Where you Go, I will Go...
What did you think when you first saw him/her? Start from the beginning -- you didn't want to go out and now you're grateful your friends dragged you out? How to use: When we met at Cafe Vino that first time, I knew you were exactly the man I had known all these 8 years and so much more. The flow of conversation fell off our fingers from that moment and I can honestly say we haven't stopped 'talking' since.
When did you realize you were in love? The more specific you are able to be, the more touching the story. Was it when he helped you bring your sick puppy to the vet? How to use: I knew I was in love when you hiked Hanging Lake for me on our trip to Glenwood Springs. You were exhausted and so sweaty, but you pushed on and we made the top. I got to show you one of my very favorite mountain hideaways. It was fun laughing with you when another hiker pantomimed taking a photo for us -- and so we let him. After hiking down, we went to the Hot Springs Pool and couldn't stop talking about our future.
What do you have now that you didn't have before you met? Focus on the heart and head, not material possessions. Has she taught you to appreciate beauty differently? Has he helped you learn to savor creating a home-cooked meal? How to use: Before I met you, I had only traveled to New York by myself one time to visit my college roommate, Christi. When we got together, you simply took it for granted that where you would go I would go, of course. And so I have been all over the US since this time last year. We started in Seattle, then went to Glenwood Springs, Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, and Rhode Island.
How has your worldview changed? Life has likely gotten better since the two of you joined forces, so tell everyone about it. How to use: Because of you, I see the world -- well, with a little bit more flexibility and a little more tolerance. I am learning to do as you do and fly by the seat of my pants even if it means I need to take a brief pause to think about the proposed idea. I trust you.
What do you miss most when you're apart? This will probably be something mundane but powerful -- what about his smile first thing in the morning, or the way she puts out your lucky mug for your morning coffee? How to use: You are such a part of me that when you're gone, I miss everything about you. I miss the easy conversation that does not require either of us to speak a word at all, aloud, day or night. I miss the connection with someone who can read my face so well and logically present me a picture on any topic that makes me go 'OH! I get it!"
Where do you see yourselves in 10 years? 20 years? 40 years? Go deeper than Happily married in a big house. What are your long-term hopes, dreams, and goals? How to use: I look forward to traveling the world with you, finding a home church, settling in a place we love, standing by your side as you excel in your chosen profession, figuring out what I love doing and finding work, laughing and learning every day as we grow old and raise a family together.
Is there a line from a movie, song, or poem that says it all? It's okay to borrow, as long as it's not too much of a cliche (we're sorry, but You complete me is suffering from overuse). Instead modify something familiar to personalize. How to use: Subtly. I set out on a narrow way many years ago hoping I would find true love along the broken road. I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you.
Do parts of the traditional vows resonate with you? Maybe you're not so sure about the obey part, but can you really go wrong with love, cherish, and...? How to use: Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And may God understand both of us in words and in sign language.
Can you think of a funny or touching experience that put your partner in a new light? The way he played with your little cousin or helped your grandmother up the stairs showed you that under his macho exterior is a wittle, bitty bunny wabbit and you love him for it. How to use: When you ____________, I saw you for the _____________ person you are. And that made me want to ____________.
Is there a harrowing experience that strengthened your bond? This one rides tandem with #9. How to use: See #9.
What goals and values do you both have? Stating your common bond may just expose your inner Wordsworth. These ties -- whether your shared faith or your mutual love of wine -- will also help demonstrate why you're a perfect pair. How to use: We share a deep love of dogs and coffee, so together we can be good doggie parents to JJ, and people in coffee shops all across the United States recognize us on sight.
What about him/her inspires you? What is it about your fiance that you'd like to improve in yourself? What do you most respect about your partner? How to use: Your intellect and generosity has shown me how to be generous with the things I have been blessed with, and how to engage people on a level I never thought I was capable of.
What promise can you make to codify your devotion? Here's an opportunity to personalize your vows -- many couples pledge their endless love, but how many promise to take the dog out in the morning, even in the snow? How to use: I promise to always feed you, if it means stopping at a gas station in the middle of nowhere for a Payday bar to tide you over til dinner, or cooking you a meatloaf, I know you are always more attentive when you've been properly fed.
