How-To-Write Your Wedding Vows
Writing your own wedding vows can be kind of scary! You want to create something special for your spouse that says exactly how you feel, but you also want to impress the hundreds of family and friends watching you. According to Wedding Meltdown, it’s one of those things that you really want to be perfect.
#1 – Make a Plan With Your FiancéDon’t go it alone! You need to make a couple decisions with your fiancé to make sure you are both on the same track. Come to agreement on the tone, and length of the vows to make sure they sort of match when you get up there.
#2 – Clear Your Head and Your Schedule
If you want to write inspiring vows that will wow your future spouse, you have to get set up. That means turn off the TV, your cell phone, radio, etc., and find a quiet place to think.
#3 – Decide What the Feel of Your Wedding Is
If your wedding is a very formal religious ceremony, you probably shouldn’t give the same vows you might at an intimate beach setting. That’s why the first step is to identify what type of wedding you are having. Here are a couple categories your wedding ceremony might fall into – Traditional, Modern, Theme Specific, Small and Intimate, Religious, Civil Union, or Vow Renewal.
#4 – Don’t Re-Invent The Wheel
Just because you are writing your own wedding vows doesn’t mean you can’t get inspiration from those you have gone before. There are some great examples of wedding vows online. Take ten minutes and find the perfect – or almost perfect – wedding vow that you can adapt to your own wedding.
#5 – Decide If There Are Any Special References
Do you have a special story or an inside joke? A great way to take a generic vow and make it something completely special is to reference something special and unique to the two of you! Maybe it is the proposal, the first date, a special trip, or even a (hopefully tasteful) joke. It could even be the first kiss, or the moment you knew you were meant to be together. Try to find an appropriate way to incorporate it into the vows. It doesn’t matter if no one else gets it as long as it means something to both of you! Just be yourselves. If it means being a little crazy or funny, that’s good, because this day is all about you. (Source: Wedding Meltdown)
Invitations
Know the right thing to say on your invites
The wedding invitation often creates the first impression guests receive of the nuptials to come - no wonder it is so important to get it right.
Engaged couples grapple with so many variables: they may have multiple sets of parents due to remarriages, they may be tempted by alluring new conveniences such as email invitations.
The invitation should not be a matter of who is paying. If you have more than one set of parents, let the invitation read, 'the family of Miss Jen Smith...' It is a nice way to keep everyone involved and not excluded anyone.
Another popular concern is when to send invitations. Allow 6-8 weeks for the printing. Mail the invitations 6 weeks before the date.
For destination weddings, send a save-the-date card several months in advance and follow up with an invitation.
