You have found the person you want to be with forever and are ready to join your lives officially. Now, you embark on the adventure of wedding planning. While there is no shortage of details that need your attention, you will want to allow yourself time to prepare the soul of the wedding, your vows.

The Point of Wedding Vows

Some things are deeply engrained in society, and they are rarely questioned. Wedding vows are in this category. However, to understand its purpose, it is necessary to define the word vow. Seeing vows as solemn and sacred promises helps to understand the point of wedding vows.

Wedding vows go beyond expressing emotions; they are meant to declare the commitment and promises you and your partner make to each other on your wedding day. In many cultures, vows are promises to God as well as your partner and couples are admonished not to take them lightly.

Should We Use Pre-Written Vows or Write Our Own?

Rest assured, both choices are perfectly acceptable. Some couples prefer exchanging the traditional vows that have been used for decades. Other couples want to add personalisation to their ceremony and write their vows.

Personalised vows are more popular than ever as couples want to place their individual stamp on their wedding and may adjust the spot for vows in the ceremony and other details. These personal turns are more than acceptable. They are preferable. Remember, this is your chance to publicly commit yourself to your partner and share why you want to spend your life with them.

How to Write Your Own Wedding Vows

Before you begin, discuss writing your vows with your partner to make sure you are on the same page. Even if you want to keep your vows a surprise, you should,

Decide on a tone- If your partner promises to watch basketball every Sunday and you are pledging to be at your partner's side for their dying breath, the disconnect will feel awkward.

Agree on a length- Typically, 100 to 200 words is ideal because that means a reading time of one to two minutes. Any longer, your guests may become restless.

Make a note of any topics or stories that should be off limits- You may not want your beloved's nanna hearing the story of your wardrobe malfunction when zip-lining.

Declare Your Love

You have a great deal of leeway with this. You can keep it straightforward and simple or share a longer story from your relationship. Some people are more comfortable with humour, and others prefer a flowery and romantic style. The most crucial part of this is that you authentically share what is in your heart.

Make Your Promises

These are the commitments that form the foundation of your marriage. However, these do not need to be stiff and solemn. Whether you pledge your support through life's challenges, comfort in times of pain, or find joy and humour in your journey together is up to you.

Seal Your Vows

Think of this as your closing statement meant to summarise your promised love and devotion. Like the other parts of your vows, this can be a simple statement like, "I will love you forever." You can also expound on your promises or add a meaningful quote when sealing your commitment.

** Advice regarding writing your vows or anything personal: Don't think about what to say. Focus on how you feel. From there, the words will flow. **

How a Celebrant Can Help with Wedding Vows

While you may be worried about what to say or how to say it, your celebrant has years of experience creating vows that exceed expectations.

The first step is to listen carefully and understand what makes each couple unique. You can rely on your celebrant to guide you as you write your vows and effectively edit what you wrote. You can also look to them for inspiration based on their experiences with other couples' vows.

Additionally, your celebrant is a valuable source to ensure you have included what is legally necessary in your vows. Fortunately, Australia's legal wedding vow requirements are small.

"I call upon the persons present here to witness that I [partner's full name] take you, [other partner's full name} to be my lawful, wedded spouse" (repeated by the other partner).

There is leeway regarding the precise wording. As long as the sentiment shows, both parties acknowledge that according to the law in Australia, marriage is of two people, shall exclude all others, and is voluntarily entered into for life.

Need a Celebrant From the South West?

Writing your own wedding vows can seem daunting, but working with an experienced celebrator will take away a great deal of pre-wedding stress.

If you are newly engaged and want a one-of-a-kind wedding in the South West, please reach out to me, Tommy Moss!

How to Write Wedding Vows: A Complete Guide