Ceremony
Tips for Writing Your Own Vows
Writing your own wedding vows can be a really special and personal addition to your ceremony, but while it may seem like a great idea, it can be quite difficult to put your feelings into words. If you’re suffering from a bit of writer’s block, read on for tips on how to go about it, and succeed!
GET INSPIRED
Do a little research and read through a few different vows for inspiration. They could be traditional vows from your religion or more personalised vows – this will help you figure out what you like and don’t like, and (hopefully) get you going in the right direction.
DISCUSS WITH YOUR FIANCE
Before your set about writing your vows, it’s a good idea to discuss the tone you’d like to achieve with your fiancé. It would be a little awkward if you opt for a romantic, poetic route while he goes for a humorous take, or vice versa. You’ll also need to decide on whether you’re going to compare notes or surprise each other with your vows on the day!
REFLECT ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP
When it comes to figuring out what to say, it helps to reflect on your relationship with your fiancé, and how it makes you feel. Ask yourself questions like ‘Why did you decide to get married?’, ‘What hard times have you gone through together?’, ‘What do you want to accomplish together?’ and ‘What makes your relationship tick?’ – The answers to these questions will give you ideas on what to include in your vows.
PREPARE YOUR PROMISES
Vows are vows when it comes down to it, so you’ll need to come up with a few things to promise your fiancé. These can be heartfelt or humorous, depending on the tone you’ve chosen to take.
STAY AWAY FROM CLICHES
Resist the temptation to borrow recognisable phrases from other sources – instead, try to make them your own. Personally-written vows should reflect the way you and your partner speak, so avoid anything too poetic or worthy of a romantic movie – unless you guys are like that all the time of course (lucky you!)
FINALISE AND PRACTICE
When they’re done, your vows shouldn’t take longer to say than one to two minutes. Practice reading them out loud so that you know them quite well on the day, and weed out any potential tongue twisters that may cause you to stumble at the all-important moment.