Writing your own wedding vows can be a great way to make your wedding ceremony more personal. It can be a challenge to write your own wedding vows if you don’t know where to start. Here are five tips to keep in mind when writing your own wedding vows.
Agree on a Tone with Your Partner
Before you start writing your vows, agree on a tone with your partner. Your vows can be lighthearted, heartfelt, or serious, just make sure you both agree on the tone so nobody is surprised on your wedding day. It doesn’t matter what tone you choose, just make sure you both agree on what’s best for you.
Include Stories but Don’t Embarrass Your Partner
Everyone has stories about the first they met, or the first time they fell in love with their partner. While light humor can be seen as funny during your vows, you also want to make sure your vows remain uplifting. Perhaps include stories about your first date, the first time you fell in love with your partner, or smaller moments in your relationship that brought you joy. Always remember that if you think it could be taken the wrong way, leave it out of your wedding vows.
Start Writing Your Vows in Advance
Any creative endeavor can’t be done in one day, or even over the course of a week. Starting your vows early means that you’ll have time to work and rework what you want to say before your wedding day. Starting early also gives you time to think about the stories you want to tell and most importantly, how you want to make your commitment to your partner. While you can start at any point it’s a good idea to have your final vows three weeks before your wedding day.
Practice Your Vows Out Loud
This might be something you overlook, but it’s a tip to keep in mind, especially if you’re not used to public speaking. By saying your vows aloud, you can see if anything needs to be changed in order to have a better flow. You’ll also be able to see if any words need to be changed (especially focus on pronunciation), or if you could use different words to communicate your message. When practicing, it helps to practice in front of an audience, such as a trusted friend or family member. That way they can offer feedback. If you can’t practice in front of someone, practice in front of a mirror as this is another good way to become comfortable with our vows.
Have a Clean Copy for the Ceremony
When writing and rewriting your vows, it’s easy to mark up the paper to make changes. Have a clean copy of your vows so you don’t get lost when you recite them. If you want to save a copy of your vows, having a clean copy (as well as your marked up original) can be a nice addition to your wedding album.
Follow these tips as you start working on your own wedding vows. Check out our Bridal collection if you’re in the market for a wedding dress.