Crafting Your Perfect Vows: A Guide To Writing Your Own Wedding Promises

Writing your wedding vows is a daunting task, but it's also a tremendous undertaking. You might feel the pressure to perfectly and authentically capture your love, hopes, and promises—a feat that may seem impossible. Here are some tips to help you get started:

- Check in with your partner: It's important to check in with each other to agree on the type, style, and length of your vows.

- Get some ideas down on paper: Make a list of the things you love about your partner, your hopes and dreams, and the promises you want to make.

- Research other wedding vows: Read lots of examples of other people’s wedding vows to get inspiration.

- Agree on a format beforehand: It's important to discuss and think about length. You want your vows to be fairly similar in style and time.

- Make sure they sound like you: When it comes to writing your vows, follow a structure that you and your partner are comfortable with.

- Practise makes perfect: Rehearse your vows to give you the confidence to deliver them on the big day.

How to write romantic wedding vows

Writing your own wedding vows is a tremendous undertaking. You might feel the pressure to capture your love, hopes, and promises authentically and meaningfully. Here are some tips and examples to help you write romantic wedding vows.

Tips for Writing Romantic Wedding Vows:

• Start early and well in advance. Writing your vows at the last minute will only add to your stress.
• Discuss your expectations with your partner. Agree on the length, tone, and how personal you want the vows to be.
• Jot down your thoughts about your partner and your relationship. Highlight your favourite items and use them in the final copy.
• Write no more than three drafts. Continuously editing your vows will only make you overthink and lose sight of the bigger picture.
• Add only the important details. Pick the most memorable moments, such as the first time you met or when you said "I love you."
• Embrace sentimentality. If the message feels true to you, don't worry about coming across as corny.
• Seek inspiration from pop culture. Movies, books, and songs are filled with eloquent words and messages that capture the experience of being in love.

Examples of Romantic Wedding Vows:

• "I promise to be your honest, faithful, and loving wife for the rest of my days."
• "I promise to be your navigator, best friend, and wife. I promise to honour, love, and cherish you through all life's adventures."
• "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 be there for you, day or night, in richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. I trust, appreciate, cherish, and respect you. I promise to share with you my hopes and dreams as we build our lives together."
• "I promise to love you for who you are, and for who you are yet to become. I promise to be patient and to remember that all things between us are rooted in love."
• "I promise to be your best friend and your husband. I promise you myself completely."
• "I promise to be there to catch you if you should stumble, carry you over every threshold, and fall in love with you every day."
• "I promise to be your rock. I promise to uplift and encourage you. I promise to never give up on you. I will work hard every day to make sure that we both know how much I love and cherish you."

How to write funny wedding vows

Funny wedding vows are a great way to showcase your personality and add a touch of levity to your special day. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft humorous vows that will have your partner and guests laughing.

Tips for Writing Funny Wedding Vows:

• Keep it light and simple: Remember, this is your moment to declare your love, not perform a stand-up routine.
• Avoid inside jokes: Make sure your jokes are accessible to your guests; include them in the fun!
• Stay away from sensitive topics: Old relationships, fights, and anything about your sex life might be uncomfortable for your audience.
• Highlight your common interests: Think about what you and your partner have in common, whether it's a love for movies, sports, or something unique. Specific references to these shared interests can be amusing and endearing.
• Opposite attracts: On the other hand, you can also joke about how your partner's interests drive you a bit crazy, and vice versa. Just make sure your guests are in on the joke!

Examples of Funny Wedding Vows:

• "I promise to unclog the tub, even though you are the only one of us with long hair."
• "I vow to take your hand when it’s too dark and the dog out when it’s too early."
• "I promise to get up and get the remote from across the room, even if it was not I who placed it so far away."
• "I promise to always respect your choice of music in the car when you are driving. If you are not driving, however..."
• "I promise to love you, honor you, but not obey, because that's a little creepy."
• "I promise to buy you takeout for dinner every night because I love you too much to subject you to my cooking."
• "I promise to love you through Ikea, be it during the buying or assembly of furniture procured therein."
• "I promise to continue to defend you every time my parents tell me you're weird."
• "I promise to always wash up when you cook the dinner."
• "I promise to agree that you really are the best driver on the road and always know exactly where you’re going, even when you don't."

How to write short wedding vows

Writing your own wedding vows is a daunting task, but it can be made easier by following a few simple steps. Here is a guide on how to write short wedding vows:

Step 1: Check in with your partner

It is important to discuss with your partner the type, style, and length of your vows. Agree on whether you want to include humour, the tone you want to set, and how personal you want to make them. You should also decide whether you want to write your vows together or keep them a secret until the ceremony.

Step 2: Get your ideas down on paper

Start by jotting down your thoughts about your partner and your relationship. Write about what you love about them, how you balance each other out, why you are getting married, and what promises you want to make. Don't worry about how it sounds at first; just get your ideas flowing.

Step 3: Keep it short and sweet

Your vows should only be around a minute or two long. Pick out five to seven of the most important things you want to say and use them as the foundation of your vows. Focus on the reasons you love your partner and some key promises you want to make.

