We decided to write our own vows for our ceremony. We weren't quite sure how it would go, but we knew we wanted to have some sort of format... like a template so we could have some uniformity to what we each would say without knowing exactly what we each would say.
After several attempts to search for a "write your own vows" template online, we came up with nothing. Because I have a mild addiction to blog reading, I stumbled
upon this old entry from
2000 dollar wedding ( a blog I found pretty informative on how to save dollars on your wedding). I also read a lot of original wedding vows, but never found a great template. So we eventually came up with our own. This is how it went...
-(I will say your name here and you will say my name), a statement of your choice about your feelings for me (1-2 sentences). Okay so it's all cheese. Just say something cheesy here.
-a feeling, a story, an anecdote. A few sentences. You can be funny here if you want to be. Maybe something that makes you laugh about me or a thought about love or marriage in general.
-3 or 4 statements beginning with I love...
Example: I love that you take a shower every day. I love that you are strong. I love your passion for music.
You get the point. You can make each statement as long or short as you need to.
-a few sentences about where we are as a couple, where we are going OR anything else you would like to say to sum up feelings.
-your actual vow. Start this sentence with I promise...
Example: I promise to love you with my whole heart and to make you breakfast every morning. I promise to be the best wifey ever. I promise to kick the sheets off of your bed every night while I'm sleeping ;)
Maybe we should have 3 or 4 statements beginning with I promise??? Like the love thing.
-End with I love you.
There have been a few requests for a copy of our written vows, so here they are. David's first. And then mine.
Leah Allison Kirk
I love you soo much. Its a love I have never felt before. Its so easy to throw up my arms and run away in life when faced with a difficult situation..even when surrounded by soo many great situations. Its in these difficulties that I find the true meaning of love. With you I want to stay, fight, work something out, and then go get a bite to eat together....You are my best friend.
I always thought I would have been married by the age of 26. I would be dancing with my love and then relaxing...and sharing some dessert together. Well we arent 26, we arent good dancers, and as I found out on a date early on....you dont like to share your cheesecake.
I also never thought I would get real sick....and even if I did I would go get the cheap medication. The first time I was sick with you...you took care of me. You came to my house and had name brand medicines and it was an assortment. NAME BRAND. I was soo nice that it warmed me....I didnt care about being sick anymore...infact I didnt want to get better with you there.
The point is is that none of this is the way I thought it would be.....its better
I love that you are a believer. I love that you are a survivor. I love that you are a pistol. I love that you love PeeWees Big Adventure. I love that you fall asleep in movie theaters. I love that you can read music. I love that you set goals and then knock them out. I love that you challenge me. I love that you love the Beatles. I love how creative you are. I love how you inspire. I love how you love me and all of my shortcomings. I love how you are healthy and how much you have a burn to workout. I love your cats Oscar and Zoe and how Oscar looks like me. I love how beautiful you are. To sum up...I am ready to do this. I am ready to fight through what life throws at us and to enjoy it along the way. I am ready to travel the world.
I am ready.
I promise to be there for you. I promise to support you. I promise to challenge you. I promise to listen to you and even to hear what you are saying. I promise not to try and always fix things. I promise to continue to hug you even though you arent a big hugger. I promise to love you unconditionally.
Allison Kirk...I love you
David Taylor Crawford,
I am completely elated to be standing here in this moment with you. You came into my life six years ago with a light shining brighter than I could ever imagine. You have been such an easy person to fall in love with over and over again. What a blessing it is to be here today in front of everyone I love marrying my very best friend.
I love your infectious smile.
I love your unmatchable humor.
I love your strength in complete chaos.
I love your ability to walk up to a complete stranger and make that stranger laugh within minutes.
I love that you have a ridiculous amount of patience and love for others.
I love that you are a man of God.
I love that you have a passion that allows you to be unstoppable.
I love that luxurious red hair of yours.
And most of all, I love that in you, I have found my perfect match.
I couldn’t be more happy to call you my constant friend, my faithful partner, my family, my husband, my eternal love. So today, in front of God, our family and friends, I make this vow to you.
I promise to love you forever.
I promise to support you in your goals.
I promise to trust and respect you, to cherish our union as husband and wife.
I promise to comfort and encourage you, and to hug you often.
I promise to laugh with you and cry with you.
I promise to stand beside you through the good and the bad.
And I promise to let you eat big bowls of chocolate ice cream… sometimes.
With this vow, I give you my hand, my whole heart and my true love.
I love you.
