Ways To Say "I Do"
Tips for writing your own wedding vows...
by Jennifer Good

A vow is a solemn, unconditional promise or pledge to another person. When a bride or groom makes their wedding vows they are telling their future husband or wife what they promise to uphold as they spend their future life together. Wedding vows typically include how you plan to love your partner, how you plan to maintain a happy marriage and an unconditional pledge to stand by your partner's side no matter what lies ahead for your future.

"On my wedding day, I hope to say, 'I shall miss the tragedy of lost loves, but I am off to wed my bliss.'" ~Source Unknown

Some couples feel that the only way to truly communicate their heartfelt sentiments is to write their own. If this is true for you, you will find a few tips in this article to help get you started in the right direction. However, there are few things you should note before you begin.

You will need to make your officiant aware of your desire for personalized vows. Some religions have strict rules regarding what must be said. In addition, you should really make sure you are both comfortable with the idea of saying your vows to each other publicly. This is something you should both come to an agreement on. If one person does not feel comfortable about it, talk to your officiant about ways to incorporate personalization into a set of standard vows. This is your wedding day; there shouldn't be any unwanted pressure on either of you.

"I'll always be beside you until the very end, wiping all your tears away, being your best friend. I'll smile when you smile and feel all the pain you do, and if you cry a single tear, I promise I'll cry too." ~Source Unknown

Once all the details have been ironed out, it's time to begin the process of creating the most important lifetime promise you'll ever make! Below, are a few questions you should answer to help get you started.

• What is love to you?
  
  
• How do you define a soul mate?
  
  
• How did you both meet?
  
  
• When did you know it was love?
  
  
• How do you feel about spending your future with your partner?
  
  
• What role do you feel a husband/wife plays in a marriage?
  
  
• How does your partner make you feel?
  
  
• How would you feel if your relationship were ended?
  
  
• Why do you love your partner?
  
  
• Why do you want to marry your partner?

Other ways to find the perfect vows are through love poems, sonnets, quotes and love letters. The best way to find these is through encyclopedias, dictionaries, quote books and through the Internet. You may also want to keep a journal to collect your thoughts in one place.

""No one can ever promise you they will never hurt you, because at one time or another it will happen. The real promise is if the time you spent together will be worth the pain in the end." ~Source Unknown

More Resources:
Three Types of Wedding Vows
Complete Book of Wedding Vows by Diane Warner
With These Words...I Thee Wed: Contemporary Wedding Vows for Today's Couples by Barbara Eklof
The Booke of Betrothal: Verses, Vows & Etiquette for the Romantic, Renaissance Couple by Laura Crockett

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