Asking your wedding officiant for timelines is always a great idea and I love creative input by couples.Normally, vows take 2-3 minutes for the Bride and the Groom and while most couples panic over the idea of staring at a blank piece of paper, calm down and get creative because handwritten vows will be something you will both remember long after the ceremony. 

 Whether you are thrilled or terrified, your vows can be funny or romantic- there’s a process and you just need to know where to start:

Pick a general format by writing a fill in the blank type that both parties fill in like “I promise to ____ you” or “I’m standing here today with you because _____” or “I promise ____” for our future together.

Eventually, you will find you have many things to say you haven’t thought of before.  Keep this in mind too, your first draft isn’t your final draft.  You can revise it as many times as you feel you need to.

You may already recognize that public speaking isn’t easy- but you will be in a room full of your family and friends so remember they aren’t strangers!

Read your vows aloud to your bridesmaids or even your parents to feel more comfortable speaking your vows.  

Writing your own vows can be a really rewarding experience and often many of my clienrs “skip it” because they are so uncomfortable regarding the process.

If you and your fiancée have decided not to show each other your vows prior to the wedding, you need a starting point, here is a good example:

_____ I take you to be my ____.  I will love you unconditionally and without hesitation, for it is your heart that moves me, your spirit that inspires me, your humor that delights me, and your hand I want to hold for all of our days.

If you practice a certain faith, follow your Christian traditions and use poetry, scripture or even something from a movie that “moves” you.

Never leave writing vows until your wedding day- you will feel rushed and regret something you forgot to add.
Take your time and speak from your hearts…

Wendy M Wortham