how to end a vow speech

How To End Your Wedding Vows

Having no clue how to end wedding vows is normal for someone who has never written one before.

Unfortunately, even people who were brilliant in literature at college or professional journalists often struggle to find the right words.

Starting a wedding vow is challenging enough, but many brides and grooms-to-be run into a real writer’s block when it comes to the ending.

Remember that no one will judge you, and there’s no such thing as a perfect wedding vow ending. You don’t write your vow for anyone but for your partner, and their opinion is all that matters.

Consider your overall vow tone, wedding formality, what makes your relationship unique, and draw inspiration from wedding vow examples to create the perfect ending.

Table of Contents [ show ]

The Vow Style

When thinking about how to end your wedding vow, consider the overall vow style. Define whether it’s humorous, romantic, formal, short and sweet, or sentimental.

As a rule of thumb, the tone should be consistent throughout the entire speech. For example, if your vow has a romantic beginning, it should also have a romantic ending.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t insert a couple of lighthearted jokes here and there in your vow, but the ending shouldn’t be drastically different from the main part.

Suppose you’ve been serious and a bit sentimental throughout your entire vow. Inserting a dumb joke at the end may be odd. The guests and your partner may simply not understand it because they didn’t expect it.

Your vow’s tone should also align with your wedding formality level. Typically, religious or highly formal civil weddings call for traditional vows, while casual ceremonies allow more freedom of expression.

Wrap With a Look in The Future

One of the best ways to end a wedding vow is by sharing your thoughts, hopes, and goals for the future. Of course, you should share thoughts on your future with your partner rather than your personal objectives.

Wrapping up a wedding vow with a look into the future is both romantic and logical. A traditional wedding vow begins with a look at the past in the form of a story or a short statement and expression of current feelings.

Sharing your hopes and goals is a perfect way to tie together the past, present, and future. After all, you plan to be with your partner forever and ever, beyond time. Your wedding is only the beginning of your life as a family.

The wedding ceremony signifies the new chapter of your lives, so your vows are an opportunity to outline what you expect from this new stage. Maybe you’re looking forward to growing old together.

Perhaps, you’d like to travel the entire world with your partner by your side, build a business empire, or create a loving family with many kids.

Most importantly, your look in the future should reflect your attitude to life and relationship goals.

For instance, if you’re both adventurous people, say something like, “I can’t wait to see what adventures await us ahead.”

Or, if you’re both artsy, you may say, “I look forward to visiting every art gallery around the globe with you.”

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End With a Promise

Although a traditional wedding vow structure is specific, no rules are set in stone. You can refrain from any vow element but one – the actual vows. A promise is what makes an ordinary speech a vow.

Some people prefer short vows that consist solely of promises. Even if you want to begin with a declaration of love, an explanation of what you love about your partner or a story, promises are an excellent way to wrap up your speech.

Perhaps, the first vows that come to mind are to cherish, love, and support your partner until the end of your life.

Feel free to incorporate these words into your vow if you genuinely feel like it, but also try to elaborate and make your vows more personal to avoid them sounding generic.

Think of what matters the most in your relationship with your significant other. Maybe they value honesty in any situation, good or bad; perhaps, they always come up with wild ideas and appreciate you for accepting them.

In this case, you may say something like, “I vow to always stay truthful, in the good times and the bad,” or “I vow to always support your ideas, no matter how crazy they are.”

Your vows are also an excellent place to sprinkle in humor but don’t say anything that could humiliate or embarrass your partner. For example, saying “I vow to never watch new episodes without you” is alright.

However, saying “I promise to never remind you about your ex” or “I promise to always unclog the bathtub from your hair without saying a word” may be inappropriate for a formal ceremony, even if you both find it funny.

Don’t Overthink It & Keep It Short

Many people struggle to end their wedding vows because they overthink. Your wedding vow ending is undoubtedly important, but it isn’t the most critical part of your speech, and it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Frankly, there’s no such thing as “perfect” when it comes to wedding vows. A general fear of writing, saying something dumb, or insufficiently romantic hinders most people from writing their vows.

Say what you think as long as it’s appropriate for the occasion and location. You don’t have to write a Shakespeare-style poem; simply be genuine and sincere.

One of the most common wedding vow writing mistakes is excessive length. This refers to wedding vows in general and endings in particular. Don’t write a 50-word sentence about your hopes and dreams for the future.

Keep the ending relatively short. You can write down everything you can think of your goals, hopes, dreams, and promises. However, you should reread the text and shorten it for clarity afterward.

If you struggle to define the best statements, consider reading your vow to a close friend. They can advise you on which sentences seem redundant and which are spot-on.

Examples of Funny Vow Endings

Each relationship is unique, so there’s no wedding vow ending that would work for everyone. However, wedding vow ending examples can serve as an inspiration source for your writing.

There’s nothing wrong with inserting a statement found online in your vow if you genuinely share the thought. Still, the best practice is to customize the example to better reflect your relationship and feelings towards your partner.

If you’re looking for a humorous vow ending, remember to keep your jokes appropriate and lighthearted. The funniest jokes are usually the most relevant ones, so consider your relationship’s unique traits.

Suppose you deeply admire your partner, but they have odd food habits you often joke about. You may wrap up with something along the lines of:

“I vow to love you for your best traits, for those that drive me a bit mad, and for those that leave me completely perplexed… pickles on peanut butter, really? Either way, I accept all of you for who you are, today and always.”

Or, let’s assume your partner is a very introverted person. You may end the vow with “I promise to always stand by your side, take care of you when you’re sick, and advocate for you when you’re too shy to send back a wrong meal at the restaurant.”

If your partner admires comics, your final promise can be “I vow to always protect you, your secrets, and your comics collection.” The idea is to combine romance with humor without going overboard and transforming the speech into a comedy.

Examples of Formal Vow Endings

You can’t go wrong with a formal wedding vow style. It may feel a bit impersonal, but it’s always perfectly balanced and never awkward. Traditional vows are typically short, only consisting of a couple of sentences.

Perhaps, the most traditional wedding vow wording is “in sickness and death, until death does us part” and its modifications. You likely know it without reciting it, and it usually ends with “I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”

However, you can customize this conventional format to your preference. For instance, you may say, “I will respect and cherish you until the end of times,” instead of “I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”

Either way, a formal wedding vow typically ends with a declaration of love and a promise to love/cherish/respect/honor the partner forever/until death does you part/until the end of times or a variation of it.

Examples of Romantic Vow Endings

Romantic wedding vow wording is similar to formal but more personal and emotional. The goal is to melt your partner’s heart – and everyone else’s.

For example, the bride may end her vow with, “I know I can achieve and overcome anything by your side. I’m proud to call you my lawful husband.”

Or, the groom may say something like, “I promise to always take care of you, be there for you, day or night, to share my hopes and dreams as we build our family. You’re my soulmate and best friend; I love you to the moon and back.”

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How To Close Wedding Vows?

Table of Contents:

To end a wedding vow, it is essential to share your thoughts, hopes, and goals for the future with your partner. Traditional wedding vows are exchanged first, expressing love and devotion to each other. Focus on expressing your love, support, and hopes for your partner. Write your own wedding vows, varying the tone between sweet and serious, playful and funny. State why youre here, and use phrases like “With you,” “I will,” and “I love you.”

Get inspired by romantic songs, old letters, or look at romantic letters from each other. Write a personalized, goal-oriented example of modern wedding vows, such as “I love you more today than I did yesterday and every tomorrow I’ll love you more than I did the day before.” Set a word count for your wedding vows, discuss the tone, and create a structure for writing.

