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September 21, 2021

Wedding Vows: How to Write & Get the Most Out of Them

Revealing your wedding vows aloud is one of the most meaningful and personal parts of any wedding ceremony. They are the personal promises you make to the love of your life – some tug at hearts, and others make guests fall off their chairs. 

When it comes to your decision about your wedding vows, you can either travel the traditional route or the more unique approach of writing them yourself. Either way, you’ll spark love and joy for the rest of eternity. 

We will walk through how to create beautiful vows and give suggestions on wording to reflect each person’s personality and story perfectly! 

Table of Contents:

  • If You Plan on Reciting Traditional Wedding Vows
  • Is Writing Your Own Wedding Vows an Option?
  • What Should Your Wedding Vows Say?
  • What Shouldn’t You Include in Your Wedding Vows?
  • How to Make Your Wedding Vows More Meaningful – Tips for Writing Vows
  • All in One Resource for Newly Engaged Couples

If You Plan on Reciting Traditional Wedding Vows

One of the most common approaches of the traditional vow goes like this:

“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”

But this is only a drop in the ocean of the lovey-dovey history of marriages. Here are a few other beliefs that can spring up an unlimited variation of vows:

  • Jewish Wedding Vows
  • Hindu Wedding Vows
  • Protestant Wedding Vows
  • Muslim Wedding Vows
  • Apache Wedding Vows
  • Presbyterian Wedding Vows
  • And many more!

You can take a page from any of them and modify it as you see fit.

But if you’re forging your own path, it might be wise to follow the tried and true structure of making a vow – The type that makes it easy for your partner to say, “I do”.

There’s also another type of wedding vow made up of declaratory statements that allow couples to declare their love and commitment to one another. For example:

“Before our family and friends, I am here today to declare my love and commitment to (name). Whether in sickness or health, in poverty or financial success, our lives from this day forward are joined. I hereby pledge to forever love and cherish (name) as long as we both shall live.”

Is Writing Your Own Wedding Vows an Option?

Honestly, it really is the best way to go! 

Wedding vows are very personal messages that unite and cement your commitment to one another. And at the ceremony is when you’ll be most open about your deepest feelings towards your partner. 

Use this opportunity to speak directly to their heart and soul.

What Should Your Wedding Vows Say?

Regardless of the structure, here are the fundamental ingredients of a meaningful wedding vow:

  • I love you: You can say this directly or indirectly by stating who you love and why you love them so very much. 
  • Through thick and thin: Tell your partner you’ll be there with them anytime, anywhere, through any scenario, good or bad.
  • Promises: Make sure to keep the promises you say. Otherwise, what’s the point?
  • Story: Spice it up with a quirky and personal story that brings love to life for your guests.
  • Support: Acknowledge the support you’ll need from family and friends during the marriage.

What Shouldn’t You Include in Your Wedding Vows?

Wedding vows are built on sincerity, sentiment and are the perfect words to illustrate the devoted nature of your relationship with your partner. To craft such a vow, you need to obey the 5 commandments of wedding vows if you want to prevent eye rolls from your guests.

Do Not Highlight Your Partner’s Weakness

Pointing out how terrible a cook your partner is will evoke more awkwardness than smiles (even if it is a joke), so keep them to yourself.

Do Not Overshare

Do not share personal details about your partner that would create an awkward moment for your guests and possibly create distrust between you and your partner. 

Do Not Joke Too Much

Follow the 80/20 rule of making jokes — where 80% of your vows should be sweet and sentimental, and 20% can be humor-based. 

Do Not Write In A Vacuum

Show your vows to your best man or maid of honor to crosscheck your vow and cut out any questionable ideas. Another pair of eyes is always good (trust us).

How to Make Your Wedding Vows More Meaningful – Tips for Writing Vows

While you can make serious or humorous vows, be sure to include at least 2 sincere lifelong promises to make it meaningful. 

Wedding Vows Examples

Don’t overcomplicate them. Here are a few starting vow ideas:

  • I promise to trust and respect you.” 
  • I promise to laugh at your jokes…even the ones that are only kind of funny.” 
  • I promise to show appreciation for all the little things you do for me.” 
  • I promise to always put God first in our marriage.

All in One Resource for Newly Engaged Couples

You don’t have to make your wedding vows the same as everyone else. Create a vow that is uniquely you and something you would want to hear from someone else on their big day too. The best way to get the most out of your wedding vows is by getting them right in the first place! 

We hope these tips have helped turn the gears of your brain so that writing vows becomes less intimidating. You can subscribe to our newsletter for more free wedding content or bookmark www.alloftheabovemn.com/blog for the latest trends, tips, and tricks for planning your wedding day.

