Wedding vows

Marriage Vow: Don't Let Falwell And Company Amend The Constitution

2006-08-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

Religious Right organizations apparently don't think much of the U.S. Constitution.

They keep proposing amendments to that venerable document. Over the years, Religious Right groups have advocated amendments allowing state-sponsored prayer in public schools, banning abortion and permitting government bodies to display sectarian symbols.

In fact, it seems that every time a court issues a ruling the Religious Right doesn't like, it begins agitating, and soon its congressional allies have put forth another constitutional amendment.

The latest amendment to come down the pike would ban same-sex marriage. This became the Religious Right's number one cause after the Massachusetts Supreme judicial Court ruled last November that the state's ban on same-sex marriages violates the Massachusetts Constitution.

People can and do disagree about the subject of same-sex marriage. But there should be no disagreement about amending the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. It's a bad idea that should never see the light of day.

Constitutional amendments should always be subjected to a high degree of scrutiny. The Constitution is our founding document; the Bill of Rights is our guarantee of freedom. We should not alter these documents on a whim.

The Federal Marriage Amendment is an especially bad idea because it would reduce our freedoms, not expand them, and allow the government to pick and choose among competing religious doctrines. Some religious groups recognize same-sex marriage, and some do not. Why should the perspective of certain religious groups be elevated over others and enshrined in the Constitution?

At the end of the day, the drive for the marriage amendment represents nothing less than an effort by large and powerful religious movements to make their traditions' views on marriage the law for all to follow.

Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the nation's largest Protestant group, have joined forces with other conservative denominations and the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church to demand the amendment. James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and their Religious Right cohorts back the SBC and the bishops.

Continue in next time %)

Say Your Own Vows - Personalized Wedding Vows

2006-07-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

Say Your Own Vows - Personalized Wedding Vows

The following paragraphs summarize the work of weddings experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of weddings. Heed their advice to avoid any weddings surprises.

Say Your Own Vows - Personalized Wedding Vows

"Your wedding is your own. And in today's society, people have been constantly scouring every book for any way to make their wedding as personal and as unique as possible. One way to do this is to whip up your own wedding vows. "

"Traditionally, couples to be wed do not have much of a say in what goes into many of the words spoken during the wedding ceremony. Today, it is increasingly getting easier to personalize and influence what is said during the ceremony - within reasonable bounds, though."

"If you desire to make your wedding vows unique and personal, you are not alone. Many other couples incorporate feelings, and intimate messages into their wedding vows. It has an added effect of making your wedding more touching, dramatic, and memorable. "

Talk with the Officiant Ahead of Time
"If you would like to personalize your wedding vows, first notify your Officiant to find out the legalities, guidelines and rules in drafting your own wedding vows. He or she will typically give pointers and examples to help you draw up your own vows. Furthermore, the Officiant will inform you of the parts of the vow that are expected to be said. "

"If you find yourself confused by what you've read to this point, don't despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish. "

The Topic
"It may include promises, such as "I will swear upon my life to do" or it may be heartfelt messages for each other, or even hopes for each other plans for the future and such. You may also opt to create a mixture of each to spice up your wedding vows. Although norms vary from culture to culture, as a general rule, the wedding vow should not take too long to recite. Keep it concise yet meaningful. Remember, you will have to recite this, and long recitations tend to make the memory suffer. "

Make it Official
"After creating a draft of the vows you wish to exchange, it would do well to meet up with the Officiant again and show him a draft of your vows. Although in the end, it is ultimately your decision that is followed, do take heed of the Officiant's advice, as it is usually sound and has been honed by experience. "

Practice

"It is a good idea to practice your vows before the wedding. Although there is no rule against reading vows, a thoroughly practiced, heartfelt rendition of the vow will definitely make a lasting impact on your partner and the people witnessing the ceremony. As mentioned earlier, avoid overly long vows as they tend to be less remembered and are harder to memorize, not to mention quite inconvenient to others. You may do so, however, if you feel the need is justified. "

See ya soon
Prosperous Regards and Godbless
Beth Mello

http://www.wedding-planning-discounts.com/

About the Author

I have been involved with the internet for five years. I have just recently had a baby febuary the 13th and have worked out of my home for four years. I enjoy the internet and the free time it allows me and my family. My life consists of my lord Jesus Christ my wonderfull family and oru animals which includes our horses and two dogs.