How will you change together? You know what your goals are -- think about the steps the two of you will need to take together to reach them. How to use: I look forward to learning with you, learning to be flexible, seeing new places, and trying new foods even if I don't like them very often as we take our travels on the road of life.
What metaphor (or simile) would capture your love? Think of something that describes or defines your love: Is it strong like a castle? Peaceful like a mountain stream? How to use: Our love is like a ___________ because it ___________. (They say it is better to travel than to arrive. It's not been my experience, at least. The journey of love has been rather a lacerating, if well-worth-it, journey."(D.H. Lawrence, Fantasia of the Unconscious, 1922)
Why are you entering the bond of marriage? Think about why marrying your fiance is so special. You may be surprised how the answer leads you to the perfect words. How to use: To me, marriage is about being a heart in two bodies. It's about sharing things that make you inseparable. It's about being stronger together, happier together, and better together than apart. With you, it's all these things and more -- it's confidence, it's security, it is knowing that you will be more gentle with me than even I could be, and it is happy in a way I never thought possible.
What will keep your marriage strong? Find the bedrock of your relationship. What makes your relationship tick? Is it your resilience? Your shared sense of humor? How to use: Even when the cards are stacked against us, we will have a common background, a shared faith, and a solid family foundation to help us stand.
What are you most looking forward to about married life? The wedding is just the beginning. How to use: I look forward to every day with you as we embark on new travels, experiences, journeys, and life changes.
What do you expect out of married life? Defining your expectations will help you make and keep promises. Think about your dreams, and what you'll have to vow to do to make them come true. How to use: I know our marriage will withstand time and I vow to support you in your professional goals and hobbies, come with you in your travels, love our pets and care for them when you're away from all of us, be your friend and confidante and sparring partner on occasion, be your motivation to go swimming and take care of your back, and inspire you in every way I know how to be the amazing man I see when I look at you.
Read more: Wedding Vows & Readings: 20 Tips for Writing Your Own Wedding Vows - Wedding Planning - Wedding Ceremony - TheKnot.com http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-ceremony/articles/20-tips-for-writing-your-own-wedding-vows.aspx#ixzz1SweqtTOc
When did you realize you were in love? The more specific you are able to be, the more touching the story. Was it when he helped you bring your sick puppy to the vet? How to use: I knew I was in love when you hiked Hanging Lake for me on our trip to Glenwood Springs. You were exhausted and so sweaty, but you pushed on and we made the top. I got to show you one of my very favorite mountain hideaways. It was fun laughing with you when another hiker pantomimed taking a photo for us -- and so we let him. After hiking down, we went to the Hot Springs Pool and couldn't stop talking about our future.
What do you have now that you didn't have before you met? Focus on the heart and head, not material possessions. Has she taught you to appreciate beauty differently? Has he helped you learn to savor creating a home-cooked meal? How to use: Before I met you, I had only traveled to New York by myself one time to visit my college roommate, Christi. When we got together, you simply took it for granted that where you would go I would go, of course. And so I have been all over the US since this time last year. We started in Seattle, then went to Glenwood Springs, Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, and Rhode Island.
How has your worldview changed? Life has likely gotten better since the two of you joined forces, so tell everyone about it. How to use: Because of you, I see the world -- well, with a little bit more flexibility and a little more tolerance. I am learning to do as you do and fly by the seat of my pants even if it means I need to take a brief pause to think about the proposed idea. I trust you.
What do you miss most when you're apart? This will probably be something mundane but powerful -- what about his smile first thing in the morning, or the way she puts out your lucky mug for your morning coffee? How to use: You are such a part of me that when you're gone, I miss everything about you. I miss the easy conversation that does not require either of us to speak a word at all, aloud, day or night. I miss the connection with someone who can read my face so well and logically present me a picture on any topic that makes me go 'OH! I get it!"
Where do you see yourselves in 10 years? 20 years? 40 years? Go deeper than Happily married in a big house. What are your long-term hopes, dreams, and goals? How to use: I look forward to traveling the world with you, finding a home church, settling in a place we love, standing by your side as you excel in your chosen profession, figuring out what I love doing and finding work, laughing and learning every day as we grow old and raise a family together.
