Start by reading traditional, by-the-book vows from your own religion if you practice a certain faith, and others as well, to see what strikes a chord with you. Incorporate these samples into the original words you write or simply use them as a jumping-off point. Once you’ve found a few you love, consider what it is about the style that draws you to those vows in particular.
Decide how you want your vows to come across. Do you envision them as humorous? Poetic and romantic? Go over the logistics too. Will you write them separately or together? Will they be completely different or will you make the same promises to each other as you would with traditional vows? Some couples do a little of each. Finally, will you share them with each other or keep them a secret until the wedding day?
Take some time to reflect on your fiancé. Think about how you felt when you first met, what made you fall in love and when you knew you wanted to spend the rest of your lives together. Write it all out to get your creative gears turning. Here’s a handy list of questions to help get you started:
They’re called vows for a reason, so the promises are the most important part. One tip: “Include promises that are broad in scope, such as ‘I promise to always support you,’ as well as very specific to the two of you, like ‘I promise to say “I love you” every night before bed.'”
Now that you have notes, you’re ready to establish a structure and write your first draft. A speechwriting expert suggests a four-part outline: Affirm your love, praise your partner, offer promises and close with a final vow. Another way to organize it is to start with a short story and then circle back to it at the end.
Now that you have your first draft, it’s time to make edits. Borrow from poetry, books, religious and spiritual texts, and even from romantic movies, but don’t let someone else’s words overpower your own. You want your vows to sound like you and relate to your relationship, and that won’t happen if every word is borrowed from other sources. And if you find yourself relying on cliché phrases (you know, those sayings that have been used over and over so many times they no longer sound genuine) to get your point across, come up with a specific example from your relationship that has a similar message. For example, instead of saying, “Love is blind,” you might say, “You’ll always be the most beautiful person to me, whether you’re in a T-shirt and jeans or dressed to the nines.”
You’ve invited your family and friends to witness your vows in order to make your bond public, so be sure everyone feels included in the moment. That means putting a limit on inside jokes, deeply personal anecdotes and obscure nicknames or code words. Think about how your vows will sound to you 10 years from now. Have a friend or family member read it over ahead of time for feedback, if you’re okay with sharing your vows beforehand.
Your vows are important, but that doesn’t mean they should drag on. When someone says something in a very meaningful way, they don’t need to say it over and over. Pick the most important points and make them. If yours are running longer than two minutes, makes some edits. Put some of the more personal thoughts in a letter or gift to your fiancé on the morning of your wedding and save any guest-related topics for your toasts.
It might sound a little awkward, but this really is the best way to prep. When you practice, don’t just do the same thing over and over. Listen each time—then do it better. Your vows should be easy to say and sound conversational. As you recite them, listen for any tongue twisters and super-long sentences, then cut them. This is also the time to practice the delivery. Stand straight, look at your spouse and use your hands expressively—but only use small gestures.
The paper you read from should be legible, so even if you’re working on it right up until a few moments before your ceremony, use a fresh piece of paper free of cross-outs, arrows and notes. And give some thought to the presentation too because it will end up in the photos. Consider a nice note card that matches the wedding colors or a little notebook or pad. You can handwrite it or cut and paste the computer print to fit within that. And it also makes a nice keepsake to hang in your home later on. Have a backup plan too. Some couples find themselves too emotional to speak (it happens!), so have your officiant either prompt you by quietly saying the vows first or read the vows on your behalf.
Credit: Written by Simone Hill as seen on The Knot and edited by Trans4mation Photography