The Meaning Of Diamond Promise Rings

2006-06-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

Diamond promise rings have increased in popularity in recent years. Everyone from celebrity couples to young couples in middle America seems to have them. Promise rings come in a variety of styles and center stones. They can be given for a variety of reasons, but are mostly used by couples intending to marry sometime in the future.

The Meaning of Diamond Promise Rings

Promise rings are usually given as a symbol of love and commitment. They are often given with the intent of becoming engaged at some point in the future. When the intent is commitment and ultimately, marriage, the ring is worn on the left hand. After the engagement, the ring is often switched to the right hand.

This allows the couple to test their commitment to each other prior to making the larger commitment of becoming engaged and getting married. Couples can show their commitment to each other without rushing into an early marriage, which too often ends in divorce. With the high divorce rates, taking it slow is a good idea.

Settings and stones range from simple to extravagant. In general, these are smaller and less expensive than engagement rings. The most common stone used is a diamond in a silver or gold setting, but just about any gemstone can be used. Some use another stone in the center with small diamonds as accents. Some couples use the birthstones of the couple for a more personal statement.

While they are most often given to the woman in the relationship, they are available in your local jewelry store for men as well. This is not a common tradition, but some modern, younger couples are doing this. These rings often carry the birthstones of the couple and are often engraved with initials or a line from a favourite song.

Early Diamond Promise Rings

The Scribbler ring was seen several hundred years ago in Europe. The diamonds in the ring were used to etch messages of love on windows. The diamonds were generally small in terms of carat, but were set in a way that made them sharp and easy to use to scribble on the glass.

French and English Poesy rings date back to Shakespearean times. These were inscribed with either a line from poetry, music or other messages of love. This tradition continues in promise and wedding jewelry, which are sometimes inscribed with initials, the wedding date or other messages.

Other Reasons for Diamond Promise Rings

By far, these rings are most often given as a promise of love and commitment between a man and a woman. However, promise rings can be given for other reasons. One less common reason is in exchange for a promise to remain drug and alcohol free during the teenage years. These pledges are often sought during the spring Prom season.

In some families, they are given from parent to child in exchange for a vow of chastity. This is often seen in Christian families. The child is promising to remain chaste and to not engage in sexual activity prior to marriage. A ring is given by the parent to symbolize this promise.

About the Author

Clinton Maxwell releases for the internet site http://www.engagement-rings-tips.com. The publisher is also publishing about diamond promise rings .

Tips for Writing your Own Wedding Vows

2006-06-05T18:27:00.000-07:00

These days, more and more couples are personalizing their wedding ceremonies by expressing their vows with their own word. It can be easy to speak from you heart and express your feelings, but is important to follow some guidelines when writing your own vows.

First you have to decide if you will each write your own separate vows or if you would each recite a vow that you write together. You can each make your personalized promises to each other, and then exchange more traditional, formal vows.

You must keep in mind that a vow is an agreement. It should have three features: a declaration of love; promises of your marriage; and personal touches. For example: "John, my love, I fill my heart with you, to love you until the end of my days; I pledge to cherish both our similarities and differences; Before I met you, I thought men like you did not exist."

You must agree on the tone you want to set before you both begin writing. Your words do not have to be similar but the styles should be. The vows you choose should depend on what you want to emphasize and what is most important to both of you. It can be fidelity, the importance of family, or maintaining your individuality. You can talk about how and where you first met, how you felt when you first kissed and tie this in to what you want to pledge to your partner.