Start writing your wedding vows, as they are a proclamation of your love for your partner and a collection of promises you’re vowing to adhere to within your marriage. Keep your vows a secret, and consider them as a wedding present to each other.

Renewing your vows is a beautiful way to honor your relationship and can be a beautiful way to honor your relationship. Consider skipping a registry and shower and instead, browse a list of vow renewal gift ideas to find a special present for your spouse, parents, or close friends.

To end your vows, simply say “I love you” and let the ending flow naturally. You can summarize everything or end by looking to the future together. JP Reynolds recommends saying “I take you as… Thank you for holding my hand and loving me through every moment, even when it is hard.” End your vows with a loving last line, “As long as we both shall live.” Traditional wedding vows may end with “Until we are….” Consider how your wedded life may look and discuss any hopes or dreams. Writing your vows is an important task in wedding planning, so consider the following examples and let the ending flow naturally.

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How to close a wedding speech?

Here are some tips for great wedding toast closing lines: Sum up your speech. … Mention a joke from the speech. … Clink glasses. Use a quote or poem. … Share a memory or wish. … Ask for action. The last lines of a wedding toast can make or break the speech. Your toast will leave a lasting impression on the couple and guests. Make it memorable. Tips: Here are some tips and examples of great wedding toast closing lines: Sum up your speech. The closing lines should sum up your speech. Think about the couple’s love story, the day’s meaning, or any advice you shared. Mention a joke from the speech. Callbacks are popular because they feel like an inside joke. Raise a glass. One way to end a wedding toast is to raise your glass and toast the happy couple. You can also use a quote or poem. If you’re struggling to find the perfect words, use a quote or poem about love and commitment. Share a personal memory or wish. Share a memory or wish for the couple. This is a great way to show the couple you care. Use a call to action. Ask guests to join you in congratulating the couple.

What is the best closing for a wedding speech?

Summarize your speech. The closing lines should sum up your speech. Think about the couple’s love story, the day’s significance, or any advice you shared. Mention a joke from the speech. The audience loves callbacks because it feels like an inside joke. Raise a glass. One way to end a wedding toast is to raise your glass and toast the happy couple. Use a quote or poem. If you’re struggling to find the perfect words, use a quote or poem about love and commitment. Share a personal memory or wish. Share a memory or wish for the couple. This is a great way to show the couple you care. Use a call to action. Ask guests to join you in congratulating the couple.

Closing Lines. Here are some closing lines you can use: Let’s raise our glasses to the happy couple and wish them a lifetime of love and happiness. May your love story be one for the ages, and may the memories you create together be ones you’ll treasure forever. To the happy couple: Let’s toast to your love and your future together. May it be blessed with joy, laughter, and forever love. Cheers to the happy couple!

How to conclude a wedding?

Let’s toast to the happy couple and wish them a lifetime of love and happiness. May your love story be one for the ages, and may the memories you create together be ones you’ll treasure forever. To the happy couple: Toast to your love and future together. May your love grow stronger with each day. Cheers to the happy couple! As long as you show your love and say cheers, you’ll be great! ToastWiz is an AI wedding speech writer that helps you create an amazing wedding speech.

What are the closing words for a wedding ceremony?

In closing, I wish you both a happy marriage. As you join your lives together, remember to cherish each other and respect each other’s ideas. Forgive, don’t hold grudges, and live each day together. From now on, you’ll be each other’s home, comfort, and refuge. Your marriage will be stronger because of your love and respect. Before I pronounce you husband and wife, I have one more thing to ask. Your wedding day goes by fast. It’s a day full of emotions, friends, rings, and dancing. Many people remember how short their wedding day was. Look into each other’s eyes. Think about how happy you are right now. Let that feeling sink in. Now look out at your family and friends. They’re here to support you. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Remember, love is what makes a relationship work. This is the heart of your marriage. It will take trust to know you want what’s best for each other. It will take dedication to stay open to each other and to learn and grow together. It will take faith to go forward together. And it will take commitment to stay on the path you’ve started today.

Is 4 minutes too long for vows?

Two to three minutes is good. Write your spouse a love letter. Give it to them the morning of the wedding or send it to them as they’re getting ready. Two to three minutes is a good rule of thumb. @Aly, great question! You’re asking about vow length! #michiganwedding #weddingceremony #weddingvow.

Replying to @Jasmin. Are you getting married? Wondering about the length of your wedding vows? Don’t worry, it’s a common concern. Wedding vows are personal. There’s no one-size-fits-all. Your vows should reflect who you are. If you’re a talker, short vows might seem fake. If you’re reserved, your partner might be surprised by long vows. There’s no right or wrong with vows. Vows don’t have to be long. A two-to-three-minute length is usually enough to express your feelings without extending the ceremony. For more help with vows, check out my course. Vows aren’t the only way to express love. A love letter can make your wedding day more special. Send it while your spouse is getting ready. You can break the rules when expressing love. If a sonnet or a few heartfelt lines feel right, go for it! Be authentic. I hope this helps. Your vows should be authentic, not long. Good luck! #WeddingPrep #WeddingVows #WeddingPlanning #TyingTheKnot #VowInspiration #DIYWedding #WeddingOfficiant #LoveLetters #AuthenticVows #BridalTips #GroomGuide #WeddingIdeas #WeddingCeremony #VowWriting #youngmarried.

Replying to @Kati Rosado Photography #wedding #vowsideas #vows #groom #fyp #weddingseason.

What do you do after you say your vows?

5. Ring exchange. After the vows, you and your partner exchange rings. The officiant gives you both wedding rings. Use this time to say why the wedding ring is important to you and your marriage.

6. Pronouncement and First Kiss. You and your partner are now married! The officiant will say you and your partner are married and you can kiss.

7. Recessional. The last step is the recessional. The recessional follows the processional in reverse order. The couple leads the way, and the officiant is the last to leave. The officiant may exit down the center of the aisle or exit to the side after giving closing remarks.

What is the closing line for wedding vows?

Wrap it up in a bow. Your wedding vows should end with a promise to always be together. Make this last sentence count. “You are my love, and I promise to love you, respect you, and cherish you for all our days.” “Today and forever, I give you my heart, soul, and trust.” This blog post is about how to write original wedding vows. There are many wedding vow styles, so there’s something for everyone! Planning a wedding can be stressful. We try to help by providing examples for your wedding ceremony!

Vows should be easy to write because they’re important. Wrong! Many of us have trouble finding the right words to express our love for our partner.

How do you conclude a wedding?

The Grand Finale Formula will make everyone happy. PRONOUNCE YOUR COUPLE AS MARRIED. Get them to kiss. … Make your closing remarks. … Get the guests dancing. Present the couple as married. How to end the wedding ceremony with a grand finale. Courtesy of Unboring!Wedding Academy. March 15, 2022. No Comments. The best ending to a wedding ceremony is a grand finale. Everyone stands. The officiant presents the couple. The music starts. The couple walk up the aisle to cheers from their guests.

How do you end a wedding vow?

You make a lifelong commitment to your spouse at the end of your vows. You can say, “You have my heart and soul forever.” “I will love you until the end.” Heartfelt & Creative Wedding Vows for Him. It might sound like a lot, but with some inspiration and tips, you can write vows your love will remember forever.

You’re marrying your love — congratulations! Your wedding vows are a great way to show how happy your spouse makes you. You want to make this moment special. You want to make your fiancé and your guests happy. You might feel pressure, but with some inspiration and tips, you can write vows your love will remember forever. Here’s how to write perfect wedding vows for him.

