Crafting Your Wedding Vow: A Guide To Writing Your Promise

Wedding vows are the crux of your wedding day and the very reason for the celebration. They can be daunting to write, but it's worth it when you're standing up there, pouring your heart out to your partner.

Writing your own wedding vows allows you to personalize your special day and make promises for the future. They should express your love, reflect your relationship, and include what you love about your partner.

- Don't wait until the last minute.

- Use keepsakes, letters, cards, or gifts for inspiration.

- Agree on a format beforehand with your partner.

- Ask a trusted friend or family member to give you feedback.

- Make a list of all the things you love about your partner.

- Answer your own questions, such as when was the first time you said I love you and what do you have in common.

Remember to speak from the heart and include personal stories. You can also add some humor, inside jokes, or references to your favorite books or movies. However, avoid going too far with inside jokes that others won't understand or sharing anything too personal.

- I promise to be your partner in crime and your alibi if needed.

- I vow to always let you have the last piece of pizza.

- I promise to love you even when you leave your socks on the floor.

- You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars.

- I promise to be your safe haven in this crazy world.

- I promise to always see the best in you, even when you can't see it yourself.

- I promise to be your constant companion and your greatest admirer.

- I vow to be your shoulder to cry on during times of sorrow and your partner to celebrate with in times of happiness.

- I promise to be your biggest fan and your honest critic when you need one.

Reflect on your relationship

Reflecting on your relationship is a great way to start the process of writing your wedding vows. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Think about how your partner has changed your life

Consider how your partner has impacted you and helped you grow. What have you learned from them? How have they made you a better person? What have you achieved together that you couldn't have done alone?

Recall your first impression

List your favourite memories

Describe what you love about your partner

Make a list of your shared values

Don't shy away from being sentimental

There's no need to stress about being too corny or cheesy—it's your wedding day, after all! As long as your words are coming from the heart, they're excellent.

• "You are my sunrise and sunset—my day starts and ends with you."
• "I feel as if my life did not start until the day I met you, and now you are my entire universe."
• "I thought I knew everything before I met you, then I met you and I realized I didn't know anything—not until we fell in love."
• "I love you with my whole heart with a passion that can't be expressed in words, only in kisses, glances, and years of adventure by your side."
• "I promise to be your navigator, best friend, and wife. I promise to honor, love, and cherish you through all life's adventures. Wherever we go, we'll go together."
• "I promise to be your honest, faithful, and loving wife for the rest of my days."
• "I pledge to honor you, love you, and cherish you as my husband today and every day."
• "I promise to be your guiding light in the darkness, a warming comfort in the cold, and a shoulder to lean on when life is too much to bear on your own."
• "I promise to always appreciate you and to never let a day go by where I’m not reminded of how lucky I am that we have each other."
• "I promise to cherish everyday moments that we’ll remember, love, and laugh about for years to come."
• "I promise to learn from you – even if I have a hard time accepting that I’m wrong. I will hold myself accountable for my faults and I will always strive for compromise."
• "I promise to be your lifelong dance partner. Even when we are old and have to drag our walkers out on the dance floor."
• "I promise to support you in whatever path you choose to follow and to remind you daily that you are capable of anything."
• "I promise to work on myself to try to be the best version of me that I can be and to encourage you to do the same."
• "I promise to do my best to only get mad at you when you deserve it, not just whenever I'm hungry."
• "I promise to love you every single day. When life seems easy, and especially when it seems hard, I will love you."
• "I promise to cherish you, forever and for always."
• "I promise to forever trouble you with tight hugs and funny kisses!"
• "I promise to keep appreciating your awkward dance moves!"
• "I promise to keep the last slice of pizza for you!"
• "I promise to laugh with you in times of joy, and to hold you close in times of sorrow."
• "I promise to spend the rest of my days making you as happy as you make me."
• "I promise to always be there for you, even if it means [insert a funny experience]"!
• "I promise to support you wherever you may need it. I may not be able to solve all of your problems, but I do want to hold your hand while you work through them."
• "I promise to share in your hopes, your dreams, your loves and your fears. What makes you so beautiful to me is the combination of all of those things."

