How to Write Wedding Vows That Will Make Your Person Laugh-Cry (Without Having a Breakdown)
Let me guess: you’ve climbed literal mountains together, you’ve planned a wedding that includes the phrase "we’re hiking in formalwear," and now... you’re staring at a blank screen trying to figure out how to put your entire love story into a few paragraphs without sounding like a greeting card?
Welcome to vow writing. You are not alone.
But I got you.
Let’s break this down in the most love-filled, honest, and slightly ridiculous way possible.
🧠 First: Take the Pressure Off
Writing vows isn’t about crafting an award-winning monologue. You’re not auditioning for a role on The Bachelor. You're speaking from the heart to your person. That’s it.
If it’s messy, it’s real. If it makes you laugh-snort or tear up mid-sentence? Perfect. That’s what this is about—truth, love, and words that feel like home.
✨ Get Out of Your Head, and Into Your Heart
Start by ditching the pressure to be “epic” and focus on being real. Here are some soul-stirring, heart-opening prompts to get your brain going:
What did you think the first time you saw them? (No shame if it was “Wow, I’m in trouble.”)
What’s something they do that drives you wild… in a good or bad way?
What’s the weirdest inside joke you’ve shared that would make zero sense to anyone else?
When did you know you wanted to do life with them?
What do you want to promise them—not just in the pretty moments, but on the hard days, the hangry days, the boring Tuesdays?
Write it down like you're journaling. Don't overthink grammar. Don't delete anything yet. Just let it flow.
🛠️ Build-A-Vow (But Make It Sentimental)
Here's a structure you can follow, or toss out completely and freestyle it—you do you. But if you're the “give me a roadmap or I’ll panic” type, this will help:
1. Open with a Memory
Start with a story—something small but meaningful. Maybe it’s the first time they made you laugh so hard you cried. Maybe it’s when they surprised you with your favorite snack after a long day. Real is better than poetic.
2. Talk About Who They Are
Call out their quirks, their strength, their softness. Let them know what you admire most about them—even the weird stuff.
“I love that you organize the fridge by expiration date and sing to the cat like it’s Broadway.”
3. Drop the Love Bomb
Say “I love you.” Say it loud. Say it proud. And say why. No, it’s not too cheesy. You’re in love. This is your cheese license.
4. Make Your Promises
This is the core. Make them funny, make them deep, make them personal. Think both “I promise to support your dreams” and “I promise to always bring snacks when you’re hangry.”
Here are some gold-star vows to inspire you:
“I vow to keep growing with you—even when growth feels like therapy, tears, and uncomfortable conversations.”
“I promise to love you through the hard stuff, the weird stuff, and the never-putting-the-laundry-away kind of stuff.”
“I vow to never watch the next episode without you—even if Netflix auto-plays it and I’m weak.”
5. End With a Look Forward
Wrap it up with hope. What are you excited about? What are you building together? Paint a little picture of the life you’re crafting—late night grocery runs, tiny victories, new adventures, Sunday mornings with pancakes and bedhead.
📣 Pro Tips from Someone Who’s Witnessed a Lot of Vows
Write them early. Procrastinating leads to stress. Stress leads to tears. Tears lead to blotchy faces. Don’t do that to yourself.
Say them out loud as you practice. Vows should sound like you. If you wouldn’t normally use the word “beloved,” don’t put it in your vows.
Use vow books or notecards (bonus: they photograph way better than your cracked iPhone screen).
Don’t compare yours to theirs. This isn’t a competition. You’re on the same team.
Be honest. Even if you’re not eloquent. Even if your voice shakes. Speak from the gut.
🌄 Real Love in Real Life
The most powerful vows I’ve ever heard weren’t perfect. They were personal. They sounded like laughter in a desert canyon and whispered promises under the stars. They were about holding hands through grief, about shared donuts, about quiet support during hard seasons.
So don’t chase perfection—chase truth. That’s the vow gold.
✨ Final Encouragement
This is your love story. The real kind. The big-hearted, slightly chaotic, totally human kind. Your vows don’t need to be polished—they just need to be yours.
So sit down, grab your favorite drink (coffee, sour beer, bubbly water—you know who you are), and start writing like you’re talking to the love of your life. Because you are.
And hey—if you need someone to hype you up, review your vows, or hand you tissues mid-ceremony—I’m your girl.