Tips for writing your own vows

With so many couples wanting to make their weddings unique and meaningful, the trend to write your own vows has become even more popular. Here are some tricks and tips to make the process a little bit easier.

Check first. Make sure your officiant knows you want to write your own vows. He or she will want to review them as well beforehand. Also, make sure your officiant has a copy of them during the ceremony. It’s a good back-up in case you lose your copy!

Plan ahead. Do not attempt to write your vows the night before. You want time to make sure they are exactly what you want to say. There are some great templates and idea generators online to help you get started.

Are you working together? Or do you want each of your vows to be a surprise? Make sure you have a trusted friend read both sets of vows if you’re planning a surprise. They’ll help make sure the vows are similar in tone and length.

Practice out loud. This is public speaking, after all. You’ll want to make sure you don’t stumble over any words and that you’ll feel comfortable saying them out loud.

It’s okay to read from notes. You’ll be excited and nervous enough. Trying to memorize a speech will just make it worse. It doesn’t make the words any less heartfelt to read them from an index card, so keep those cards handy in a bouquet, in a pocket, or with a trusted member of the wedding party.