What happens after wedding vows?

Traditional wedding ceremony order. A traditional wedding is for couples who want a more traditional celebration. The minister welcomes the couple and they exchange vows. The couple then exchanges rings, and the minister announces them as married.

1. The Processional. The processional is the first part of the wedding ceremony. This is when your family and wedding party go down the aisle. The bridesmaids and groomsmen walk down the aisle first, followed by the bride and groom. Then comes the flower girl and ring bearer. The bride is then led in by her father, who gives her to the groom.

2. Welcome. Then the officiant will say a few words. The officiant may thank guests for being there and welcome everyone.

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How to end your wedding vows

Reading Time: 3 Minutes

What we’ll cover:

• How should wedding vows end?

• How long should wedding vows be?

Traditionally, wedding vows were pretty much set in stone – tradition ruled, and couples just went along with it. But these days, things are different, and writing your own wedding vows has become more popular as a romantic alternative to make your special day a more personal, unique experience.

Sounds great, right? Except…

…actually writing them can be tricky (I get it – that’s why I offer custom wedding vow writing !).

• What do I say?

• How do I start?

• Is there a formula?

• How do I end?

These questions can be overwhelming. But not to worry – I’m here to help.

I go into more detail about the rest of writing wedding vows in other articles , but for now, let’s look at how to end your wedding vows to make the most impact.

How should wedding vows end?

The normal way to end your wedding vows is to have a simple closing promise. Remember it’s meant to be a set of vows, after all – so the perfect ending is a promise that sums up everything you’ve said before. You can say ‘I promise’, or you can go the more traditional ‘I vow’ –it’s up to you. Another option I’m seeing a lot more these days is “This is my promise to you: to…”

The exact format isn’t so important, just as long as it feels natural and matches the style of the rest of the vows – you don’t want to go from super casual vows to a super formal ending!

What to include in the promise?

Good question. Although there is flexibility, remember these are vows for your wedding – so it’d probably be a good idea to include a promise about love and listening, care and concern, companionship, to work together, and so on.

Here are two examples you can use as inspiration or take word for word:

• I vow to love you, to care for you, to trust you, to confide in you, from this day until my last.

• I promise to respect you and care for you as a persona and as a partner. Above all I promise to love you, and to stand with you in an unbreakable alliance, you and me against the world.

N.B. As a rule, keep the promise to under 50 words, MAX. The reason is because if the promise loses it’s power. People can’t keep track of it all – and it runs the risk of being as long as the rest of the vows. So keep it short.

This naturally raises the question of how long the actual wedding vows as a whole should be – let’s consider that now.

How long should wedding vows be?

As a general rule, the vows shouldn’t be another wedding speech. That means 2 minutes or under is ideal – and an absolute maximum of 3 minutes.

Remember that there will be two different vows, o however long your vows are, people are going to have to stand through double that. so again, no longer than 2 minutes is a good rule of thumb.

In case you’re wondering, that’s about 250-300 words, depending on how fast you speak.

Pro tip? Practise it out loud to know the time.

What if you have more to say than you can fit into 2 minutes? Should you just keep writing?

You can do that – after all, they’re your vows. But my recommendation is not to go over the 2 minute mark, and keep the rest for your wedding speech!

So there you have it – a simple and powerful way to finish your wedding vows! If you’re struggling or you’re not sure what to do, I offer custom wedding vow writing , and wedding vow editing – reach out, I’d love to help you find the perfect words… and make an impact!

About the author: Alexander Westenberg, milestone speechwriter, is a teacher, a musician, and long-time speechwriter. Read more…

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Inside you’ll find learn:

Why the wedding speech matters
The 3 most common hooks for your speech
The time-tested 'Rule of One' that can make the difference between a speech that makes an impact... and a speech that doesn't
4 steps to finishing your speech with the perfect wedding toast
...and more!

Wedding Vows: How To Write Them Plus 33 Examples

Jennifer Skulski

Published: Mar 23, 2022

Last Updated: Jun 7, 2022

Get The Best Wedding Hashtags From Professional Writers

If you’re wondering, ‘what are wedding vows?’ and ‘how do you begin writing them?’ then you’ve come to the right place! Perhaps you’re also looking for helpful examples of what are vows. Here, we’ll be discussing all things wedding vow-related and provide ample examples to help inspire your own writing.

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase we receive a small commission at no extra expense to our readers .

Quick Links

What Are Wedding Vows?

Before you can begin thinking about and writing your vows, you must first understand the question, what are wedding vows? Ultimately, your vows serve as the focal point of your wedding day. Without marriage vows, weddings are simply a ceremony instead of a binding lifetime commitment.

So, what are vows exactly? They’re the specific promises you intend to uphold throughout your marriage. The lines you recite and exchange on your big day act as your marriage contract and the guide for your endless relationship.

There are countless ways to write your wedding vows. You could opt for a more serious and religious tone in which you honor your love and spirituality. Or perhaps you want your vows to be romantic and memorable. If you’re more into humor, your wedding vows can also have a funnier tone to them.

No matter how you choose to write your wedding vows, their main purpose is to be your way of expressing your love and commitment to your soon-to-be spouse.

How To Write Your Wedding Vows: Step By Step

1. Talk With Your Partner

First, talk with your partner to better understand what wedding vows are going to look like for your unique relationship. Some couples choose to have a simple wedding with an exchange of traditional vows while others want to write their own heartfelt lines. Will each of you be writing your own or will you be going off script and speaking from the heart?

Sometimes, couples choose to have well-coordinated vows in which both their scripts match and fit within the other perfectly. So, will you be writing your vows together or individually? Furthermore, will you share them beforehand or will it be a surprise? Do you want the vow exchange to be personal and private or read aloud at the ceremony?

You also may want to coordinate with your partner on the timeline to write your vows or have them done by. You don’t want to be writing them last minute, so maybe you both should agree to have them complete a few weeks before the wedding. Or perhaps take the time as a couple to sit down together, yet write individual vows as a sweet date night idea .

2. Decide On The Tone And Structure

Not only will you as the vow writer want to decide on the tone of your lines, but you may also want to confer with your partner to ensure the tones of your vows are the same or at least similar in style. If your partner is writing romantic and incredibly vulnerable vows, you most likely wouldn’t want to follow their speech up with vows that belong in a stand-up special.

Ultimately, choose a tone that best matches the style of your relationship whether that be romantic, sentimental, religious, humorous, traditional, or heartfelt. As for structure, consider if you want it to feel more conversational, be narrative-style, a list, have a love letter format, or anything in between.

3. Research And Look Up Popular Examples

As with most things, when it comes to wedding planning , you’ll probably want to do your proper research and use the resources you have available. The internet has seemingly endless sources. Try to find a wide variety of wedding vow examples to get a better feel for what are wedding vows and how can they be structured.

Even wedding vows from movies could potentially serve as inspiration in your search. Through your research, you’ll likely discover what the most common lines are when it comes to wedding vows. These examples, plus the ones included later in this blog, can be incredibly helpful when it comes time to write your own.

4. Write Down What You Love Most About Your Partner

As you finally begin thinking about what to write to your partner, start by writing a list of everything you love the most about them. This could be everything from simple personality traits to heartfelt examples of all the times you’ve seen their good character shine bright.

5. Write Down Your Favorite Memories

Following your list of what you love about your partner, try writing down your favorite memories of them and your relationship. Having a tangible list of your favorite aspects and memories with your partner will be incredibly helpful to reference as you write the real vows. The more personal your promises are, the more heartfelt and sincere they’ll feel to your spouse and everyone in attendance to witness your delightful vows.

