Personal Vows Vs Traditional Vows
Photo by Morgan Taylor Artistry
There was a time when wedding ceremonies seemed fairly predictable. Today's weddings however, are changing things up a bit from a more traditional setting to what best fits the couple and their personalities. In today’s modern age we are now seeing a lot of couples not only switching up their receptions with unique décor, playing around with types of food and how it is served, creative layouts and so much more, we are also seeing a change in the ceremony elements as well.
In this blog post I want to go over the differences between more traditional vow vs writing your own vows, the more modern way we have been witnessing ceremonies lately. This can be a big and impactful decision for a lot of couples so it can also be difficult sometimes to decide what is best for your wedding. For some couples, writing your own vows can be exciting and fun and for others it can feel very overwhelming and intimidating. I will go over the pros and cons of each to help ease your decision-making process so you can decide what option will be best for you and your partner.
Photo by Brian James Photo Studio
Traditional Vows
Traditional Vows tend to look something like this:
“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my spouse, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death does us part.”
This is one of the most commonly used traditional vows. Most of the time these vows have their own twist on them, depending on who may be officiating your ceremony. If you want to see some unique outlines of traditional vows I recommend looking on Pinterest, there are a ton of options with templates and guidelines for more traditional vows.
Pro
Traditional vows have a more classic feel and make it easier on you to just listen to the prompts your Officiant/Celebrant says and then repeat what they say. It can be a very emotional moment so not having to read your feelings and thoughts out loud in front of everyone might be helpful in this case, especially if you tend to be a bit of a crier, like me.
Con
Some traditional vows can tend to be very long, depending on your Officiant/Celebrant and the traditions you choose to share during your ceremony. If that is what you want then go for it, but there is a way to do a traditional take and keep your ceremony to 30 mins. Just make sure you plan that out with your Officiant/Celebrant.
Photo by Carly Landolt Photography
Personal Vows
Personal Vows are becoming more popular over the years and personally, I think they are so sweet because they come from your heart. It’s a way for you as a couple to express your feelings, thoughts and love for one another. This is a very special moment in your lives and sharing your own unique words with each other can really add to the love and joy in the room. Plus, it gives your guests a little insider look into your story and the love between you two.
Pro
It’s unique and special to the two of you. No one else has your love story or your journey. Only the two of you have shared your unique journey and love and sharing that with your friends and family can make for a very sweet, intimate and love focused ceremony.
Con
You have to get vulnerable and it can get very emotional. Reading your feelings and thoughts out load and in front of other people can be difficult for some couples. This can make you feel like you are on the spot which can be very uncomfortable for a lot of people. It’s also super emotional to read your personal feelings and thoughts out load. Some people have difficulty reading their own vows at the altar because they are afraid of getting too emotional on the spot and not being able to finish their vows. If that might be something you are worried about, then traditional vows at the ceremony might be the way to go. You can always do a private vow reading during your First Look or while you are getting ready the morning of the wedding to incorporate a little of both.
Photo by Brian James Photo Studio
When it comes to planning your ceremony, the easiest way to decide between the two styles is to have a conversation together about what each one might look like for your wedding and decide what makes you both happy and comfortable.
Whether you choose traditional or personal vows, your day will be beautiful either way, because you will be marrying your best friend and that is what your friends and family are all there to help you celebrate.
Happy Planning,
Naticia
