how you want to be that someone who will be there for your partner in good times and in bad.
And no, it doesn’t have to be a memory of a great day.
In fact, it’s a great idea to share how you both overcame a difficult time and how you were able to go through challenges together.
3. Envision your future
Let everyone know your future plans with your partner. Share with them what you’re looking forward to – countries to visit, experiences to try, children to raise, house to buy, and many more.
You’re going to spend the rest of your life with him/her – share a little sneak peek. Make your partner excited for the years to come.
4. Make classic vows your own
If you’re still running out of ideas on how to make your vows more memorable, then why not add some twists to the usual “to have and to hold” vows.
Instead of just reciting the classic lines “In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, ‘til death do us part”, make it your own and some lines that are descriptive of your relationship and how you see your future with your partner.
5. Include an inside joke
Hate boring speeches? You can still make meaningful vows by adding a little humor to it. Include an inside joke that you, your partner, and your closest friends and family can relate to. It can be mentioning a pet peeve, a cute mannerism, or something your partner loves to do.
Here’s an example. “I promise to be there for you, love you unconditionally and protect you from huge spiders in our bathroom.”
6. Acknowledge that you’ll be there through thick or thin
Promising each other that you’ll be there for them no matter what is pretty basic and standard wedding vows. Of course, you’d want to promise your spouse-to-be that you’re always there when he or she needs you.
It may be cliché, but it’s important that your partner hears this from you – especially on your wedding day.
Give her or him an assurance that you’ll be there no matter what.
How to Write Your Vows
Now that you have some great ideas on how to make your vows memorable, here are some things to ask yourself when writing your vows:
1. What message do you want to communicate?
The first thing that you should consider is what you want to say with your vows.
Communicate your feelings and ask yourself – Is there something that you haven’t told your partner yet? Were you able to express how you feel?
2. Do you want to express your thoughts/feelings or do you want to take a more traditional route?
The vows that you create for your ceremony can be as romantic or lighthearted as you choose. You do not need to use any particular words.
You can write your own vows or use traditional wedding vows. It’s all up to you.
In fact, you can also choose to express how you feel by using poetry or by using more concrete language to describe how you feel.
3. Do you want to read your vows?
You can either read your vows or memorize them. It’s your call.
Whatever you pick, make sure you take some time to prepare for it.
Some couples want to be creative and write their vows on a white board and leave them up all night where the ceremony will take place while some write their vows as a letter and then read them out loud during the ceremony.
On the other hand, there are also some couples who prefer to memorize their speech or just wing it and just express what they feel and what’s on their mind during their wedding ceremony. This is perfect for those who excel in expressing their thoughts and who are great speakers.
Personally, I recommend that you prepare and read your vows. This will give you a lot of time to think about all the things you want to say.
It’s your wedding day! You should come prepared and make sure that you will be able to express your feelings to your spouse to be in front of the people you love.
Marriage is a lifetime commitment.
Your vows are not just compliments.
They’re promises that you should keep.
Your vows will be a huge part of your marriage and will become ingrained in how you view each other – make the most out of them!
Create vows that you can look back on when things get tough.
