Original Wedding Vows

From LoveToKnow Weddings

Writing your own original wedding vows can be one of the most romantic parts of your wedding ceremony. Telling the man or woman how much you love him or her in your own words will make your wedding unique and personal.

Reciting original vows is a romantic part of a wedding.

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A New Twist on Tradition

In the past, couples often did not have a choice on what to say in their vows. Their faith dictated what would be said during the ceremony. Recently, the trend of making wedding ceremonies unique and personalized towards the individual couple has seen a rise in the replacement of traditional vows with original vows.

Couples who plan to write their own vows may need to have them pre-approved by the officiant before the ceremony, depending upon their faith. Certain elements may still need to be included to be considered a binding ceremony in various religions.

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Writing Original Wedding Vows

Before you start writing your wedding vows, talk with your spouse-to-be about what kind of vows you want to write. Even though most couples choose not to share their vows before the ceremony, you still want to be on the same page when it comes to the vows. After all, one person may be very hurt if he/she writes a love poem while their spouse creates funny wedding vows and the guests are pealing in laughter.

What to include in your wedding vows is really up to you. You may want to come up with a main idea and relate the rest of your speech back to that element. This can create a cohesive vow and make it easier to write. Ideas to consider centering your vows upon include:

Why you fell in love with your spouse
How your spouse inspires you
What you look forward to in the future
How your spouse makes you feel
Your faith and future marriage

Well written vows will touch upon the general ideas of love and commitment as you speak. Adding in a few short personal anecdotes can make the vows even more heartfelt. Even if you are not writing funny vows, you may want to include a few lighthearted moments to give your spouse (and guests) a moment to recover from the loving sentiments you are expressing.

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Practicing Wedding Vows

Choosing to write and say personal or unique wedding vows in front of all your friends and family can be extremely nerve-racking. Even the most practiced public speaker may get flustered in this situation. Therefore, practicing your vows before your wedding day is imperative for this part of your ceremony to be successful.

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Practice At Home

Once you have written your original wedding vows, edit them carefully. Say them out loud to yourself in the mirror several times. If there is a part that feels unnatural, omit or edit it. After doing this several times, tape record yourself giving the vows. Play the tape back to hear parts that sound forced or places where you stumble. Make notations as you listen. Doing this several times throughout the month before the wedding can help you feel relaxed and calm.

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Practice With a Partner

Ask someone you trust to listen to your vows. You will eventually be saying them in front of a large group of people. Even if you start by telling your dog the vows, work your way up to a trusted member of the wedding party or family member. They can offer constructive criticism regarding wording and length. Sharing your vows with your officiant can also be helpful and ease your nerves.

While many couples keep their vows a secret, others practice with each other. If you or your spouse is extremely emotional, you may want to consider this idea. It does cut down on the romance factor, but could keep the bride or groom from breaking down at the front of the church. Tears and sniffles are to be expected, but for some, a total breakdown (or even fainting!) may occur. Weigh the pros and cons of practicing with each other and decide together whether or not to share your vows before the ceremony.

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Practice Makes Perfect

Having ample time to practice really makes a difference. The most well written vows will sound awful if you stumble over every word. Give yourself around a month to compose and practice your vows.

Memorizing your vows may sound like a great idea, but you may become tongue-tied at the altar. Be prepared by jotting down a short outline on a note card and having a groomsman or bridesmaid hold onto it until the vows.

Remember that even if you do make a mistake, the only thing that matters is that your spouse knows how much you love him/her on your wedding day. Do not let a little stumble disrupt the vows. Clear your throat and continue as you look into your bride/groom’s eyes.

Composing original wedding vows is one way to show your future spouse how much you love him/her. It adds a personal touch on what could be an otherwise generic ceremony. Make writing the speech easy by picking a theme to center upon and practice often. At the end of the day, you will be married to the love of your life and she/he will know exactly how much that means to you.

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