August 2, 2007

Vows that Wow

The most integral part of a wedding ceremony, your wedding vows are the words that intertwine your lives together and declare to your family and friends the feelings that you share.

Dependent on the type of wedding that you envision, your vows may be secular, traditional, non-traditional or comedic (though expect a frown or two from a wedding guest when you throw comedy into the mix).

You may want your vows to be handed to you on a silver platter by your clergyman or justice of the peace or you may want to have original and strictly personal vows you write yourself. Regardless of the type of vows you choose, some basic planning must first go into the decision-making process.

Start this process by sitting down with your intended and talk about the type of vows each of you would like to have and how personal you would like them to be. Decide on a basic format and the scope to which each of you will be involved in their creation. Decide if you would like them to be the memorized or the “repeat-after-me” variety. Decide ahead of time if you need note cards your attendants can carry to save the day, should nerves have an adverse affect on your memories.

Most importantly, do not leave it up to each individual to create his or her own vows completely independent of the other. It would be nothing less than catastrophic to have one half of the couple espouse on the virtues of their fiancé for a good 15 minutes, only to be met with a one liner from the other half. Possibly spoiling what otherwise should be a very touching moment.

Whether you choose a traditional vow or write your own, inviting a section of a poem or a quote into your vows can add a distinct personal touch, without the pressure of having to come up with those perfect words on your own. A touch that also makes for an exceptional wedding favor with which you can adorn your invitations, your table setting, your seating cards, your thank you notes, and many other of your wedding accessories with.

Regardless of where the words come from, start your marriage off on the right foot with wedding vows that declare your love and commitment to the future.

©2007 Weddingstar Inc.