I have already confessed on other occasions that I love the moment of exchanging vows. I love hearing what you have to say to each other because, to me, it is the essence of that whole day. But it is true that many times you do not know how to express your feelings.
I will tell you that it is not necessary to write a novel, just a few lines are enough to express the commitment you are making that day, even if the ceremony has no legal validity. You can start by taking a brief tour of your joint story, of your most important moments together. You can also briefly tell what attracted you to the other, going back to the moment you met, or simply list what you like most about the other person. It is about showing the reasons why you want to share your life. And, of course, you must end with a promise, explaining what you offer to the other.
As an example, although it is not part of a wedding ceremony, I have always found wonderful that scene in The Bridges of Madison County in which Robert says to Francesca: «When I think of why I make pictures, the reason that I can come up with just seems that I’ve been making my way here. It seems right now that all I’ve ever done in my life is making my way here to you».
Finally, it is important that the vows reflect you, that the tone, language and way of expressing yourself is yours. Do not pretend to be Bécquer if you have never been interested in poetry in life. And, above all, do not try to learn it by heart because that day the nerves and emotions on the surface can leave you speechless. Oh, and do not forget to make them pretty as I told you in this post about ideas for wedding booklets.