If you are having a religious ceremony, the officiant can help you write vows that pertain to your faith. Non-religions officiants can also help you direct you to resources you can use or examples from recent clients.

Although you should practice beforehand, do not over rehearse. You want to sound natural, you can use note cards if needed. Someone in your wedding party can hand you the card and take it back when you are done. It is ok to get emotional, it's your wedding, and it's your first opportunity to express your love for the one you are marrying.

About the Author

Visit http://www.FlawlessWedding.com for more articles on wedding planning, bridal showers, wedding dresses and more. FlawlessWedding.com is run by Danielle Black who has over 10 years of experience working in the bridal registry and wedding industry.

Wedding tips and advice

2006-05-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

Wedding day tips and advice

You've waited for it, you've imagined it, you've planned it: your wedding day! The day when everything should be perfect and nothing should go wrong... but you fear for the worst and you are so worried not to miss something that you may actually forget to enjoy the day! Here are some tips that may help you put everything in order.

The most important is to choose the date, to establish a budget and to try to stick to it. Do have an available marriage license for that day!

Book in advance the church and the party site. Take your time to compare prices and offers and don't be shy, try to negotiate.

You and your partner will want to look astonishing on your big day, but remember that the suit, the wedding dress and the shoes should also be comfortable. And make sure you also have the rest of bride's and bridegroom's attire.

Check carefully the guest list and make sure that everybody's got an invitation.

If you have some small children in your family (nieces, nephews, cousins) appoint them as flower girl and ring bearer.

Don't forget to choose the opening dance (it would be better to practice it a bit before - everybody will be watching you). Talk with the band/DJ about what are they planning to play. The music should be as various as possible, to meet almost everyone's requirements. Talk to the photographer to take pictures with all your guests (not only with the family) and to catch unique and funny moments (they will make you smile latter).

The vow moment is quite emotional! Practice your vows in front of a mirror, just to make sure you won't get nervous when the moment comes.

Choose carefully the flowers for the bride's bouquet; they have to match with the colours of the bride's gown and the groom's suit.

For the final check make sure that everybody knows their schedule and appointments (the hair stylist, the photographer, the flower and catering firm, the restaurant, the church, the band, the firm that makes the decorations).

If you want to, you may give some small gifts to the guests (a picture of the lucky couple with a funny massage or a classical "thanks for coming"; a deco object; a piece from the wedding cake).

And most importantly don't forget to smile and be happy!

Vist www.HenWed.com for wedding and hen night articles.

About the Author

Adam writes for www.HenWed.com for wedding and hen night articles.

Wedding Vows

2006-05-05T14:40:00.000-07:00

To quote Miguel de Cervantes, "Marriage, which makes two one, is a life-long struggle to discover which is that one." Thinking on these lines, there needs to be a custom that would boost the relationship between the newlywed couple and helps them to understand the newly formed relationship. The custom of announcing wedding vows is such a custom aimed at strengthening the bond between the couple. Moreover, these vows are mostly made in a church or a religious place.

A wedding vow is affiance or a promise. Both the bride and the groom announce their wedding vows during the wedding ceremony. A wedding may be civil, religious or both. The wedding vows vary according to the situation. Wedding vows are usually formal or rigid in nature in a religious wedding. In civil weddings, individual imagination is allowed and the language can be informal.

Regardless of the kind of wedding, there are some underlying values contained in the wedding vows. Traits like faith, sharing, caring, and permanence are some of the predominant ones in wedding vows. The couple vow to be moral supporters and good friends, not to mention life-partners.

Wedding vows are an inseparable part of the wedding ceremony. To honor this, the tradition of the bride and the groom spelling out wedding vows is sacred because it acts as a reassurance of the special bond between them. Human values are emphasized through this. Generally, whether it be the bride or the groom, some vows are common, like promise to be faithful, equal-minded in successes and failures, foster love forever, etc.

