How to write your own wedding vows
Declaring your vows on your wedding day can be a truly tremendous occasion.
It’s a chance for you both to express your true feelings, in your own words, by baring your heart and soul to one another in front or all your family and friends.
It allows you both to bring your wedding to life by giving it the ‘personal touch’.
You might be wondering though:
‘How can I write my own vows?
What’s the best way to get started?
What shall I say?’
Well, here at Darren Gritton Photography, I am going to talk you through my ‘Top 10 tips for writing your own vows’ so that you can have the confidence and knowledge to bring your dream wedding vows to life!
1 Do your research
For a lot of us, it can seem easy to picture in our minds what we would like our dream wedding vows to be like, but putting it down on paper can appear to be a bit more challenging.
Perhaps you’re feeling unsure as to where to start or even how to wrap it all up at the end. That’s where doing your own research will really help.
Not only does it give you a sense of how tradition vows can flow, but it’ll also help you to get slightly more creative when it comes to your vocabulary and how you want them to sound.
After all, they have to be relevant and relatable to you as a couple so why not add in some of your favourite sayings or quotes to help keep it personal to you both.
2 Express your love to one another
Finding the right words to say why someone is important to you might feel difficult at first but once you relax and really think about them, the words will become free flowing.
Don’t worry about it seeming cheesy or too romantic either, it’s about what you want to express to one another about how you truly feel.
It’s also about making a commitment to each other for life and promising to love one another forever.
3 Don’t promise perfection
As we all know, life isn’t perfect, so why promise that it will be?
There’s no doubt that a marriage will have its tough times but it’s about being there for one another, through the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows.
Instead, perhaps make relatable vows to one another that are honest and heartwarming.
For example, ‘supporting each other in times of need or being a listening ear when life gets tough.’
4 Don't wait until the last minute
Finding the time to sit down to plan your vows might seem impossible in the lead up to your big day but make sure you try to give yourself enough time.
Much like any speech, the earlier you start writing or at least brainstorming ideas, the better.
The last thing you want is to leave it until the very last minute and then it be a complete mad rush.
5 Keep it short and sweet
For most of us, public speaking can feel pretty nerve-wracking, so why not try to keep it short and sweet to make it easier.
2/3 minutes would be an ideal length.
This would allow you enough time to express how you feel to each other without feeling like you’re reading an essay in front of everyone.
Remember, the key to successful vows is to keep them short, sweet and memorable.
6 Ask a friend/family member to listen
Before the big day, be sure to get either a friend or a family member to listen to your vows.
This will give you the chance to get some open and honest feedback.
Then, if changes are required or some slight tweaking needs to be made, you’ll have plenty of time to make those adjustments before the big event.
7 Read your vows out loud
For some, reading something in our head and reading it aloud can seem like two completely different tasks.
So, before the wedding, be sure to read your vows out aloud.
Whether that’s to someone you know or just in a room by yourself.
Not only will it help you to be sure that it’s clear and precise, but it’ll also give you the opportunity to practice your breathing and to see where you can insert pauses to help it to flow elegantly.
8 Make a spare copy
When it comes to displaying your wedding vows on the day of the event, presentation is key.
You’ll want them to look exceptional and well presented.
The last thing you’ll want to do is to stay up in front of everyone to read your vows off of a damaged or even screwed up piece of paper.
So, be sure to give a nice, fresh and clean copy of your vows to either the Best Man perhaps or the Maid of Honour for safe keeping.
This will also come in handy if you can be a slightly forgetful person too!
9 Keep your vows a secret
You might feel like sharing your vows with each other before the big day but my honest advice is… don’t!
Keep them a complete secret!
Why?
Well, imagine how you will feel when you hear those special vows for the very first time.
It’ll be truly magical.
The emotion that’ll come with that reaction will be truly outstanding; whether that’s laughter or complete tears of joy.
Either way, it will make for some memorable photos which you’ll be able to treasure for a lifetime.
10 Don’t rush
When it comes to reading aloud on the big day, you might feel like you want to rush it so you can get it over with; especially if you’re anxious or nervous.
However, don’t!
Speak clearly, take it slow and steady and try to stay as calm as possible.
And, above else, enjoy your magical wedding day!
I hope this guide will really help you when it comes to trying organise your own personalised vows. If you would like to find out more information about the different photography services I can offer when it comes to your big day, then please get in touch at info@darrengrittonphotography.com or give me a text on 07538 135722.
Here at Darren Gritton Photography, I pride myself on being able to offer a variety of wedding packages to suit all budgets so you can be sure to find the package that you’re looking for. Visit my wedding packages page for more details.
I would truly love to be able to be a part of your very special day, so please feel free to get in touch to see what I can do for you and, together, we can capture your special day!
If you like this post, you can check out a couple of my other blog posts
Sussex Venue | Long Furlong Barn
5 ways to make your wedding planning journey a memorable experience