Vows
By now you probably have a good idea of what sort of vows you want to include in your own wedding. Perhaps none of the vows here are exactly what you had hoped to find. You may have liked the beginning of one and the end of another or maybe you want to use parts of several different vows.
If so, it’s time to try composing your own vows. By using the vows on this web-site as a basis you should be able to write marriage promises which are precisely what you want.
Click here for samples of Vows
If so, it’s time to try composing your own vows. By using the vows on this web-site as a basis you should be able to write marriage promises which are precisely what you want.
Click here for samples of Vows
The first step in writing your own vows is to go back through the information and select the sentences and phrases you liked best. Write them down on a large sheet of paper, leaving a space or two between each one. List them all, even if some seem repetitious.
One client made this list:
1. I promise to be true and a loyal friend to you.
2. I will never expect you to meet all my needs.
3. I make this vow gladly.
4. I loved you before this ceremony. I love you more because of it.
5. I don not expect you to fulfill all of my dreams. I ask only that you share them with me.
6. A true marriage is not a ceremony but an on-going commitment.
7. I promise to keep my heart ever open to you.
8. From this day forward, I will walk beside you.
9. Our joys will be multiplied because we will celebrate together. Our sorrows will be lessened because we will share our burdens with each other.
10. I accept you, without reservation, as my husband/wife.
11. I will try to be worthy of your love and trust.
When your own list is complete, read through it several times and select the phrases which are most meaningful to you. The couple that compiled the above list, decided to include only numbers 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11. The rest were eliminated.
After you have chosen the sentences and phrases you like best from your own list, you must decide what order to put them in. One good way to do this is to cut up your list with a scissors so each phrase is on a separate slip of paper. Keep only the phrases you intend to use. Now rearrange the slips of paper in various ways until you find the order that sounds best.
When you’ve decided on a possible order, write all the sentences down again but this time write them as one paragraph, just the way the vow would be spoken.
This couple decided that a logical sequence for the sentences they chose might be 6,9,5,8,11. When they wrote the paragraph in that order it read: "A true marriage is not a ceremony but an on-going commitment. Our joys will be multiplied because we will celebrate together. Our sorrows will be lessened because we will share our burdens with each other. I do not expect you to fulfill all my dreams. I ask only that you share them with me. From this day forward, I will walk beside you. I will try to be worthy of your love and trust."
After reading your composite vow, you will most likely want to make further changes. Perhaps you’ll want to add something uniquely your won. You may want to eliminate a word or two in order to make the phrases flow more smoothly.
Here is how this couple rewrote their paragraph to fit their own feelings:
"I believe that a true marriage is not just a ceremony. It is an on-going commitment. Today I commit myself to you. From now on we will celebrate together and our celebration will multiply our joys. From now on we will share our troubles and the burdens we carry will seem lighter. I don’t expect you to fulfill all my dreams, I ask only that you share my dreams with me. From this day forward, I will walk beside you, trying always to be worthy of your trust and love."
Although the couple began with list of phrases they found here, the vow they said at their wedding was distinctly their own, reflecting their personal feelings and love.
You can do the same. Make a list of the phrases you like best and don’t worry if the list seems too long. It will be easy to eliminate.
When your list is complete, go back over it and pick out the sentences you find most meaningful. Put them in different sequences, rearrange phrases, try them many different ways. As you work with the sentences you may want to rewrite some.
Try using contractions, try substituting one word for another. Be sure to read your efforts out loud for they may sound different than they look.
Keep trying until you hit on the combination that is exactly what you want. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your wedding vows are exclusively your own and come truly from your deepest feelings.
One client made this list:
1. I promise to be true and a loyal friend to you.
2. I will never expect you to meet all my needs.
3. I make this vow gladly.
4. I loved you before this ceremony. I love you more because of it.
5. I don not expect you to fulfill all of my dreams. I ask only that you share them with me.
6. A true marriage is not a ceremony but an on-going commitment.
7. I promise to keep my heart ever open to you.
8. From this day forward, I will walk beside you.
9. Our joys will be multiplied because we will celebrate together. Our sorrows will be lessened because we will share our burdens with each other.
10. I accept you, without reservation, as my husband/wife.
11. I will try to be worthy of your love and trust.
When your own list is complete, read through it several times and select the phrases which are most meaningful to you. The couple that compiled the above list, decided to include only numbers 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11. The rest were eliminated.
After you have chosen the sentences and phrases you like best from your own list, you must decide what order to put them in. One good way to do this is to cut up your list with a scissors so each phrase is on a separate slip of paper. Keep only the phrases you intend to use. Now rearrange the slips of paper in various ways until you find the order that sounds best.
When you’ve decided on a possible order, write all the sentences down again but this time write them as one paragraph, just the way the vow would be spoken.
This couple decided that a logical sequence for the sentences they chose might be 6,9,5,8,11. When they wrote the paragraph in that order it read: "A true marriage is not a ceremony but an on-going commitment. Our joys will be multiplied because we will celebrate together. Our sorrows will be lessened because we will share our burdens with each other. I do not expect you to fulfill all my dreams. I ask only that you share them with me. From this day forward, I will walk beside you. I will try to be worthy of your love and trust."
After reading your composite vow, you will most likely want to make further changes. Perhaps you’ll want to add something uniquely your won. You may want to eliminate a word or two in order to make the phrases flow more smoothly.
Here is how this couple rewrote their paragraph to fit their own feelings:
"I believe that a true marriage is not just a ceremony. It is an on-going commitment. Today I commit myself to you. From now on we will celebrate together and our celebration will multiply our joys. From now on we will share our troubles and the burdens we carry will seem lighter. I don’t expect you to fulfill all my dreams, I ask only that you share my dreams with me. From this day forward, I will walk beside you, trying always to be worthy of your trust and love."
Although the couple began with list of phrases they found here, the vow they said at their wedding was distinctly their own, reflecting their personal feelings and love.
You can do the same. Make a list of the phrases you like best and don’t worry if the list seems too long. It will be easy to eliminate.
When your list is complete, go back over it and pick out the sentences you find most meaningful. Put them in different sequences, rearrange phrases, try them many different ways. As you work with the sentences you may want to rewrite some.
Try using contractions, try substituting one word for another. Be sure to read your efforts out loud for they may sound different than they look.
Keep trying until you hit on the combination that is exactly what you want. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your wedding vows are exclusively your own and come truly from your deepest feelings.
Copyright © 2012
Renee Ukena - Edwardsville, IL
Contact me at [email protected] to discuss your ceremony and start your journey together
Renee Ukena - Edwardsville, IL
Contact me at [email protected] to discuss your ceremony and start your journey together