Wedding
vows are a promise you make to each other. All weddings from every
culture and faith have traditions in how the ceremony is performed. and
this includes your vows. If you are planning a religious or civil
ceremony using vows which have been passed down with tradition has its
charms.
If
you are to marry in a church, talk to your celebrant about the vows
that he has. Read them and pick the one which is most suited to you. If
you do decide to write your own vows check with the celebrant first,
never assume that you can change any part of the ceremony including the
wedding vows
If he agrees to let you write your wedding vows, sit down with each
other and decide on what you want to say. To help you write your
wedding vows you should look at some reference books (to find these you
can try your local library, book store or internet).
The wedding vows can be used in the wedding as
your personal words to
your partner, on invitations, as readings in the ceremony, on the order
of service or even as a toast.
If you are to write your own wedding vows don’t leave it to
the last minute, give yourself plenty of time. Make a deadline and have
your wedding vows ready, at least three weeks before the wedding.
You and your partner need to take the time to think about what you want
to say to each other (this could be done together or individually).
Pick a quite place where you will not be disturbed and think about the
things that are important to you.
Before you start, ask
yourself the following
Is tradition important
to both of you?
Do you want the vows
to be spontaneous and in the moment?
Do you want to include
readings and poems that have special meaning to you?
Read some sample vows to give you ideas, you may find one that you like
and only want to change a few words of the vow, or you may want to add
more.
To make things easy on the wedding day, write your vows clearly on a
piece of paper or card. Take it with you to the ceremony and have the
bridesmaid and best man look after these for you just in case you have
a mental block during the ceremony
If you are unable to change the vows ask the celebrant if you could say
some special words to each other either before or after the exchanging
of the rings.
Words to Help You Get
Started
Listed below are some words to help you get started:
Grow old along with me
the best is yet to be. - Robert Browning
That this peace may
last forever, and our hands be clasped more closely and our hearts be
more united. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Thank you for saying
you’ll have me, thank you for changing my life, thank you for
being my lover, thank you for being my wife. - Unknown
Even though your love
is more precious to me than any gold or jewel, accept this ring as a
sign of our marriage and a symbol of our everlasting love. - Unknown
Love is a fruit in
season at all times and within reach of every hand. - Mother Teresa
Hand in hand as we
stood beneath the shadows of the wood.
Heart to heart as we lay in the dawning to the day. - Robert Bridges
You are my wife, my
feet shall run because of you, my feet dance because of you, my heart
shall beat because of you,
my eyes see because of you, my mind thinks because of you, and I shall
love because of you. - Eskimo marriage song
From this day forward,
you shall not walk alone, my heart will be your shelter, and my arms
will be your home. - Unknown
I lie down with thee,
I rise up with thee. - Aztec Love Song
I add my breath to
your breath. That our days may be long on the earth. That the days of
our people may be long. That we may be one person. That we may finish
our roads together. May our mother bless you with life. May our paths
be fulfilled. - Keres Indian Song
From this day forward,
you shall not walk alone. My heart will be you shelter, and my arms
will be your home. - Unknown
To say the words
“love and compassion” is easy. But to accept that
love and compassion are built upon patience and perseverance is not
easy. -Traditional Buddhist Teaching
When you come home
with good news, I will welcome it. When you come home with bad news, I
will share it. When you come home with no news, will you listen to
mine? - Unknown
I take you now and for
always, for always is always now.
- Philip Larkin
Shared joy is double
joy. Shared sorrow is half a sorrow.
- Proverb