Marriage is a lifelong relationship and hence its foundation needs to be strong so that the couple is able to face the challenges in life. A marriage can be successful only if there is perfect understanding and harmony between the couple. Wedding vows play a major role to attain this end.

About the Author

Weddings provides detailed information on Weddings, Wedding Vows, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Cakes and more. Weddings is affliated with Maui Wedding Planning.

101 Wedding Vows Receives Highest Rating

2006-04-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

101 Wedding Vows just received a full, five star rating from the Review Place (www.ReviewPlace.com) for being the number one e-book for wedding vows for any type of wedding ceremony.

101 Wedding Vows is proud to have received a 5 star rating from Review Place. "101 Wedding Vows is absolutely perfect for anyone who is about to be married no matter what kind of ceremony you are planning, no matter how you want to express your feeling for the one you love, this book cannot be beaten for the ultimate expression of heartfelt sentiments," said Steve Crawley, a spokesman for 101 Wedding Vows.

101 Wedding Vows is written by Les White. Recently married himself, he knows how very important that special day is and how everything needs to be just right. It can be very nerve wracking sitting down trying to pour your heart onto paper. Or even if you just want to write a humorous, fun or light hearted vow, while still trying to portray the right message to your husband/wife to be. Because Les knows that the process can be very time consuming, not to mention rather stressful during the whole wedding planning process he decided to write this book, for everyone who knows how they feel about the person they are going to marry, but at the same time is having trouble expressing it in words. This book is for all those people.

"Our reviewers have thoroughly examined and checked the services offered by 101 Wedding Vows and are fully satisfied with their complete range of services. This amazingly valuable work has been divided into 8 comprehensive sections that cover every type of marriage vow that you could ever need to use. From Gods words, to humor, to truly international vows there is something for everyone in 101 Wedding Vows," said Andy West, of Review Place.

Review Place is a leading provider of editorial and consumer based reviews on thousands of products and services. Review Place rates and reviews everything from weight loss programs to employment services to online dating sites. Review Place's goal is simple: they want to save you time and money by providing quality information on the issues that impact your life.

To find out more about 101 Wedding Vows and other related services, including descriptions, testimonials, and product reviews, please visit Review Place's Wedding Vows & Poetry (www.reviewplace.com/cat-304-Weddings--Vows-Poetry.html) category on the web.

About the Author

Andy West is a freelance writer and a marketing communications specialist for MediaChoice, Inc. MediaChoice is a search engine marketing company which owns and operates http://www.RatingZone.com and http://www.ReviewPlace.com

Location, Location, Location: Perfect Wedding Spots

2006-04-05T18:18:00.000-07:00

Wedding magic often arises from where you're speaking your vows. Outdoor weddings feel different from indoor ones, and small intimate churches are very different from backyards or cathedrals. Each unique wedding site, though, has unique challenges. Choose your site, and then plan well.

If it's popular, book it now. The Wedding Pavilion at Disneyworld is booked five years in advance. Busy venues that do events besides weddings must be booked early as well. Parks and beaches often require permits; contact the park department in your area to find out.

Do they allow it? Not everyone allows a marriage ceremony on their facilities; if you are booking the reception, make sure you can have the wedding there too. Be creative; if they say no, ask about a wedding in their garden or if they can offer a suggestion for a nearby site. And give them the information you have for scheduling, ceremony type, and number of guests at any event you're planning to have at their location.

Ask about restrictions. Smoking, food, alcohol (especially in public parks and beaches), music, photography - any or all of these may be restricted. Historical locations often don't like photos. Aquariums and zoos don't like anything that disturbs the animals. And you may have to use a caterer they've signed a contract with, especially for more public venues like convention centers or public museums.

Get special liability insurance. You should be prepared for anything. Besides, many sites require insurance.

If it's an outdoor wedding, make just-in-case plans. What if it rains? Have an indoor emergency venue waiting as a standby, rather than have your wedding ruined.