6. Come Up With Promises

Vows refer to promises. They’re your commitments to one another. Next, you’ll want to start writing down promises you need to and want to uphold once you and your partner are officially married. How do you see your future together and what can you promise to do to support your partner and your growing relationship?

7. Consider What You Hope For Your Future

Your wedding day is the beginning of this beautiful next chapter in your endless love story. When it comes to explaining what are wedding vows, above all else, they represent action items for your future. What are your hopes and dreams for your future together? Start writing these plans down, too, as you may want to mention your future goals within your vows.

8. Decide On An Ending Line

Starting your wedding vows can be difficult, but ending them may prove even harder. Your ending line serves as a powerful statement. It’s the final thought you’ll leave your partner, the officiant, and your friends and family with as a way to showcase your love and commitment. Use this line to effectively summarize your love and relationship in a way that best represents you as a person.

9. Practice It Out Loud

Practice does, in fact, make perfect. Your wedding day will be one full of nerves, excitement, and emotion. By practicing your wedding vows loud and proud beforehand, you’ll feel more confident when it comes to reciting them on your big day. Try reciting them in a mirror to yourself, or even recruit the help of a family member, friend, or someone in your bridal party or wedding party to help offer feedback and support.

10. Consider A Vow Book

As we’re exploring further what are wedding vows, you may also be wondering what a vow book is. Vow books can be a fun, tangible way to jot down your ideas and keep track of your wedding vow drafts.

These booklets include plenty of pages to write down your thoughts, hopes, memories, and love letters as you start brainstorming. To start, ask yourself, what are the marriage vows you want to exchange with your partner?

Shop Now: The Art of Etiquette Wedding Vow Book

33 Examples of Wedding Vows You Can Steal

Romantic wedding vows.

It’s time to dig deep and let your emotions shine bright by writing your very own romantic wedding vows. Above all else, allow yourself to be vulnerable as you showcase your love and affection towards your partner with heartfelt, personalized promises.

If you’re wondering what wedding vows are considered romantic in tone, below are some helpful examples to reference as you write your own.

1. Destined For Each Other

You aren’t just the love of my life; you are the soulmate I was destined to find. I, [Your Name], am honored to take you, [Partner’s Name], as my [husband/ wife]. You are my destiny. You are my future. I vow to be by your side through thick and thin as we continue our lives in union.

2. Let’s Get Building

You’re my perfect match. I am so grateful to have found someone to build a future with. I vow to always be by your side and continue to build our relationship together, even when we’re old and gray. From this day forward, let’s start building and never stop. Let’s build up our love, build us a home, and build a little family to call our own.

3. Our Never-ending Story

I, [Your Name], vow to take you, [Partner’s Name], as my spouse as we begin the first chapter of our never-ending story of love. I promise to strive to make each page better than the last as we overcome the challenges of life together.

4. Devoted To You

From this day forward, I vow to be devoted solely to you. You are the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. You are my everything and my forever. I vow to devote the remainder of my time on this Earth to loving you.

5. What Are Wedding Vows Disney Fans Might Say?

It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that I, [Your Name], take you, [Partner’s Name] to be my greatest adventure yet. I vow to love you to infinity and beyond. I vow to treat you like the [prince/ princess] you deserve to be. Together, we’ll create our own fairytale.

6. My Favorite Good Morning

I, [Your Name], vow to be the rock, the anchor, the one consistent person you can count on in a life of uncertainty. I promise to never go to bed angry, but always with an “I love you.” You are my favorite “Good Morning,” and I promise to always wake up by your side, ready to take on the world together.

7. Worth The Wait

Despite the delays and rescheduling, I [Your Name], am more ready than ever to finally take you, [Partner’s Name], to be my lawfully wedded [husband/ wife]. I promise this ceremony was worth the wait as I vow to love and support you through whatever further curveballs come our way. Together, we can tackle anything.

8. What Are Wedding Vows Using A Sweet Metaphor?

I’m told marriage is the bridge between two shores. Now that we share this path and connection, I vow to offer endless support to ensure this bridge remains sturdy and true. I vow to stay on this pathway and always be by your side as two shores become one.

9. My Greatest Treasure

Life put me on a path and gave me a gift. You are my greatest treasure, and I vow to treasure you until the end of time. I truly believe we were meant to find one another, and I am grateful for that. I promise to continue on life’s path with you as we pave a new road in our lifelong journey that begins today.

10. Better Together

Loving you comes easy when two hearts beat as one. We are two minds on the same wavelength. No matter what obstacles come our way, I vow to act and react as a unit that can weather any storm. We are a pair. We are in this together, forever.

11. What Are Wedding Vows That Reference Family?

I, [Your Name], gladly welcome you, [Partner’s Name], into my family and feel so welcomed by yours. With this ring, we begin our lifelong commitment, and you will forever be family to me. Together, we’ll start a family of our own, and I promise to remain equal partners as we learn and grow through this relationship together.

Funny Wedding Vows

Writing your own wedding vows can be a heartfelt experience, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also be humorous. Adding humor to your vows can be a great way to relieve some of the nerves and emotions while also bringing out your sincere personality. To make the humor truly hit home, it’s best to be as specific as possible by bringing up a short, funny anecdote or calling attention to you or your partner’s habits or personality.

So, what are wedding vows with a humorous twist and how do you write them? Below are some examples to help inspire your inner comedian.

12. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

I, [Your Name], promise to take you, [Partner’s Name] for all that you are. I promise to love and support you through the good times and the bad. No matter if you wake up with bed head, have something stuck in your teeth, or spill your coffee on the rug, I will love you through it all. Give me the good, the bad, and the ugly because with you, I know it’s all worth it.

13. Never Keeping Score

To me, love isn’t a game or competition. I vow to never keep score. Besides, I’d win too easily, and I recognize that wouldn’t be fair.

14. Binge-Watching Is Sacred

Here we are. Officially in this together for the long haul. I [Your Name], take you, [Partner’s Name] as my lifelong partner in crime. I promise to be faithful and true to you for as long as we both shall live. But above all else, I promise to never watch our favorite binge-worthy shows without you.

15. Vowing To Stay Alert And Engaged

I, [Your Name], vow from this day forward to listen to you intently through it all, even when you’re talking about sports, or video games, or that other thing you love talking about. Let me be your go-to listener until death do us part.

16. Our Love Is Stronger Than Ikea

I promise to love you through the end of time. Our love knows no bounds. And trust me when I say that because our love is stronger than Ikea. We can withstand the endless maze of furniture, the constant indecisiveness, and even the confusing building instructions once home. If we can survive that, our love can survive anything.

17. Respecting The Music

Love is bigger than both of us. That’s why I promise to love and respect your musical choices when you have the aux cord in the car. No matter how long the road trip may be, I love you so much, I’d listen to country music for you.

18. What Are Wedding Vows With A Nerdy Flair?

I, Player 1, take you, Player 2, to be my lifelong duos partner. I vow to always watch your back and help you gain experience from quest to quest. From this day forward, two players become one as we take on the ultimate boss battle of marriage and vow to always level up our love.

19. Vowing To Navigate Through Life Together

I vow to be your right-hand [man/ gal], your navigator, your co-pilot. Both metaphorically through life and in actuality on long road trips. Oh, speaking of road trips, we can’t forget the snacks! I promise to be the snack provider, too!

20. Always Be Prepared

Wow, this is a lot of people and a lot of pressure. I heard this is the time I read my vows. I wish I wrote some ahead of time… I guess that’s one, I vow to always be prepared, moving forward. How’s that?

