Choose Your Words….

It’s easy to get caught up in flowers and chiffon and red Kitchenaide mixers (my registry dream) when you’re planning for your wedding. There’s no shame in it: it’s fun! But don’t lose sight of the promise all the hoopla that is a wedding surrounds.

One important part of the wedding ceremony that can allow you to truly express your unique feelings for each other is your personal vows. Be sure to check with your officiate, however, because many churches will not allow you to deviate from a certain wording (this can be fine – I’m a big fan of the classic “have and to hold”).

Wedding Vows

My friends Liz and Britt just got married this past weekend in a beautiful Kentucky ceremony. I asked if they could transcribe their vows so I could share the special way they worded this powerful promise:

Him: Liz, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to go all out in my love for you, to give you entrance to my whole life, to love you with a singular love with eyes only for you, to care for your needs and surrender the ones I was never meant to meet, to honor and protect you just as Christ defends His bride, I will lay my life down for you and trust God to be our provider….

I will love you in sickness and in health, as your dad has loved your mom. I will love you In times when the sun shines brightest and when nights are darkest, as my dad has loved my mom. You are a gift to my life and I promise to lead our family to the feet of Jesus and into everything God has for us. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.

Her: Britt, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to go all out in my love for you, to withhold nothing from you, to give myself only to you, to care for your needs and surrender the ones I was never meant to meet, to respect and encourage the man God created you to be, and with every breath I will cheer you on.

I will see love through in sickness and in health as it has been modeled before me. I will love you in times when the sun shines brightest and when nights are darkest. I promise to follow your lead to the feet of Jesus, trusting God every step of the way. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.