Your wedding day is approaching, and everything is planned to a T! One of the last things on the list? Write your vows! You could start with the traditional vows of “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.” But if you’re looking for your trademark originality, then it’s best to write them yourself!
Coming up with the right words can be hard, and it’s even harder to say them aloud, so we’re here to guide you through how to write your vows.
For the Newlyweds
When it comes to writing your vows, it’s never too early to start! Grab your tablet, or if you’re more old-school, some prefer pen and paper. Either will do when it comes to just getting ideas out.
Practice
It’s important to practice what you’ll say before the big day. Even if it isn’t the final draft, trying out what you want to say will be a relief. You can practice in front of your bridal party, your pets, or even in front of a mirror (yes, just embrace the cringe). Making bullet points of precious memories or things you love most about them will help you through any writer’s block.
Make Real Promises
When writing your vows, think of realistic promises that you’ll be happy to work on through the years. A few ideal promises would be that you’ll celebrate their success, love them during the down times, and work together to overcome any challenges that you experience. Think deeply about what you want in your future life as a married couple.
Discuss Them With Your Fiancé or Fiancée
If you’ve supported each other through everything else, vows should be no different. It may be good to ensure you’re both on the same page about the type of vows you want for the wedding. Will you have funny vows that tell of your adventures together, or talk seriously about everything you’ve overcome as a couple?
Avoid Generalizations
There are no right or wrong things to say during the ceremony (except for if someone objects, that would be wrong)! Your vows should be specific to you and your partner, detailing what makes you both special and what you love about each other.
Ask Your Friends
Who knows you better than your closest friends? They’ll remember fun stories from over the years and will poke fun without being rude. For a fun bachelor or bachelorette activity, you could have them write the vows via Mad Libs and maybe use some of the ideas in your real vows.
Renewing Your I Dos!
Whether it’s your tenth, fifteenth, or twentieth anniversary, it’s a big deal! Renewing your vows is a phenomenal way to tell the world, “I still love you and want you to be in my life every day!”
Share the Highs and Lows
When renewing your vows, it’s important to remember everything you’ve been through together. Discuss the ups and downs of your marriage thus far and how you’ll continue to love each other no matter what.
Continued Love
Another big thing to focus on when writing renewal vows is everything that has happened in your relationship so far. Have your vows speak to how you’ll continue to love each other as the years carry on, growing older together.
Make Them Laugh
Though a renewal is a very serious thing, it’s important to keep it light and happy. If you’re the family comedian, then a funny tone to your vows would make sense. Pro tip: Funny vows can make for fantastic photos, with everyone laughing and smiling!
Bring a Clean Copy
When the time comes at the wedding and you pull out your vows, the last thing you want to do is pull out a crumpled piece of paper with smudged marks on it and ruin the beautiful ambiance of your amazing day! Consider using a vow card for the day; it can be framed later on and will make for beautiful photos.
What to Do With Your Vows After Your Wedding
Once your wedding day or vow renewal is over, and your work of lyrical art has been said for all to hear, it’s important to have your vows somewhere you can appreciate them every day. Our advice is to turn these wonderful words into amazing artwork that can decorate your home.
Frame It
Your vows printed as a poster would be a romantic addition to a gallery wall of all your wedding photos. Use similar frames for the vows and pictures, or have each one uniquely framed to create a one-of-a-kind wedding gallery.
Put It on Canvas
Imagine this on a canvas print: your favorite image from your wedding stretched on the canvas, and the vows you said to each other lightly layered on top. You can hang this above your bed or in the living room to be the envy of everyone who comes to visit.
Hanging Tapestry
For a more whimsical option, try hanging a tapestry with your vows on it! It can be hung with ease and will fit into smaller spaces.
By saying or renewing your vows, you say to the rest of the world that you’re making a promise to love and be with this person for the rest of your life. If you’re a recent newlywed or recently renewed your vows and have any writing tips, feel free to share your wisdom in the comments below.
Lucy is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork, Ireland. Originally from America, she is now settled in Ireland with her husband and Corgi-mix puppy Dug (yes, like from Disney’s UP!). It’s the simple things in life that matter, so give her a bag of M&M’s and she’s happy. She loves to relax with a good book, cozy up on the couch for a movie, or go to the park for a stroll with the family.