Take inspiration from books and movies

There are many ways to incorporate your favourite books and movies into your wedding vows. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Quotes and Lines

Pull quotes and lines from your favourite books and movies that capture your feelings. For example, you could use "You are my light, and you've shown me more love than I've ever known" from *The Big Bang Theory*, or "I vow to always let you have the last slice of pizza" for a more humorous tone. You could also adapt quotes to fit your relationship, such as "You are my moon, and I will be your sun and stars" from *Game of Thrones*.

Themes and Concepts

Consider the broader themes and concepts from your favourite books and movies, and weave them into your vows. For instance, you could draw on the idea of destiny from *The Notebook* by vowing to choose your partner every day. Or, if you're a fan of *Up*, you could vow to create new adventures and experiences together.

Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful way to incorporate books and movies into your vows. Share your journey together and how it relates to a story that resonates with you. For example, you could say, "Like Mia and Sebastian, our paths weren't always straight, but they always led back to each other" if you're a fan of *La La Land*.

Humour and Lightheartedness

Adding a touch of humour to your vows can be a great way to bring levity and joy to the ceremony. You could draw inspiration from *10 Things I Hate About You* and start with a humorous line, followed by a sincere declaration of love. Or, take a cue from *Friends* and include a lighthearted promise, such as "I promise to love you in every way, even when you snore louder than I do."

Remember, the key is to make your vows authentic and meaningful. Feel free to get creative and inject your personality into them!

Make a list of all the things you love

Making a list of all the things you love about your partner is a great way to get started on your wedding vows. Here are some ideas to get you going:

• Their physical appearance: their smile, their eyes, their hair, etc.
• Their personality: their sense of humour, their intelligence, their kindness, their compassion, their integrity, their adventurous spirit, etc.
• Their interests and hobbies: their love of travelling, cooking, sports, etc.
• Their relationship with you: how they make you feel, how they've changed your life, how they've supported you, how they've inspired you, etc.
• Their relationship with others: their role as a parent, their relationship with your family, etc.
• Their quirks: their funny dance moves, their love of pizza, their obsession with shopping, etc.

Answer your own questions

Writing your own wedding vows can be a daunting task, but it's worth it to pour your heart out to your partner on your special day. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft your own unique and meaningful vows.

Tips for Writing Your Own Wedding Vows:

• Start early to give yourself time to write, revise, and procrastinate a bit.
• Surround yourself with keepsakes, letters, and gifts from your partner to inspire you.
• Agree on a format, length, and ground rules with your partner.
• Ask a trusted friend or family member for feedback.
• Take breaks and come back to your writing with a fresh mind.
• Make lists of things you love about your partner, shared activities, and hopes for the future.
• Answer your own questions about your relationship, such as when you first said "I love you" and what obstacles you've overcome together.

Examples of Wedding Vows:

• "I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife], my best friend, and my lifelong partner. I promise to love and support you through all of life's adventures and challenges. I vow to be your constant in a changing world, to lift you up when you are down, and to always have your back. I will always choose you, today and every day, for the rest of our lives."
• "You are my rock, my confidante, and my greatest blessing. I promise to honor and cherish you, to support your dreams, and to love you fiercely. I vow to laugh with you in joy and hold you close in sorrow. I promise to always be there for you and to make you as happy as you make me."
• "I promise to always get rid of the spiders, even though they scare me! I promise to fold the laundry and never leave a cup of tea untouched. I promise to let you win an argument or two, and to never watch the next episode of our favourite show without you!"
• "I promise to be your partner in crime and your alibi if needed. I vow to always let you have the last piece of pizza. I promise to love you even when you leave your socks on the floor. I vow to be your soft place to land and your springboard to fly."
• "You are my sunrise and my sunset, the beginning and end of each day. My life did not truly start until I met you, and now you are my entire world. I promise to express my love for you with every breath and to build a home and family with you, facing all life's challenges together."

Frequently asked questions