Step 4: Get inspired

Read examples of other people's wedding vows to get a sense of the style you prefer. Do you want religious or secular vows? Are you going for funny or emotional? You can also draw inspiration from keepsakes, letters, cards, and gifts from your partner.

Step 5: Get feedback

Ask a trusted friend or family member to read your vows and give you feedback. They can help you refine the tone and cadence of your vows and ensure that you haven't included anything that might be too personal or embarrassing.

Step 6: Practise

Rehearse your vows to build your confidence and ensure that they flow well. Practising will also help you to speak slowly and clearly, so your guests can understand and engage with your words.

Sample Short Wedding Vows:

"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 honour, 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 honour you, love you, and cherish you as my husband today and every day."

"I promise to be there to catch you if you should stumble, carry you over every threshold, and fall in love with you every day."

"I promise to be your best friend and your husband. I promise you myself completely. Your love gives me hope. Your smile gives me joy. You make me a better man."

How to write religious wedding vows

Religious wedding vows are a beautiful way to honour your faith and your partner. Here is a guide on how to write religious wedding vows, with some examples to inspire you.

• Discuss your expectations: Before you start writing, talk to your partner about what you both want to include. Discuss the length, tone, and level of personal detail.
• Start with a template: Begin with a basic vow template and adapt it to your needs. You can include the following:
• A declaration of love: "I love you" is a powerful way to start or end your vows.
• Reaffirm your support: Mention that you will stand by your partner through good and bad times.
• Share personal stories: Include anecdotes about your relationship, such as how you met or a funny date story.
• Make concrete promises: Include specific pledges, such as always being there for your partner or killing spiders for them!
• Acknowledge your community: Thank your friends and family for their support and ask for their continued guidance.
• Jot down your thoughts: Start by writing down everything that comes to mind about your partner and your relationship. This will help you gather your thoughts and highlight the most important details.
• Keep it concise: Aim for your vows to be around one to two minutes long when read aloud, or about 100 to 200 words.
• Avoid absolute words: Try not to use words like "always" and "never" when making promises, as these can be hard to keep.
• Add a personal touch: Include religious elements that are meaningful to you. This could be a prayer, a quote from scripture, or a story from your faith tradition.

Examples of Religious Wedding Vows

• "I love you. I prayed that God would lead me to this choice, to you as my husband. I praise Him tonight as His will is being fulfilled. Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise you and Him my faithfulness, to stand beside you through all of life's experiences as you follow God."
• "I take you to be my wedded wife, before God, who brought us together, to love and cherish you even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, to lead you and share all of life's experiences with you by following God through them."
• "I vow to always be your protector and confidante, responsible for making sure your every need is met, and your every want is reached. I vow to stand by your side, 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 love you, and I know that this love is from God. I want to be your husband so that we might serve Christ together. Through all the uncertainties and trials of the present and future, I promise to be faithful to you and to love you. I promise to guide and protect you as Christ does his church, as long as we both shall live."

How to write non-religious wedding vows

Writing your own wedding vows is a tremendous undertaking. You might feel the pressure to capture your love, hopes, and promises authentically. Here is a guide to help you write non-religious wedding vows.

Where to Start

Before you start writing your vows, talk to your partner to ensure you are both on the same page. Discuss your expectations, the length of your vows, when you will recite them, and how personal you want to make them.

Brainstorming

To jumpstart the writing process, jot down all your thoughts about your partner and your relationship. You can also answer some questions to get the ideas flowing: What is something your partner did for you that made you feel special? Is there something about your partner that you never want to live without? When was the first time you said "I love you"?

Writing Your Vows

When writing your vows, make sure to include the following:

• Say "I love you" at some point.
• Reaffirm your unwavering support.
• Share personal stories.
• Include real promises.
• Acknowledge and request additional support from your friends and family.

Editing Your Vows

Once you have a draft of your vows, go back and edit for tone and length. Decide on the overall tone you want to achieve and refine your words to reach that tone. Also, aim to have your vows last for about one minute or less per person.

Examples of Non-Religious Wedding Vows

• "I, [name], take you, [name], to be my husband/wife/partner. I promise to be your lover, companion, and friend. Your partner in parenthood. Your ally in conflict. Your greatest fan. I will be your comrade in adventure. Your comfort in disappointment. Your accomplice in mischief. Your strength in times of need."
• "I, [name], take you, [name], to be my wedded wife/husband. I acknowledge and accept your faults and strengths, as you do mine. I promise to be faithful and supportive and to always make our family's love and happiness my priority."
• "I, [name], take you, [name], to be my wife/husband/partner. I promise to always be your biggest fan and your partner in crime. I promise to create and support a family with you, in a household filled with laughter, patience, understanding, and love."
• "I, [name], take you, [name], to be my husband/wife/partner. I promise to love you, support you, and care for you. I will be patient and loving towards you. I will choose you and only you from this day forward, and I will be faithful to you until God calls us home."

Frequently asked questions