Revealing your wedding vows aloud is one of the most meaningful and personal parts of any wedding ceremony. They are the personal promises you make to the love of your life – some tug at hearts, and others make guests fall off their chairs. 

When it comes to your decision about your wedding vows, you can either travel the traditional route or the more unique approach of writing them yourself. Either way, you’ll spark love and joy for the rest of eternity. 

We will walk through how to create beautiful vows and give suggestions on wording to reflect each person’s personality and story perfectly! 

Table of Contents:

  • If You Plan on Reciting Traditional Wedding Vows
  • Is Writing Your Own Wedding Vows an Option?
  • What Should Your Wedding Vows Say?
  • What Shouldn’t You Include in Your Wedding Vows?
  • How to Make Your Wedding Vows More Meaningful – Tips for Writing Vows
  • All in One Resource for Newly Engaged Couples

If You Plan on Reciting Traditional Wedding Vows

One of the most common approaches of the traditional vow goes like this:

“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”

But this is only a drop in the ocean of the lovey-dovey history of marriages. Here are a few other beliefs that can spring up an unlimited variation of vows:

  • Jewish Wedding Vows
  • Hindu Wedding Vows
  • Protestant Wedding Vows
  • Muslim Wedding Vows
  • Apache Wedding Vows
  • Presbyterian Wedding Vows
  • And many more!

You can take a page from any of them and modify it as you see fit.

But if you’re forging your own path, it might be wise to follow the tried and true structure of making a vow – The type that makes it easy for your partner to say, “I do”.

There’s also another type of wedding vow made up of declaratory statements that allow couples to declare their love and commitment to one another. For example:

“Before our family and friends, I am here today to declare my love and commitment to (name). Whether in sickness or health, in poverty or financial success, our lives from this day forward are joined. I hereby pledge to forever love and cherish (name) as long as we both shall live.”

Is Writing Your Own Wedding Vows an Option?

Honestly, it really is the best way to go! 

Wedding vows are very personal messages that unite and cement your commitment to one another. And at the ceremony is when you’ll be most open about your deepest feelings towards your partner. 

Use this opportunity to speak directly to their heart and soul.

What Should Your Wedding Vows Say?

Regardless of the structure, here are the fundamental ingredients of a meaningful wedding vow:

  • I love you: You can say this directly or indirectly by stating who you love and why you love them so very much. 
  • Through thick and thin: Tell your partner you’ll be there with them anytime, anywhere, through any scenario, good or bad.
  • Promises: Make sure to keep the promises you say. Otherwise, what’s the point?
  • Story: Spice it up with a quirky and personal story that brings love to life for your guests.
  • Support: Acknowledge the support you’ll need from family and friends during the marriage.

What Shouldn’t You Include in Your Wedding Vows?

Wedding vows are built on sincerity, sentiment and are the perfect words to illustrate the devoted nature of your relationship with your partner. To craft such a vow, you need to obey the 5 commandments of wedding vows if you want to prevent eye rolls from your guests.

Do Not Highlight Your Partner’s Weakness

Pointing out how terrible a cook your partner is will evoke more awkwardness than smiles (even if it is a joke), so keep them to yourself.

Do Not Overshare

Do not share personal details about your partner that would create an awkward moment for your guests and possibly create distrust between you and your partner. 

Do Not Joke Too Much

Follow the 80/20 rule of making jokes — where 80% of your vows should be sweet and sentimental, and 20% can be humor-based. 

Do Not Write In A Vacuum

Show your vows to your best man or maid of honor to crosscheck your vow and cut out any questionable ideas. Another pair of eyes is always good (trust us).

How to Make Your Wedding Vows More Meaningful – Tips for Writing Vows

While you can make serious or humorous vows, be sure to include at least 2 sincere lifelong promises to make it meaningful. 

Wedding Vows Examples

Don’t overcomplicate them. Here are a few starting vow ideas:

  • I promise to trust and respect you.” 
  • I promise to laugh at your jokes…even the ones that are only kind of funny.” 
  • I promise to show appreciation for all the little things you do for me.” 
  • I promise to always put God first in our marriage.

All in One Resource for Newly Engaged Couples

You don’t have to make your wedding vows the same as everyone else. Create a vow that is uniquely you and something you would want to hear from someone else on their big day too. The best way to get the most out of your wedding vows is by getting them right in the first place! 

We hope these tips have helped turn the gears of your brain so that writing vows becomes less intimidating. You can subscribe to our newsletter for more free wedding content or bookmark www.alloftheabovemn.com/blog for the latest trends, tips, and tricks for planning your wedding day.

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