Tips to Help You Write Your Own Wedding Vows

There is nothing more meaningful than wedding vows that are personal and unique. If you have chosen to write your own wedding vows, but aren't quite sure where to start, there are a few easy tips you can follow to ensure your personalised wedding vows are just right. You don't have to be a poet to write your own wedding vows, you just need a little inspiration!

Write in your own voice.
When you sit down to write your own wedding vows, remember that these are vows specific to you, your soon to be spouse and your unique relationship. Don't try to write something that doesn't sound like anything you would ever really say. Emulating the writing style of another writer, even one you admire, will only make it more difficult when the time comes to speak the words. Personalised wedding vows should come from you, and no one else. It's ok to seek inspiration in other writers, but make it your own.

How To Write A Sonnet

Keep it simple.
Flowery, over the top sentiments are what weddings are all about, it's true. But your wedding vows don't need to read like a Shakespearean sonnet. Use simple sentences and words; no need to drag out the dictionary and thesaurus. When your write your own wedding vows it is more important to express your feelings clearly than to find fancy words to fill the sentences.

Tips to Help You Write Your Own Wedding Vows

Start by taking notes.
It sounds a little like writing a school paper, but starting with some simple notes is a great way to write your own wedding vows. It will help you to organize your thoughts and make a list of what you want your vows to say. When you simply write down your feelings without regard to sentence structure or grammar, it is much easier to come up with ideas and get them down on paper. Once you have a list of the things you want to say, all that is left to do to write your own wedding vows is to turn them into sentences that can be combined coherently.

Be honest.
The biggest thing to remember when you write your own wedding vows is to be honest. Say the things that you really mean, and not the things you think others might expect. These are the words with which you will commit your life to someone else. You should mean every word you speak. Personalized wedding vows allow you to say things that the traditional vows might leave out, or to omit the things you don't want from the traditional vows. Take advantage of this and write your own wedding vows filled only with the things you really mean; the words by which you plan to live your new life with the person you are about to marry.

When you combine all these tips to write your own wedding vows, you will find it easy to find the words to express what you feel for your future spouse. Your personalized wedding vows are sure to impress not only your new bride or groom, but everyone who is present to hear them.

Tips to Help You Write Your Own Wedding Vows The Blast-Mychelle Lee (The Blast-Hi-Tek and Talib Kweli Cover) Video Clips. Duration : 2.40 Mins.

PROMO USE ONLY!!!!! * i do not own the copyrights to this song. all copyrights go to Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek* intriguing duality, welcome into my reality, the comedy and tragedy attack spasticly and drasticly ingniting forms of quality that pull you into my flattery what you hearings insanity minus the plus of profanity the best rapper i am you see breaking every formality i never had a casualty cuz im sweeter than cavity genuine curiousity, georges wanna get close to me sing songs like its nursery, back and forth like the rockers creek the rappers creed, the author of, or something they stumbled upon try to figure where im from or if theres hella more to come kinda wondering myself, with every notch and every belt when every line and every rhyme starts to manifest itself when the ink is overwhelmed and the pad is overfilled should i write another line? yea im thinkin might as well so i wrote me a sonnet or a ballad for all my lectures cuz im in love with every part of my collection its kinda special ni love you past ya imperfections, look beyond ya self perception yea i know ya true complexion, genuine through ya self expression My book of manifestos filled wit pages of confessions That's numbered by convictions and narrarated by obsession For this thing that I have called a jones for a love Where the sanctuary is filled carrying pics from my love And im seeing through the lens while my track it overdubs That the love of my life is no longer what it was So I battle ninas ...

Tags: hi, tek, talib, kweli, the, blast, hip, hop, rap, def jam, fallout, storms, varsity, weapons

Wedding Readings - Popular Passages For Your Wedding Ceremony

If you're writing your wedding vows or personalizing your wedding ceremony with meaningful readings, delve into the world of literature, poetry, quotes and lyrics for inspiration. Here are some sample passages to get you started...

