Writing your Vows
There are lots of Vow examples online these days, but for those of you who want to create something personal, or are even a little nervous about writing your own vows, where or how do you start?
Whatever you want your vows or promises to be, they will be presented in front of your guests and witnesses, and the fact that you are making these commitments to last a lifetime can seem quite daunting.
Traditionally, vows include reference to in Sickness and Health, good times and bad, and promising to remain faithful to one another until death parts you, and these are really important and solemn promises and not to be sniffed at. However, within a celebrant-led ceremony, you have an opportunity to be a little bit more creative with your word choices and to include additional personal references.
You could say why you are grateful for the love your partner has shown you. Why you are happy to be marrying them. You can promise something specific to your relationship. This might be to “support your partner when they are called out to work at 3am” or you can have a little fun with it by agreeing “to place your washing in the wash basket and not around the edge of it”. Ultimately, remember that the promises you make are to your partner so remember that you can say “I love you” too if you want to.
Vows can be presented in different ways. They can be questions with an “I do” or “I will” as your answer. They can be read from a card as a letter might be read out loud. They can be one-liners bounced from person to person. Keeping your vows, a secret from each other until the day can be quite emotional and powerful, but equally, working together on the promises you are committing to is a joint task and not to be taken too lightly…although you can have great fun with them too.
One couple I worked with simply chose A.E.I.O.U – I take you!
To find out more about Celebrant-led ceremonies, please contact Karina O’Donnell:
Mobile - 07970 513715
Email – Karina@celebrant-uk.co.uk
Website – www.celebrant-uk.co.uk