A Wedding Celebrant’s Guide To Wedding Vows

Your wedding vow is one of the most intimate, vulnerable moments of any wedding ceremony. The speeches can be funny, the first dance can be silly, but the vow…that’s a moment to be bare and honest about how you feel and what you commit to doing (even if you work in a joke).

Vowing is not an activity we get a lot of training in growing up, so it can be a challenge if we’re not naturally expressive or skilled with words. Let’s take a look at some tips to write a vow that works.

1. Mention who your partner is to you. What are some of your deepest thoughts when you think about them?

2. What’s something you truly admire and appreciate about them? Mention something about their character that you love. You can use a little anecdote to demonstrate that character trait.

3. Make a promise to your partner. What do you most strongly feel like you want to promise to do for them to bring you both closer and make the marriage successful?

4. Talk about how you’ll deal with the difficult times and the good times.

5. Talk about what you’re most looking forward to as you build a future together. 

If you feel nervous about giving your vow, here are some public speaking tips that may help you.

1. Remember that everyone watching at the wedding is on your side and wants you (and the marriage) to succeed. Feel reassured by that positivity.

2. Focus on the vow not the fact that you’re doing public speaking. Focusing on the message can help make you less self-conscious about the act of speaking.

3. Take deep breaths first and straighten your posture. This will help to make you to feel more calm and confident.

As a wedding celebrant, I can give you advice and tips to help you create your vows. To learn more, contact me today and let’s catch up for a no obligation conversation about your wedding.