21. I Love You More Than…

I, [Your Name], finally get to take you, [Partner’s Name], as my [husband/wife] after all this time. We’ve been through a lot, which is what makes our love so strong. I vow to love you and be faithful to you until the end of time. After all, I love you more than [walks on the beach, shopping, video games, etc.], which is a big statement for me.

22. Lab Partners For Life

Back in high school I never imagined I’d have such great chemistry with my lab partner. I vow to love you, all of you, every last atom of you until the sun burns out. I vow to love and support you even when you’re fully charged. We’re lab partners for life now.

Religious Wedding Vows

If you and your significant other are planning a traditional, religious wedding , you may want to reference the significance of your religion and spirituality in your vows. Oftentimes, different religions have pre-written traditional vows as part of the ceremony. Or these vows are formatted as a call and response led by the officiant.

In addition to the traditional ceremony’s lines, you may wish to write some personalized vows of your own. Below are some examples of what are vows couples of various religions can use and further customize for their big day.

23. Traditional Protestant Vows

In the name of God, I, [Your Name], take you, [Partner’s Name], to be my lawfully wedded spouse from this day forward, now and forevermore. I solemnly vow to support and honor you for the rest of my life, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health. I promise to love and cherish you until death do us part.

24. Vows Acknowledging God & Your Spirituality

With God as my witness, I promise to love and support you, [Partner’s Name], unconditionally for as long as I shall live. You are my soulmate. You make me whole. I vow to stay faithful to our relationship as we embark on this journey together through faith and love in hopes of better understanding ourselves, God, and the world around us.

25. Jewish Wedding Vows To Recite After Sheva Brachot

I, [Your Name], take you, [Partner’s Name] to be my [husband/ wife]. I promise to cherish and protect you through good fortune and poor as we create a life hallowed by the faith of Israel.

26. What Are Wedding Vows For Muslim Weddings?

I, [Your Name], offer myself in marriage to you, [Partner’s Name], in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet. May peace and blessings be upon him. With honesty and sincerity, I pledge to be a loving and faithful [husband/wife].

27. Catholic Wedding Vows

I [Your Name] take you, [Partner’s Name], as my [husband/ wife]. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you forever, for all the days of my life.

28. Traditional Hindu Wedding Vows

Take us through the seven steps to help us strengthen our relationship as we pray for nourishment, health, prosperity, and family. With our seventh step, let us become true companions and remain lifelong partners by this bond.

29. What Are Wedding Vows For Buddhists?

I, [Your Name], pledge to always help [Partner’s Name] as we develop our hearts and minds together to cultivate compassion, generosity, ethics, patience, enthusiasm, concentration, and wisdom. I recognize that our path through life won’t always be easy, but I open myself up to you. I pledge to enjoy this journey together as we examine our minds, grow through life, and preserve our affection towards each other.

30. Interfaith Wedding Vow Example

I, [Your Name], vow to take you, [Partner’s Name] as my spouse. I vow to stay true to you as we grow through life together for as long as we both shall live. I feel grateful to have found someone who respects my spirituality as much as they respect their own. I promise to always be by your side, to be your support system forevermore.

31. What Are Vows Baptists Can Say?

I, [Your Name], take thee, [Partner’s Name], to be my [husband/ wife]. Before God and these witnesses, I promise to be a true and faithful spouse for as long as I shall live.

32. Referencing A Religious Verse In Your Vows

As I, [Your Name], take you, [Partner’s Name] to be my [husband/ wife] in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, I am reminded of Matthew 19:6 – “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Today, I vow to love and support you every day for the rest of my life. I am so grateful that God joined our paths together so the two of us can now become one.

33. Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs… Love never fails.”

How To Write Wedding Vows: Frequently Asked Questions

Determining how to start your wedding vows may seem tricky at first. To begin, try calling your partner by name and expressing how much they mean to you. Or call attention to how long you’ve been together and how excited you are for your next journey together. These thoughts can be simple yet effective ways to start and break the ice.

Writing the perfect wedding vows will be different for each couple. As long as you speak from the heart and make your vows personal for your unique relationship, then your personality, love, and commitment are bound to shine through to create the perfect wedding vows.

If you’re wondering what are the marriage vows for a traditional wedding, Hindu weddings traditionally have seven vows known as “ Saat Phere .” These seven vows relate to prayers for nourishment, strength, prosperity, family, offspring, health, and friendship.

How To Write Wedding Vows: Infographic

Let’s Get Writing!

Now that we went over what are wedding vows and how to write them, it’s time to start brainstorming your own heartfelt lines. We hope that our various examples served as inspiration in terms of the tone, structure, and content you’re looking to include in your own vows.

As you’re asking yourself what are the marriage vows that are important to you, don’t forget to jot down any and all of your ideas into a handy vow book in order to keep your thoughts organized. You never know when inspiration may strike or what fleeting thought or memory can actually have a powerful impact on your finalized vows.

Don’t forget to enjoy the process of writing as you express your love and commitment through your written vows. Your wedding vows truly are lines that’ll last a lifetime.

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How to Write Your Own Vows Who Traditionally Goes First? Quotes About Love to Get You Started Traditional Vows to Inspire Your Own Unique Vow Ideas From TV Shows and Movies Should You Exchange Vows Before the Ceremony? The Best Vow Books to Keep Your Love Alive

How to Write Your Own Wedding Vows—Plus, 30 Examples from Real Couples

Use this guide to craft heartfelt promises.

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In This Article

The vow exchange is, without a doubt, one of the most important parts of a wedding. In this pivotal moment—which typically takes place during the ceremony , right before the ring exchange and pronouncement of marriage—you and your partner will deliver promises to one another that you intend to uphold throughout your married lives. Not only will these words elevate your big day, but they’ll also set the tone for the next chapter in your relationship.

While some choose to utter traditional vows based on their religion or culture, others decide to write personalized messages to their future spouse. Composing your own wedding vows gives you the opportunity to create promises that resonate with you, vocalize your love and hopes in front of your friends and family, and provide a deeper look at your love story. By reciting original, heartfelt words, you’ll infuse your service with romance, emotion, and personality, making any nuptials more meaningful, intimate, and compelling. With personalized wedding vows, you can include virtually anything that reflects your relationship and captures your intentions for the future, whether it’s a sentimental tale about the first time you met or a humorous narrative that pokes fun at your partner’s quirks. You can also further customize this component by exchanging your messages during your first look, on your honeymoon, or at any other time that feels right to you.

Meet the Expert

Monique Honaman is a wedding officiant, a speaker, and the author of “The High Road Has Less Traffic: Honest Advice on the Path Through Love and Divorce."
Alexis Dent is the founder XO Juliet , a premier company that offers services to assist clients with writing wedding vows, marriage proposals, wedding reception speeches, and more.
JP Reynolds , M.Div., is a nondenominational wedding officiant with more than 20 years of experience and 1,000 weddings under his belt.

Writing your own wedding vows is undeniably touching, but it’s also a tremendous undertaking: You might feel the pressure to perfectly and authentically capture your love, hopes, and promises—a feat that may seem impossible, given that this oath typically lasts about one to two minutes. And finding the words alone to express these sentiments might seem futile.

If you’re thinking about personalizing your promises but you’re uncertain where to start, you’re experiencing writer’s block, or you’re simply overwhelmed by the process, we’re here to help. Below, we created a complete guide to writing your own wedding vows, including a template, expert tips, and examples from real couples. Read on for all of the advice and inspiration you need to nail your vows.