Ask what they'll provide and what you must bring. This goes down to tables and chairs. Draw a map of where you want things to be situated: for the wedding, your registry, seats for guests, where the bride enters, decorations, smoking area, child-emergency area, and anything else you can think of. And for the reception, all tables and chairs, tables for gifts and for food, bride and groom's table.

Everyone forgets the bathrooms. Visit the location before booking the wedding and look for access issues for older or handicapped guests, adequate smoking areas, diaper changing areas, bathrooms that are large enough and have mirrors, and ask about power. You may have to supply some of your own amenities, depending on what's available. Ask about heating and A/C, as appropriate for your time of year. Do windows open? Do they have a kitchen? Is there space for a buffet? Get it settled in advance and you won't be stuck with inadequate facilities.

You'll find even more great ideas for making your ceremony the magical occasion it should be in our Wedding Planning Toolkit. Don't be scared of the planning; help us guide you through creating the perfect wedding you always dreamed of.

About the Author

Lesley-Ann Graham runs WeddingTrix.com - a valuable wedding planning resource with articles, tips and advice to help you plan your perfect wedding!

Say Your Own Wedding Vows - Spoken Words You Want To Hear

2006-03-22T18:56:00.000-08:00

How to make your wedding special and unique is not a hard to do. All you have to remember is by doing it all your own way then you have accomplished just that. In today`s society many couples are conducting their wedding plans accordingly to the book and taking ideas from how others have planned their weddings. Do not expect a unique wedding service by copying, originality prevails in your own creative thoughts.

A sure way of bringing a touch of uniqueness to the ceremony is to personalize your wedding vows. You need to allow the vow to say what you really feel.
Tradition had it that at most weddings couples had no say on the matter of what words were spoken at the altar but today that has all changed.

If your desire is to make your wedding vows unique, then you have to incorporate your own personal feelings and emotions into the vows. Without doubt by doing it this way you have given your self a unique wedding service and at the same time gained the attention of all the guests who have now realized that your wedding is different from the traditional ones they may have attended in the past.
To carry out your wishes speak with the officiator ahead of time and let them know of your decision to personalize your wedding vows. Legalities will come into force when writing your own wedding vows. There will be parts that the law states have to be cited.

Solemn words with meaning and heartfelt messages will make all the difference to your wedding vows. Remember the reciting of the vows should not take to long so limit what you have to say. You have a lifetime together to tell your partner of any omitted loving words you would have liked to have said on the day.

After carefully piecing together those special vows you wish to exchange, then it is time to consult the officiator once again so they can go over your written words with you. Advice given by this official should be wisely taken in because of any regrets you may have later down the line.

Rehearse and practice your vows before the wedding. There is no set ruling against reading vows but if you want this part of the wedding to be remembered for a long time to come then you need to get it right.
It can be a nerve wracking experience for some when it comes to exchanging vows so try relaxation techniques when practising. By keeping calm you can eliminate the tense feeling inside which can contribute to blunders being made.
Relax and loosen up and do not worry about forgetting your lines. A good idea is for you to have the wedding vows written down if memory is never at its best at times like this. May the sweet words you speak be cherished by one another?

If you want your marriage to last forever then you have to write the vows for your husband. This way you are guaranteed he will say what it is you want to hear.

About the Author

A site that comes highly reccomended by past present and future brides for wedding essentials is http://www.party-organizing.com Need to relax after all that wedding planning. Need to shape up for the special day http://www.want2yoga.com

How to modify free wedding vows

2006-03-08T21:23:00.000-08:00

I'm glad you found my article. Sit back and relax and I believe you will learn a thing or two.

A practised and well rehearsed wedding vow, specially when it comes from the heart, sends a certain feeling to one and all who hears it. Vows have been a long time tradition in marriage ceremonies. The pledge of a lifetime oath to each other in spite of difficulties and differences pledge that true devotion really exists. Isn't that a warm-hearted thought?

