Tips on Writing Your Wedding Vows

Comment Written by natasha on July 1, 2010 – 5:00 am

Regardless of who officiates your wedding, you may want to write your own vows. “Writing vows” has taken on several different meanings. You can write everything the officiant says, you can write part of what the officiant says, or you and your partner can take a moment in the ceremony to say your particular vows.

Depending on how much you want to write, here are some of the top tips on how to write wedding vows!

1.  Work together.  You and your partner should work together so that you both are happy with what gets written. Sometimes it’s hard to write together, so try writing separately and then giving each other what you’ve written. Then you can combine your voices or take the parts that you like the most.

2. Answer a question.  It’s hard to think of what to say off the top of your head, so try answering a question. For example, what does love mean? Or what is your favorite thing about yoru partner? When did you know that your partner was “the one”?  This will help guide your writing.

3.  Still having trouble? Try filling in the blanks on The Knot’s Wedding Vow guide. Simple things like, “I know our marriage will ______ and I promise to ________.” “When I think of love, I think of ________.” “My favorite memory of us together is ________.”  Or look at pictures of yourselves and/or photos of weddings and tell the story behind those photos.

4. Have fun! Be funny. Tell stories. Your wedding ceremony doesn’t have to be a serious, solemn event. You should be able to be yourselves and express yourselves — both to each other and before your friends and family.

5. But be sure you….

Check that your officiant will allow you to write your vows. Some officiants will not allow you to write the vows in their entirety. This is especially true in religious ceremonies.

Make sure you comply with state laws. Yes, for reals. Some states require you to say something very specific in order to be married. Say it.

Share your vows though photos and video! If you’re saying your own vows, you want that recorded for posterity and for your friends and family who may or may not be there.

Will you write your own vows?

~ Natasha