Design by Mehroz Kapadia

A Template to Follow When Writing Your Wedding Vows

While traditional wedding vows tend to follow a specific structure, your handwritten promises can take on any format and include any content you see fit. To help you get started, follow the below outline.

Say "I Love You"

This seems like a no-brainer, but Monique Honaman , wedding officiant, author, and speaker, says many couples forget to mention these three powerful words. Whether you start or end your pledge with the sentiment, make sure you utter "I love you" at some point.

Reaffirm Your Unwavering Support

Most wedding vows touch on standing by one another's side, through good times and bad. "The reality is: All marriages have cycles of peaks and valleys," Honaman says. "It's nice to communicate your intent to get through those valleys together."

Share Personal Stories

Recounting romantic stories about how you knew your significant other was "the one," laugh-out-loud accounts of how your first date went horribly wrong, or inspiring narratives about overcoming challenging times will make your ceremony more interesting and moving for everyone in attendance. “Guests (and your S.O.) want to hear vows that are real," says Alexis Dent, founder XO Juliet . "If you've been through bumpy spots, you should express that.”

Include Real Promises

Vows aren't just cute anecdotes—they're a serious, lifelong commitment that you’re making in front of many witnesses. In addition to raw, personal moments, make sure to share concrete promises that you'll continuously uphold throughout your marriage. These pledges don't have to be heavy, though. “You can vow to not only stick by their side forever, but to also be the one to kill spiders whenever they creep their way into your home,” Dent offers.

Acknowledge and Request Additional Support

You've gathered your friends and family to celebrate your wedding, but their love and support won't end there—you'll need their guidance throughout your marriage. Honaman recommends acknowledging the role that your loved ones have played in enhancing your relationship. Then, call on them for additional assistance in the future.

Photo by Jeremy Chou

Tips to Keep in Mind When Writing Your Wedding Vows

With the above template in mind, it's time to put pen to paper. To make the writing process as smooth as possible, we asked the experts to share their top tips for composing your wedding vows.

Start Well in Advance

Throughout the course of your wedding-planning journey , keeping your personalized wedding vows at the back of your mind, thinking about which stories you'll want to share and promises you'll want to make, will make the writing process more efficient and your vows more substantial. Although you can write your vows at any moment, make sure you have a final copy at least three weeks before your big day.

Discuss Your Expectations

Before jotting down your wedding vows, make sure to consult your partner about your expectations, so the two of you are on the same page. Plan to come to a consensus about the length of your vows, when you'll recite them, who will say them first , the tone, and how personal you intend to make them.

Jot Your Thoughts Down

To jumpstart the writing process, start by jotting down all of the thoughts that come to mind about your partner and relationship. Beginning with a brain dump will allow your feelings to flow freely, while alleviating any pressure to nail the wording right away. After you get everything on paper, highlight your favorite items and use them in the final copy.

Write No More Than Three Drafts

Writing a few drafts is an important part of the writing process, but continuously workshopping your wedding vows will only backfire—you'll start overthinking every word and lose sight of the bigger picture. Take a few days—even a week—in between edits, so you can revisit your words with more clarity.

Add Only the Important Details

Since you've likely been with your partner for years , you might feel tempted to include everything the two of you have done and every moment you've shared together. Instead of adding an overwhelming amount of information—which will only lose your guests when you recite them—pick the most important details, such as the first time you met or when you said "I love you."

Avoid Absolute Words

When making promises, avoid using absolute words like "always" and "never." Vowing to do something all of the time, such as taking out the trash, or never at all, such as disappointing your future spouse, is a huge commitment that's impossible to live up to.

Embrace Sentimentality

There's no better time to be sentimental than your vow exchange. If the message feels true to you, don't worry about coming across as corny. "If the words are heartfelt, then they're not cheesy," says JP Reynolds , a nondenominational wedding officiant . "I've never heard vows that made me roll my eyes."

Lean on Humor

Sharing promises with your partner doesn't have to be serious; lighthearted messages filled with humor will make the moment more relatable, personal, and enjoyable. Plus, scoring a smile and laugh from your significant other (and the rest of your guests) will feel especially rewarding.

Seek Inspiration from Pop Culture

Movies, TV shows, books, and songs are filled with eloquent words and messages that capture the experience of being in love. To express your feelings, consider quoting a passage from your favorite book or a line from your favorite film in your personalized wedding vows. If nothing accurately describes your emotions, you can always use these examples as a starting point.

Make a Fresh Copy for the Ceremony

When you vocalize your vows at the altar, your guests will be able to see the medium that you're reading from. “Yes, the focus will be on the words themselves, but the aesthetics matter, too,” Dent points out. A scratched-out notepad might not be the best choice for your service. Instead, print a fresh copy or write them in a vow booklet.

Stash Them in a Safe Place

In the months and weeks leading up to your ceremony, store the physical copy of your handwritten wedding vows in a secret spot—far away from your future spouse's field of view. "Your vows are a gift to one another , so don't share them ahead of time," Reynolds explains. It will make the ceremony all the more impactful and emotional if you're hearing them for the first time.

Photo by Will Reid

Tips for Delivering Your Personalized Wedding Vows

Once you've finalized your wedding vows, you'll need to rehearse them in order to nail your day-of delivery. Here are some tips to recite your promises like an orator, according to the experts.

Practice Out Loud

Practice makes perfect. To give you the confidence to deliver your vows on the big day, practice reading your heartfelt promises aloud. This practice will also help you gauge whether your promises are clear and complete. “Reading your vows out loud will help you catch spots where the grammar might be iffy or where you’re missing a word, as well as figure out if the structure is cohesive,” Dent explains.

Indicate Pauses and Intonation

Since your vows are filled with meaning, speaking quickly and mumbling will detract from the moment and prevent your audience from engaging with the content. "You’ll want to allow time to laugh or tear up without interrupting your flow," Dent notes. "For the best comprehension and emotional reactions, take it slow and focus on breaks, pauses, and intonation.”

Ask a Trusted Friend to Listen

To prepare for the actual vow exchange, ask a close friend who is a great sounding board (and a pro at keeping secrets) to listen as you rehearse. “They can give you constructive criticism and help you improve your vows to make sure you really get that meaning across,” Dent explains.

Photo by Michellia Fine Imagery

30 Examples of Personalized Wedding Vows from Real Couples

If you're still unsure what to write in your wedding vows, we've compiled a list of 30 examples from real couples to inspire you.

Poetic Personalized Wedding Vows

Want your wedding vows to read like a literary work? Take a look at the below examples, which are infused with eloquent words and touching stories, for inspiration.

