Write Your Wedding Vows in 7 Days!
Writing your wedding vows can be quite a challenge. Whether you just have writers block and can't get started, or you have no idea how to express what you feel to your amazing partner. Writing vows are one of the most difficult things about planning a wedding, which is probably why most people put them off until the last minute (I know! We finalized our vows 2 days before the wedding!). My hope with this article is that you all won't suffer like I did, trying to figure out how to do it and wasting a lot of time sitting, staring at the wall thinking, like I did. Also, unless you're really in crunch time DON'T try to speed through this process, take each step one day at a time!
With this guide, you WILL be able to write your wedding vows in just one week!
Day One
Make a list of everything you love about your fiance. Don't hold anything back--this is just going to help you later. Try to list as many things as you can.
Day Two
Make a list of promises you would like to make to them. These should be real, serious promises you want to make. However, if you want to have some humor in your vows, this is the spot to include some humor.
Day Three
Look at both your lists, cross off anything on the lists that is inappropriate or anything that is redundant.
Day Four
Combine both these lists into one. Add all of them to the same page, and look over again. Cross off anything you know you don't want to use after you've had the time to sleep on the lists.
Day Five
Use the list you made yesterday to create your first rough draft of your vows. Don't feel like you have to use everything on the list. Use what feels right to you.
Day Six
Go back over your rough draft. Reread it and take out anything you don't like or add anything you feel like you missed.
Day Seven
Read your vows out loud, to yourself, your soon to be spouse, a family member or a close friend. See how long it takes you to read them. Add or subtract what you can until they are the length you want them to be. Typically it is ideal for them to be less than 2-3 minutes long, but whatever you want is fine! Read it out loud again, but this time, pay attention to how the words flow. Does it sound like the way you would actually speak to him or does it sound stiff? Edit "stuffy" words and sentences if it sounds stiff. (Things like changing "I promise to withstand all the storms of life with you" to "I promise to stay by your side through all of the bad times.")
You're Done!
Now Practice, Practice, Practice Reading Them!!!