Poetry

How To Write A Sonnet

William Shakespeare - "Romeo and Juliet"

Wedding Readings - Popular Passages For Your Wedding Ceremony

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite. William Shakespeare - "Sonnet 116"

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Wilferd Peterson - The Art of Marriage

The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other,
not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation,
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo
or the wife to have the wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere
in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the Spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which
the independence is equal, dependence is mutual,
and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is BEING the right partner.
This is "The Art of Marriage"

Cultural Heritage

Irish Wedding Blessing

May God be with you and bless you
May you see your children's children
May you be poor in misfortunes,
Rich in blessings
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward

Apache Wedding Blessing

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to each other.
Now there is no more loneliness for you,
For each of you will be comfort to the other.
Though you are two bodies,
There is but one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And, may the days of your life
Be good and long upon the earth.

Hollywood

When Harry Met Sally

I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

To Love and Be Loved

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

Moulin Rouge

The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

The Notebook

The best love is the kind that weakens the soul, that makes us reach for more, that plants fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever.

The Notebook

Poets often describe love as an emotion that we can't control, one that overwhelms logic and common sense. That's what it's like for me. I didn't plan on falling in love with you, and I doubt that you planned on falling in love with me. But once we met, it was clear that neither of us could control what was happening to us. We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. For me love like that has happened only once, and that's why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory. I'll never forget a single moment of it.

You can get even more popular passages and weddings readings information at this complete readings, speeches, and toasts guide.

Wedding Readings - Popular Passages For Your Wedding Ceremony Madeline Reads Shakespeare's 80th Sonnet Tube. Duration : 0.87 Mins.

#80 O how I faint when I of you do write, Knowing a better spirit doth use your name, And in the praise thereof spends all his might, To make me tongue-tied speaking of your fame. But since your worth (wide as the ocean is) The humble as the proudest sail doth bear, My saucy bark (inferior far to his) On your broad main doth willfully appear. Your shallowest help will hold me up afloat, Whilst he upon your soundless deep doth ride, Or (being wracked) I am a worthless boat, He of tall building, and of goodly pride. Then if he thrive and I be cast away, The worst was this, my love was my decay.

Tags: Shakespeare, sonnet, 080, read, aloud, poetry, meter, iambic, pentameter

Finding Your Voice With Your Wedding Readings

At some point, someone (an officiant, a wedding planner) is going to hand you a list of wedding readings.

Throw it out!

If you don't want the same wedding reading as half of the world's population, you would do well to choose your own.

After all, there are no rules when it comes to wedding readings. A passage from Harry Potter can be just as appropriate and perhaps more meaningful to you than a sonnet by William Shakespeare.

Wedding Readings set the mood for the entire ceremony. They can be romantic, literary, traditional, contemporary, sentimental or instructive. You can use famous wedding poems or one written by a friend.

The more formal and traditional your wedding ceremony is, the more likely you are going to want to use traditional verses. If your ceremony is contemporary, you will feel more free to break out of the mold.

Religious ceremonies have their own pattern. For instance, in Catholic ceremonies there are four traditional readings, all of which come from the scriptures, although there are choices for each one.

One of my favorite wedding reading opportunities comes from favorite songs. Often, the people you want to have involved in your ceremony have limited vocal talents. But this doesn't mean that they can't read your favorite love song lyrics. Also, while the music might not be appropriate to the ceremony, the lyrics may express your feelings. Having a friend read the lyrics is a good compromise.

You can find Wedding Reading sites on the internet. These sites compile poems, prose, and other readings and break them down by type of ceremony.

Wedding Anniversary Poems - A Perfect Gift

Are you and your spouse celebrating your 50 years together in a Golden Anniversary? 25 years in a Silver Anniversary? One year in a Paper Anniversary? Congratulations. In contemporary American society, only 45% of marriages last. Take this occasion to renew your commitment to each other with wedding anniversary poems that encourage you to stay on the journey together.

Married couples that practice a spiritual dimension and who attend church together tend to have a longer and happier marriage. When they take their wedding vows, they promise to be faithful to each other and to include God throughout their entire lives. So, using inspirational wedding anniversary sayings can help renew those vows in a fresh and more meaningful way.

Why fresh and more meaningful? A long-term, successful married relationship includes many hours, days, weeks and years of routine, habitual ways of communicating with each other. After thirty years of marriage research, Dr. John Gottmann discovered that long-term marriages are strengthened when spouses deliberately express fondness and admiration to each other. Writing and reading wedding anniversary poetry allow a husband and wife to share their personal feelings in a unique, fresh and more meaningful way.