"Gabriel, you came into my life at exactly the right time: When I wasn't ready, and yet, when I needed your love the most. In the past two years, we've experienced great triumphs and literal disasters together. These trials have pushed the boundaries of what we thought we could endure, and in the end, I feel more strongly connected with you in a resolve to get up and try again. I love you dearly for all that you are. I am amazed by your inquisitive mind and tickled by your sense of humor. I may not want to admit it, but I even love your awful puns. As your wife, I promise to love you with the same determination and confidence you've given me. I vow to support you through more ups and downs. I pledge to commit myself to our family and the good I know will grow from it. I promise this all to you until I am no more." — Marissa
"Never could I've imagined that the best gift of my entire life would come from my 21st birthday party. Not a materialistic item given from one person to another, but a life, a soul, and a connection given to two at the same time. That's the night we met by nothing but chance of a friend of a friend of a friend inviting you. The night that forever entangled our energies and our atoms. Our paths would have never crossed and I would never have met my soulmate if it weren't for that silly celebration of age." — Andrew
"Andrew, you are the partner I've always longed for, and this day is nothing short of my wildest dreams. I went home after that night and saved every measly penny I made at my retail job for weeks until I could afford to take you out to dinner . Every day feels like I'm remembering who you are instead of getting to know you. Your light is blinding, your laughter is contagious, and your love is otherworldly." — Caterina
"Andrew, my best friend, my compass, my husband from this day forward. You are the greatest, most magnificent man I've ever know. I never believed much in destiny or fate until it led me to you. I'd always thought that it would be difficult to find someone who will love me when I'm always scattered in a thousand pieces—kind of like trying to finish a puzzle when you aren't even sure if you have all the right pieces in front of you. But then you showed me that every piece doesn't have to be perfectly in place to create something beautiful. You welcomed Macy and Stella with open arms and loved them just as your own. So today in front of our family and friends I promise you these things: I promise to love you unconditionally and without hesitation. I promise to always try to give you the best of myself, and even though I can't promise that our love will be perfect, I can promise you that it will be beautiful, whether we're a thousand pieces or just one." — Kaitlin
"Devin Lee, it is impossible for me to put into words the passionate and infinite embrace you have on my heart. You make me a full person. Committing the rest of my life to you is actually pretty easy because without you, I am nothing. As we begin our life together, in front of those whom we are closest to, I make the following vows: I vow to wake up every morning and thank God that he gave me you, my perfect woman, and I vow to be your steady rock in turbulent times. I vow to put your needs before my own. I vow to be the man that you inspire me to be and the man that you deserve. Finally, I vow to spend every day I have left on this Earth showering you with a zealous love and a faithful commitment. A love that many waters cannot quench, a love that floods cannot drown." — Jeremy

Humorous Personalized Wedding Vows

For a more lighthearted approach, consider embracing your sense of humor. Here are examples of funny wedding vows that will make everyone laugh.

"Marissa, I love you with all my heart. I have been thankful for these past two years that you were not the best driver on that fateful day. Stopping in the middle of a busy 90/04 to see if everyone was OK, there I met the woman who is standing before me today. When we started dating, I gained a family, a woman who loves me, and an adorable whippet—both of whom I adore with all my heart. We have survived trials and tribulations; from Hurricane Irma to differing political views, we have pulled through. I promise to take care of you even when you get food poisoning on New Year's Eve . I promise I will unclog the shower even though only one of us has long hair. Marissa, I love you unconditionally and always will." — Gabriel
“There is an infinite number of things I love about you: I love your thoughtfulness and your ability to keep me grounded. I love your loyalty to me and our relationship. I love the way you weirdly get excited about Chipotle water, and I love how when you laugh really hard, your one eye starts to crinkle up. I promise to be patient with you, even if it means that I have to listen to how you should have started that one player on your Fantasy Football bench every single Sunday during football season.” — Chelsey
"Kristen, as the cliché says, you showed up when I was least expecting you. I intend to love you, hold you, and grow very, very old with you. These are my promises: I promise to always be there when you have troubles and to know that sometimes, simply letting you talk about your problems is enough. I promise to be the most dependable person in your life. I promise you that laughter will always be commonplace in our house. I promise to do my best to age gracefully in body and soul and not to become a cranky old man." — Dennis
“Do you remember the day when I knew for a fact that I was going to marry you? I don’t think we’d ever forget that day…She fell flat on her face, chipped her two front teeth—sorry, dad, we didn’t tell you this one. We got them fixed immediately. And I just remember thinking that this girl has literally fallen for me. She is literally head over heels in love.” — Justin
“Kaleb, before God and everyone else, I vow to let you watch college football whenever you want. And I hope I don’t regret saying that.” — Jeanine
"I vow to never make you read books. I vow to attend any doctor's appointment if it will make you feel better." — Kyle

Romantic Personalized Wedding Vows

Wedding vows that are written from the heart are inherently romantic, but if you want yours to focus on loving promises and sweet memories, take cues from the below examples.

"Alicia, it was 2013, but it feels like only yesterday when a beautiful, tall young lady took my breath away. Who would have guessed back then that we would be standing where we are today. In a matter of seven years, we have seen the world, made memories, friendships, and a trusting bond that will last a lifetime. And I can only imagine what we can achieve in the years to come. It's the small things about you that make you shine so brightly. I would say your smile is something I would wake up to a million times. But we both know it's the fuzzy-hair, grummy Alicia that truly shines when I'm pulling you out of bed in the morning. I promise to always be there for you. I'll trust you, care for you, but most of all, I will always love you." — Cam
"Statistics say there is a one in four hundred trillion chance of being born. That means the chance of meeting the perfect woman, wife, and mother is even more slim than that, but somehow, I managed to do it. Every time I sat down to write my vows, my hands would cramp. Just to show me how painful love could be. My pencil kept breaking just to show me that love always takes a little more work than you planned. I do believe in fate and destiny but also believe the choices we make play a huge role in that. If I had to choose, I would choose you in 100 lifetimes, and in 100 worlds, I would find you and I would choose you." — Andrew
“I promise to get out of bed and make you coffee in the morning before you wake up. I promise to bring you flowers for no particular reason other than it’s Tuesday. I promise to flirt with you and remind you how unbelievably attractive you are. I promise to always make our marriage a priority and work every day to better ourselves. I promise to build a home with you, a home that is a refuge for us. I promise to love you, Melissa, no matter what.” — Brendon
"Isabelle, with you, every day feels like a new adventure. I've learned so much about myself just by being with you. When things get tough, it's your faith in me that pushes me forward. We've laughed together, tackled some hurdles, and made big plans for our future. I promise to not just stand by your side, but to be your biggest fan, cheering you on. Our love? It's in our inside jokes, the way we can understand each other with just a look, the way we make up after a silly argument , and our shared dreams. Every morning and every night, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have you. Together, we make a pretty great team. Here's to us and all the adventures waiting around the corner." — Leo

Religious Personalized Wedding Vows

If you've opted to write your own wedding vows in lieu of traditional ones but you still want them to have somewhat of a religious tone, read these examples for inspiration.

"Gabriel, about 10 years ago, he walked into a choir practice room that I was in, plucking very poorly at the piano. You asked me if there was anything you could pray about. I said no, but if I would have known you would take the next six years to get the courage to ask me on a date, I might have asked you to pray on that. Little did I know that on your own, you were praying to God to make me your wife. Gabe, you are the best, good gift God could have sent my way. You are determined and hardworking. You are as patient as you are kind. I love your heart, and I love your mind. I love how you love others. You make me feel loved and accepted." — Karina
"Jeremy, I can't say we fell in love at first sight or that I wasn't hesitant to go on a date with a co-worker, but I can say with 100-percent certainty that today, I am marrying my soulmate. A few years back, I heard a sermon about love. I learned that, even though I felt ready for the responsibilities of a lasting love, I had to wait. I had to wait for the person God created for me to be ready as well. During our first few months, I learned about your adventures and how you came back home because you were ready—from that moment on, I knew my wait was over." — Devin Lee
"Katrina, this day has been a long time coming, at least for me. The first time I saw you, I was struck by how beautiful you were. I thought for sure you were out of my league. I started praying to God every day for His help and for a sign to show me that you were the one. And as it says in "Song of Solomon" Chapter 3, Verse 4, I have found the one my soul loves." — Gabriel
"Heather, four years ago when I first met you, I never thought that God would lead us to where we are today. You've taught me so much about life. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, next to my salvation. You're smart, beautiful, forgiving, selfless, and determined. I promise to respect and support you, to be patient and loving towards you, to work by your side to achieve the same things that we value and dream of, and to savor our time together." — Cody
"Cody, you're the answer to my prayers. You have exceeded every expectation and dream I've ever had. Today, surrounded by people that love us, I vow to walk alongside you for the rest of my days. I promise to support you in all that you do and encourage you every step of the way. I promise to cover you in prayer, speak words of kindness, and do my very best to be patient. I will choose you and only you from this day forward, and I will be faithful to you until God calls us home. This is my promise to you and to God for eternity." — Heather
"I vow to always be your protector and confidante, responsible for making sure your every need is met, every want is reached, and every dream realized. It's said that he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from God. From this life we have built to get to this moment, this great moment in our life, looking into your beautiful eyes, I vow to always be your good thing, with love in my heart, always by your side, to my last breath. I love you." — Marquise
"Bailey, when the Lord brought you into my life, He told me I needed to learn three things: the art of patience, how to fight for us, and how to love you when it's hard. All of this time, He's been preparing me to become the husband that you deserve. May the vows we take today echo into eternity, the faithfulness of our Savior, and the strength of His love." — Joshua

