In the United States over two million wedding ceremonies are held every single year. This said, no two shall be exactly alike. Think about it – the dress, the flowers, the colors, the cake, the size of the guest list, all of these aspects will differ… the list goes on. But one fact remains. Each and every wedding is guaranteed to include one element: the bride and groom. In this ritual that unites husband and wife together as a legal couple, the exchange of vows really is the very heart and soul of the entire ceremony.
The wedding vows are verbal articulations of the bride and groom’s feelings for one another, ‘for better or for worse.” Physically making the vow can be as simple as “Will you marry me?” & “I will”. Traditional rituals can be traced back so far that the actual meaning becomes marred, even within research. An example of a traditional Pagan wedding ritual vow is as follows:
As Long as Love Shall Last
“Do you now commit to each other to love, honour, respect each other, to communicate with each other, to look to your own emotional health so that you can relate in a healthy way, and provide a healthy home for children if you choose to have them; to be a support and comfort for your partner in times of sickness and health, as long as love shall last?”
Mary A. Axford – Pagan Wedding Ritual
Couples often go into great detail when making their wedding vows before the actual ceremony. This can take many forms, and depends on the individual couple. Sometimes the couple use traditional vows that have been written by another person. And sometimes the happy couple decides to write their own personal vows for one another.
It’s a wonderfully romantic idea for you to write your own wedding vows. In fact, this is becoming an increasing popular phenomenon. However, it is not as easy as it may seem. Even the most expressive and creative person can find it hard to express exactly what they are trying to communicate to their lover. Remember, these words will not only mean more to your lover than any before, but they will also be articulated in the most public of scenarios. The pressure is on! But never fear, as help is at hand.
Rev. Georgeann Butler, and her husband Rich, create customized ceremonies for weddings, vow renewals, baby blessings, commitment ceremonies and other celebrations. They love working with couples to make their wedding dreams come true. Rich is also a Minister. They love working with couples to make sure their ceremony reflects their love, commitment and personalities. This makes your wedding ceremony heartfelt, unique and fun.
If you find that you are struggling to get the wording absolutely perfect there are many specialists readily available to guide you. It is a good idea to make sure your notary or clergy understand your wishes before committing yourself to them – and when you do, the chances are that you will be guaranteed word perfect result that will express all of your hearts desire, and more.
Happy writing!
~ by Leslie Harris-Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions in Sarasota, FL with excerpt from allweddingideas.com.