One of the best wedding anniversary gifts that couples can give each other are personal wedding anniversary poems that share heart-felt emotion. These poems may be as simple as: "Roses are red, violets are blue, I am so happy that I married you" to sonnets, books, and letters. Poems do not have to rhyme. Consider these three tips for writing a poem to your spouse on your anniversary day.

First, identify the best and happiest moments of your marriage. Close your eyes and relive the memory. Then, write down the highlights, the details and the positive feelings of those moments. Think of what your spouse was like at the time of your memory. How did she look? What did he do? Was there a sparkle in his eye? Were her smile and wink exciting? Write down every detail. Choose one memory from the list and rewrite it on a new sheet of paper (or use your word processor.)

Second, take that second sheet of paper with the one memory. Ask yourself what that moment meant to you. Write down your thoughts and feelings. Fast forward to today. What do those thoughts and feelings mean to you now? Get your pen out and record what you think now. Compare the two lists and circle the most moving phrases and words.

Third, write out and arrange the most moving phrases and words into several lines that make up your wedding anniversary poetry. Be natural and be yourself. If you can work in rhyming, go ahead. Keep working on the words until they tell your spouse a short love story about the memory that meant so much to you. In a sense, you are giving away a piece of your heart which is worth more than any wedding anniversary gift you can buy. Take that poem and print or write it on a sheet of fine stationery or in an anniversary card.

Wedding anniversary poems are a perfect gift you can share with your spouse. The cost is your time and willingness to share your heart. The effect on your spouse is priceless. All you need now are examples and inspiration to write.

Wedding Poems

Many couples like the idea of incorporating poems into their marriage ceremony, but may be unsure how to go about it. For some, the idea of writing their own love poem is a great romantic notion, but comes with just a bit of writer's block. For others, finding the ideal poem (already written) is greatly desired but feels like an overwhelming task. For these couples, the good news is that others have already done much of the hard work.

Multitudes of collections have been compiled for the sole purpose of weddings. The trouble is of course, finding time to go to the local library and read them all. This is where a bit of solid research comes in handy; some websites provide brief descriptions or group poems by category. Many also provide the complete poems with copyright information. Because a wedding is not a public service and couples are not charging guests for attending, a simple acknowledgement of the author and creation date in the program will suffice. There are also a number of books on the subject. These can be useful in that many combine poetry options along with vows or other related ceremonial options that can compliment the reading.

For those who are interested in composing their own poem, but do not feel up to the task, there is help here as well! For poets-in-the-making, choices range from enrolling in a poetry course (such as online or through a community education program), to using one of the many tools to create customized wedding vows and poems, to simply winging it. If there is time and inclination, a short course on poetry writing can be very informative, provide feedback from participants and the instructor, and help reduce nerves. However, this may be a bit much for some, which is why websites, books, wedding kits are available that walk the couple through the process of writing their own poems or vows. These can be useful in that the couple can work together in developing a theme or direction for the poems, which makes the writing process much easier.

Winging it is also an option, while considering a few thoughts. Not everyone can write elaborate poetry incorporating perfect rhyme and rhythm--which is why free verse was invented. Using free verse or other, shorter forms of poetry may be the perfect options for those who want to express their feelings in original words but cannot face the thought of composing a sonnet. Consider reading a book or two on poetry writing to get a feel for the variety of poetry styles.

Lastly, whether you prefer an existing poem or taking pen to paper, keeping the purpose of the poem in mind may help selection and writing. The poem is incorporated to add a unique expression of love to the wedding ceremony and represent the couple. No poem is perfect for every wedding, but there is one out there that is perfect for you.

Copyright © 2005 awalker@weddingshome.com All rights reserved.

Wedding Thank You Sayings - Where to Find When You're Lost For Words

It is true that not all of us are gifted with the art of prose when it comes to creating wedding thank you sayings. Some people are just born with the ability to write unique sayings, while others, even while their heart is filled with gratitude and appreciation, struggle on how to write and say the simplest of thank yous. With all the modern resources we have today like books, magazines, the internet, and more, this does not, in the slightest way, have to be a problem.

The first open and free source of good thank you sayings, is the internet. There are myriads of websites with hundreds and thousands of different sayings, verses, poems, odes, sonnets, that can be borrowed from, when needed. The choice is endless - you can take whatever you need, usually free for whatever purpose, including wedding thank you writings and sayings.