Is there a line from a movie, song, or poem that says it all? It's okay to borrow, as long as it's not too much of a cliche (we're sorry, but You complete me is suffering from overuse). Instead modify something familiar to personalize. How to use: Subtly. I set out on a narrow way many years ago hoping I would find true love along the broken road. I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you.
Do parts of the traditional vows resonate with you? Maybe you're not so sure about the obey part, but can you really go wrong with love, cherish, and...? How to use: Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And may God understand both of us in words and in sign language.
Can you think of a funny or touching experience that put your partner in a new light? The way he played with your little cousin or helped your grandmother up the stairs showed you that under his macho exterior is a wittle, bitty bunny wabbit and you love him for it. How to use: When you ____________, I saw you for the _____________ person you are. And that made me want to ____________.
Is there a harrowing experience that strengthened your bond? This one rides tandem with #9. How to use: See #9.
What goals and values do you both have? Stating your common bond may just expose your inner Wordsworth. These ties -- whether your shared faith or your mutual love of wine -- will also help demonstrate why you're a perfect pair. How to use: We share a deep love of dogs and coffee, so together we can be good doggie parents to JJ, and people in coffee shops all across the United States recognize us on sight.
What about him/her inspires you? What is it about your fiance that you'd like to improve in yourself? What do you most respect about your partner? How to use: Your intellect and generosity has shown me how to be generous with the things I have been blessed with, and how to engage people on a level I never thought I was capable of.
What promise can you make to codify your devotion? Here's an opportunity to personalize your vows -- many couples pledge their endless love, but how many promise to take the dog out in the morning, even in the snow? How to use: I promise to always feed you, if it means stopping at a gas station in the middle of nowhere for a Payday bar to tide you over til dinner, or cooking you a meatloaf, I know you are always more attentive when you've been properly fed.
How will you change together? You know what your goals are -- think about the steps the two of you will need to take together to reach them. How to use: I look forward to learning with you, learning to be flexible, seeing new places, and trying new foods even if I don't like them very often as we take our travels on the road of life.
What metaphor (or simile) would capture your love? Think of something that describes or defines your love: Is it strong like a castle? Peaceful like a mountain stream? How to use: Our love is like a ___________ because it ___________. (They say it is better to travel than to arrive. It's not been my experience, at least. The journey of love has been rather a lacerating, if well-worth-it, journey."(D.H. Lawrence, Fantasia of the Unconscious, 1922)
Why are you entering the bond of marriage? Think about why marrying your fiance is so special. You may be surprised how the answer leads you to the perfect words. How to use: To me, marriage is about being a heart in two bodies. It's about sharing things that make you inseparable. It's about being stronger together, happier together, and better together than apart. With you, it's all these things and more -- it's confidence, it's security, it is knowing that you will be more gentle with me than even I could be, and it is happy in a way I never thought possible.
What will keep your marriage strong? Find the bedrock of your relationship. What makes your relationship tick? Is it your resilience? Your shared sense of humor? How to use: Even when the cards are stacked against us, we will have a common background, a shared faith, and a solid family foundation to help us stand.
What are you most looking forward to about married life? The wedding is just the beginning. How to use: I look forward to every day with you as we embark on new travels, experiences, journeys, and life changes.
What do you expect out of married life? Defining your expectations will help you make and keep promises. Think about your dreams, and what you'll have to vow to do to make them come true. How to use: I know our marriage will withstand time and I vow to support you in your professional goals and hobbies, come with you in your travels, love our pets and care for them when you're away from all of us, be your friend and confidante and sparring partner on occasion, be your motivation to go swimming and take care of your back, and inspire you in every way I know how to be the amazing man I see when I look at you.
Read more: Wedding Vows & Readings: 20 Tips for Writing Your Own Wedding Vows - Wedding Planning - Wedding Ceremony - TheKnot.com http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-ceremony/articles/20-tips-for-writing-your-own-wedding-vows.aspx#ixzz1SweqtTOc