Both the groom and bride exchange wedding vows. Commonly, the vows would include a promise of unselfishness, devotion, and unconditional love. If you are in the dark on what to write in your wedding vows, don't be! You can find one of a kind wedding vow just by a click of your mouse. Surfing the internet for wedding vows proved to be a satisfactory source of ideas and tips that you can readily use on your wedding day. You may require to pay for the service on different sites, but you can scout one for free too.

Free wedding vows do away with the traditional and scripted promise one hears over and over again in everyday marriage ceremonies. The good thing about free wedding vows on the net, separate from the fact that they are free, they give you the independence and flexibility to write what you long for to say from your heart.

Just sitting here and writing this article a quote comes to mind that I would like to share with you - A feeling is an idea with roots. So when writing your wedding vows, write from the heart, let your feelings guide your pen and you can never go wrong. Ok, let's continue on.

You can adapt the free sample vows you find or if you find the writing exceedingly heart-warming, you can go ahead and use it without revisions.

There are different vows you can select from. Like all things, vows can be customized according to the circumstances that you are in. There can be vows especially written for second marriage couples, couples with children, holy variations or wedding anniversaries.

Here is another qoute that just came to mind - At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet. Plato

So using poetry as portion of a vow would be nice and it is a common practice as well. Those of Gibran, Keats and Browning are sought-after choices.

You can browse on some internet sites that can even offer a free worksheet layout and questionnaires that you need to fill out for you to easily modify your selected wedding vow. These will serve as your guideline so that you can re-evaluate what you want to say.

Before that big day, preparing your wedding vows is extremely crucial. Writing your vows together is a very extraordinary activity that is highly recommended.

When writing a wedding vow together, set a specified time and place
where the two of you can have some privacy. You can jot down your promises on a separate sheet of paper and agree to compare what you've written after an hour or so.

Foremost, write a letter professing your love for your companion. Do not hesitate to elaborate what you are feeling. Be creative and be sure to take note of your favorite and important times together, either good or bad.

Some suggestions are the first time that you met, the moment when you ultimately said "yes" or when a worrisome situation happened but still your love for each other prevailed.

Snatch sweet lines from songs, books or scriptures that paraphrase your love for your partner. After writing down your letter, get back together and review each other's writings. Reading the letters can be truly heart-warming. In fact, prepare to share a laugh or even occasional crying. Share your thoughts on the finest part of the letter
and from there begin your outline for your vows.

The secret of a good wedding vow is making it a personal pledge to your other half and make sure that the message you convey are made clear and simple. Nothing beats anything that genuinely comes from the heart.

In closing, here is one final qoute I would like to share with you - Coming together is a beginning; Keeping together is progress; Working together is success. Henry Ford

I hope you have gotten some good ideas from this article and that you are able to use them.

About the Author

If you are looking for more information on wedding planning make sure you visit http://www.secrets-to-wedding-planning.info and remember to sign up for the free 5 day Ecourse "How to Save Thousands On Your Wedding"

Poetry for Weddings

2006-02-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

There are several ways that wedding poetry can be used. Wedding poetry can enhance more than one area of your special day.

You may want to use wedding poetry as part of your wedding announcements, invitations and thank-you notes. When you use wedding poetry in these ways you have added very meaningful words and thoughts.

Another way to use wedding poetry is to incorporate it into the wedding ceremony or vows. Special wedding poetry can make the ceremony unique.

If you are giving gifts to the wedding party or wedding guests you may want to consider using wedding poetry. Wedding poetry makes these gifts even more memorable.

The bride and groom may want to use wedding poetry to include in their cards to each other. Wedding poetry is also nice when used in notes to parents or other special family members.

You might wonder where to find wedding poetry. There are several places to find wedding poetry.

If you are creative you may want to write the wedding poetry yourself. A friend or family member may have a talent for writing wedding poetry. You can even take classes in poetry writing and hone your skills.