Other sources of wedding thank you sayings are wedding books, periodicals, and the many brochures that are given out by wedding planners as a bonus. As you prepare for your wedding, you'll more than likely come across materials from wedding planners that are meant to guide you to the wedding of your dream. Within these sources, the planners strive to include everything into a one-stop package that they hope will cater to your every need, and as a result, the material given out from a good wedding event planner, should include the wording that is used in wedding thank you cards and notes.

The best way to approach this task, is to draw from the different sources mentioned above, put them in a note pad or journal, and from that point, choose those sayings that fit your true sentiments and express your gratitude for the deeds and gifts that were given. As a result, your wedding thank you sayings will be very effective and have deep meaning. The selection of the sayings should be based on age, character, season, theme of the wedding, etc. to avoid overlooking worthwhile sentiments.

Wedding planners, with their event-planning expertise might, after all is said and done, be your most valuable source for acquiring heartfelt meaning that would go into gathering and composing your wedding thank you sayings. So keep that in mind, when and if you choose a wedding planner expert.

What Style of Wedding Vow is Right for You?

Thinking about writing your own wedding vows? If so, you're not alone. Millions of couples are bypassing traditional ceremonies in favor of something that's more personal - and that's great! But problems arise when couples aren't clear with each other about the style of vows they want. What mood do you want to convey? Light-hearted and cute? Short and sweet? Witty? Sentimental? There are almost as many styles of vows as there are vows themselves. Here's a quick guide to a few of the more popular styles to help you choose the one that best suits you and your spouse-to-be.

Traditional

Yes, you can still be "traditional" even if you aren't sticking to the prepared wedding vow script. If you are aiming to be very traditional, all you need to do to prepare is to look up a traditional wedding vow, such as those that begin with phrases such as, "In the name of God," or "From this moment, I (name) promise to take you (name), to be my wife/husband..." and so on and so forth. Once you find a traditional vow you like, rewrite it to fit your own personal feelings towards your partner.

Sentimental

If you wish to write a romantic wedding vow, and you are not endowed with the gift of poetry, you can look into reading some famous love poetry - for example, sonnets by Shakespeare -- and see if you can use one of their ideas as a way to express your feelings about your partner. You may even wish to quote the poet directly, by referring to lines in their poem. You can also think about the love songs that you will be using during your special day, and see if the lyrics of these songs can help you to express the way you feel.

Lighthearted and cute

If being lighthearted and cute sounds fitting, you can go about implementing this style in your wedding vows by first thinking of all the fond memories you shared with your partner that really made you smile and brought you closer together. Write down each one of these memories and choose the one that you believe to be the most suited and tasteful for your wedding. This style is an excellent way of expressing how much you loved your partner before, and how much more you love them now.

Witty

If you have a sharp sense of wit, it could be one of the many characteristics that your partner loves about you so much. Use your sense of wit to your advantage by using tasteful humor to spice up a wedding vow by making it romantically playful. However, as a strong word of caution, if you've noticed no one seems to laugh at your jokes, or you can never seem to get the punch-line of a joke, you may want to fess up to your lack of wit and choose another style for your wedding vows. You may also want to take into account that your sense of wit may be something your partner tolerates with good humor, while others may not be so kind.

Simple

Sometimes having a simple style is the best way to go. A simple wedding vow is composed of a few words that come straight from your heart. You don't need to serenade your partner with a self-composed sonnet. A simple "I love you" and "I'm glad to be sharing my life with you," along with a few extra heart-felt words can be perfect.

Short and Sweet

Short and sweet vows are very much like the simple wedding vow, except that a short and sweet vow is limited in words, and the words used are often much more concise and straight to the point. Poetry may help you to get an idea of how to express your vows in this manner. However, be mindful of vows that are too short and sweet. You may also discover that although your vow is short, it might be lacking in the sweet department. The last thing you want to do is prepare a short vow that sounds emotionless. Once you have completed these seven steps, you will be ready to start writing your vows. Remember, you don't have to be Shakespeare to write a vow that will touch the heart of your partner. A wedding vow comes from the heart. Regardless of how long you decide to make it, it is a personal expression and promise that accentuates the love you have for your spouse-to-be.