Photo by: Joseph O’Sullivan Photography (www.josephosullivan.com)

A wedding is what you say.
I love a good wedding with great vows.
No offence to the fabulous make up artists and hair stylists, dress makers, cake creators, florists and and venue operators, but you can’t get married without having a celebrant hear your vows.
What do you have to say in your vows?
Every couple needs, by law , to state their full name and that they take each other to be; husband/wife/partner/husband/husband/wife/wife..in life, in front of 2 witnesses. And that’s it. That’s all you need to make a wedding!
But of course, most people choose to make a wedding more than just that and to be a beautiful occasion. So unless you are having a Registry wedding where the vows are more formal and very brief with limited choice, I encourage you to write your own vows, and to put them into your own words. I can help you with all sorts of ideas, and make specific suggestions if you get stuck.
I ask you to imagine that you are repeating your vows in 30 or 50 years time.Would you still want to be promising to let them watch their programme on TV, or put the toilet seat down?
Or do you want to promise to the person you cherish the most that you are there to encourage and love them through the rich and fun moments and those moments with more challenge?
Do you want to promise to always be honest and loyal and their constant companion, while allowing them to have their individuality?
Do you want to be promising that you will show your love in the little ways that keep the relationship alive?
Do you want to use words like kind, and caring and fun and adventure?
Making your vows personal. Think:
How does your partner make you feel?
What promises do you want to make?
What do you want to look forward to together?
Do you want to use a line of a poem or a special song?
What do you love about your partner?
Write from your heart.
Most vows I hear are fabulous. They honour the other person’s strengths. They are grateful and hopeful.
You may choose to read your vows off cards, or memorise them, or repeat them after me. It is not how they are said, it is what you say. I love a great wedding with great vows.