A great place to look for wedding poetry is online. You will find many ideas for wedding poetry on wedding sites.

Look for wedding poetry in books at your local bookstore or library. You may find just the perfect wedding poetry when you do a little research.

Wedding consultants may have suggestions of places to find wedding poetry. You can also look through wedding magazines to find examples of wedding poetry.

If you know what message you want to convey but are not able to write the wedding poetry yourself there is another possibility. You may be able to hire a wedding poetry writer. There are talented writers who will write wedding poetry for a fee.

For those who want to use wedding poetry as a way to make their wedding even more beautiful, there are many ways to accomplish this goal.

About the Author

Craig Thornburrow is an Author and Business Owner - Get More Wedding Information at http://www.theworldsbestwedding.com

Choosing Your Wedding Vows

2006-01-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

Choosing Your Wedding Vows by George Meszaros

Just like anything else in your wedding, your vows can reflect on who you are. You may choose a traditional, a religious, a customized, an interfaith, a multilingual, the possibilities are endless. A "wedding vow" is a set of promises you and your groom make to each other during the wedding ceremony. In Western culture, the wedding vows customarily included the notions of unselfishness such as -love-, faithfulness -forsaking others-, unconditionality -in sickness and in health-, and permanence -until death do us part.

During your vows at the very least you must have an officiant and witnesses present. Traditionally, the groom pronounces his vows first, followed by the bride. The order can be changed; there is no law that sets the order in which the vows said. It is possible for the bride and groom to say the vows in unison to each other. Usually the couple will face each other and join hands for their vows.

Almost all wedding officiants allow you to customize your vows, and it should be discussed prior to the ceremony. If you are unsure about the wordage of your vows, ask your friends, family, and the officiant for some examples they've used in the past.

Sample Vows:

I, (your name), take you, (your name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my faithful friend, and partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

I, (your name), take you, (your name), to be my friend, my lover, the (mother/father) of my children and my (husband/wife). I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity.

Remember that you and your groom can say different vows.

About the Author

Author: George Meszaros http://www.sweet-reflections.com

Personalize Your Wedding Vows

2006-01-06T18:03:00.000-08:00

Personalize Your Wedding Vows by George Meszaros

You can personalize your wedding ceremony with your own wedding vows. The freedom of creating your own vows comes at a price; you have to work at it. Although writing your own personalized wedding vows can be a difficult and rewarding, there are many things you can do to make the process easier.

First of all, you should make sure that you and your groom are in agreement on having personalized vows. Then, you have to discuss it with your wedding officiant. Most officiants should have no objections to the idea. The wording should be in line with the style of the ceremony, and it is going to be different for a traditional ceremony than a modern ceremony. If you elected to have a religious ceremony, you may be required to include certain phrases. You and your groom may write the same vows or work on different vows on your own.

Remember from your term paper writing days? Brainstorming may be the best approach to start? Write down the words and thoughts you must have in your vows. If you encounter writer's block, you may read several traditional vows to look for ideas. You can start by swapping out some of the words with words you feel more comfortable with. Write down what kind of commitment marriage means to you. Try to put your thoughts into words. Don't worry about grammar and spelling at this point. The goal is to try to be creative. Some of the questions you could ask yourself in the process are: What are my expectations of my partner? What are the qualities that are important to me? What it means to be committed to one another? What does marriage mean to me?

After you have a first draft, you should consult your wedding officiant. Your friends and your family may be able to help you fine tune it too. Then, be prepared to rewrite. Some of the best writers are famous for writing and rewriting their best work dozens of times. Rewriting is not a sign of failure; it is a sign of perfection.

Remember that your wedding ceremony is also a performance, so you must practice your vows with your groom. Once you hear it, you may have a different opinion on the words you have used. Practicing provides you with an opportunity to make final adjustments.

Once you've worked out a final version, practice reading it on your own, and try to memorize it.

About the Author

George Meszaros http://www.sweet-reflections.com