The Formula to Writing Confident Vows
There is a big love to be shared and it’s YOURS, but how do you get those feeling out and turn them into words?
Once you book me as your celebrant, I will provide you with a little Vow Inspiration Pack that is filled with steps, ideas and hints to get you vow ready. You also get to tag me in whenever you need a draft check or some guidance along the way, but to start things off, here are a few tips to consider when it comes time to writing your personal vows.
Check-in with each other first.
Writing your vows starts together. Don’t discuss the exact finer details just chat about, length, content (is someone going to be funny and the other more lovey -dovey?) any ‘no-no’s’. Don’t set each other up to feel guilty when you are at the alter and in the moment. Set some goals and some boundaries.
Start a list of dot-points.
Don’t worry about where these ideas are going to go and how you will create your paragraphs, just create a note in your phone and add to it when an idea hits you.
Follow my vow recipe.
Sometimes it helps to have a plan. So for those of you who love to have a guide, your vows should flow like this: First, reflect on when you met and how you felt about it, then talk about your person (what do you love about them? What do they do that makes you roll your eyes or giggle). After that, add in any of your promises/vows if you’re into that, then finish with your final thoughts - aka “I love you and I’m so excited to be on this ‘life’ adventure with you”
Repeat this mantra.
There is nothing that you HAVE to say, write what you WANT to say. Unless you are opting to incorporate the legally required vows into your personal vows (which I will help you with), there is nothing that you have to say to make your wedding legal- I’m taking care of that for you- so focus on what you’re feeling and what you want to say to your person standing before you.
Read them out loud.
practice makes better, and practice catches words that when written seem ok but when you say them out loud, they trip you up. Take it from this professional public speaker and MC, you wanna say it to yourself first so that you can catch and edit anything that trips up your flow.
My final gee-up!
As your celebrant, I’m your wing-woman and your cheerleader. You can send me your drafts and I will give any constructive feedback or ideas should you need it. At the end of the day, I got you, so breathe, have a stretch and start jotting down your ideas.
Photos from The Johnson’s epic wedding day, taken by Folk Lane Photography.