Simple Personalized Wedding Vows

Your promises can say so much with so little. Here are a few examples of simple wedding vows that have a big impact.

"Joshua, as we both know, in the area of marriage, I used to come from doubt. Now I come from hope. I used to come from fear, and now I come from love. Thank you for the reminder of the Lord's faithfulness to me." — Bailey
"I call you 'My Megan' because you are my everything. You are my light, and you've shown me more love than I've ever known." — Ronnie
"I, Daniela, take you, Megan, to be my wife, my best friend, and partner. I will work to create a bond of honesty, respect, acceptance, and gratitude; one that withstands the tides of time and changes and grows along with us." — Daniela
“I take you to be my partner for life. I promise, above all else, to live in truth with you and to communicate fully and fearlessly. I give you my hand and my heart as a sanctuary of warmth and peace and pledge my love, devotion, faith, and honor as I join my life to yours.” — Anne
"You are my lover and my teacher, you are my model and my accomplice, and you are my true counterpart. I will love you, hold you, and honor you. I will respect you, encourage you, and cherish you, in health and sickness, through sorrow and success, for all the days of my life." — Amy
"I swear to you that I will continue to dedicate all the days of my life to filling our days with beauty and laughter. I will celebrate your spirit and all of your accomplishments, work to inspire you, and be here to remind you of your beauty and strength. You are my partner, my confidant, my other half, and I will love you for the rest of my life." — Nicole
“My favorite Miami Dolphins player said it best: ‘Observing you has been inspiring, being with you has been fulfilling, and loving you is easy.’” — Bri
"I vow to take care of you and support you in every way. I will be patient and trustworthy. I vow to always love you and remind you that I love you. I will always be here for you. I am so excited to see where life takes us from here. You are my world, my everything." — Jeffrey

The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Guide

A Guide to Wedding Ceremony Order
Who Walks Down the Aisle and When
Everything to Know About Your Ceremony Exit
Writing Tips From Experts
How to Create a Unique Wedding Ceremony
How Long Should the Ceremony Last?
Tips for Writing the Perfect Program
Seating: Who Sits Where?
Modern Ways to Walk Down the Aisle
What Is a Unity Ceremony?
Creative Ideas to Personalize Your Ceremony
Questions to Ask Your Officiant
How Much Does an Officiant Cost?
How to Lead a Wedding Ceremony
currently on How to Write Your Own Vows
Who Traditionally Goes First?
Quotes About Love to Get You Started
Traditional Vows to Inspire Your Own
Unique Vow Ideas From TV Shows and Movies
Should You Exchange Vows Before the Ceremony?
The Best Vow Books to Keep Your Love Alive
How to Choose Music for Your Ceremony
Blessings and Prayers From Different Cultures and Religions
The Best Songs to Play While Guests Arrive
Non-Religious Readings We Love
The Best Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To
Incredible Altar Ideas
Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Aisle
Unique Chair Layouts
Stunning Ceremony Locations

How To Write Your Wedding Vows (With Examples To Steal)

Updates for this wild world we're living in

I t’s funny how not too long ago, wedding vows felt like the thing that landed at the bottom of your wedding to-do list. While “writing marriage vows” languished at the bottom, the top of the list was all that logistical (and sometimes fun and pretty stuff): figure out your seating chart , nail down your perfect dance party playlist , create an amazing photo booth filter. And then the pandemic happened, and in an instant, weddings went from “all the things,” to “just the things that really mattered.”

Image of couple immediately after wedding ceremony with text that says "How to write your wedding vows"

Coronavirus may not have given us much, but it gave fresh perspective on some key wedding vows: “In sickness and in health, till death do us part.” Suddenly, we’ve all been forced to remember that the most important thing we have in this world is our love for each other, and our commitment to care for each other till the end. No pandemic, budget, or changes to plans can take away the most beautiful parts of your wedding day. Wedding vows are the commitment we make to each other. They make us understand what we’re committing to. They’re the heart and soul of the wedding.

I’ve known too many people who saved writing their marriage vows for the night before. (Pro-tip: start early.) We’ve put together this seriously helpful post of wedding vows—a comprehensive list of real marriage vows (including vows from world religions), and some tips for exactly how to get it done, to get your own creativity flowing.

But before we start, a note. You don’t have to write your wedding vows. You might want to. To that, we say: Go for it! Or perhaps you want to say the time-tested traditional marriage vows, echoing the generations before you. (I did.) Or maybe you’re looking to tweak traditional vows just a little bit to make them feel like yours. Whatever you’re looking for, chances are we’ve got something on our list that will help you craft the promises you want to make.

How to write wedding vows

This might feel obvious at first, but just because you might have known that you’ve wanted to write wedding vows for years and years, your partner might not. Talk to them! Decide together that you definitely want to write them. There is nothing wrong with saying traditional marriage vows . But if you’re going to DIY this, both of you have to be equally committed to this concept.

Remember that marriage vows don’t have to be long or complex, or put you on the spot. Hannah Nielsen-Jones, officiant with River and Root Ceremonies in Washington, D.C., advises, “Consider how comfortable you are with public speaking. If it’s not something that you enjoy or if it’s something that makes you anxious, it is 100% acceptable to ask your officiant to structure vows so that you only have to say ‘I do’ or ‘I will’ or something similar. If speaking on your own feels hard, you can also consider speaking at the same time as your partner, so you are saying the same things to each other at the same time.”

Writing Vows: Step By Step

Infographic with 5 steps for "How To Write Your Wedding Vows"

Talk to your officiant

Many houses of worship may require you to say all, or part, of the traditional marriage vows of that religious practice. Sometimes this won’t preclude also saying vows that you wrote (though sometimes it will), but you’ll want to know what the rules are—and what the religious reasoning for them is—upfront. Some officiants may ask to review your vows before the ceremony, so be prepared to have them early if this is the case.

Come up with a plan

Will you write your vows together, or separately? Will you show them to each other beforehand, or will you keep them a secret until the ceremony? Do you want to set a due date for when you need to have your vows written? If you’ve decided that you will not see each other’s marriage vows before the ceremony, Nielsen-Jones of River and Root Ceremonies recommends showing them to someone else. “I encourage people to send them to their officiant or a good friend beforehand at least two weeks before the wedding. This has at least two benefits: 1) you will actually write them before the day you get married, and 2) the person who looks over them can let you know if they are roughly congruent in length and tone.” You don’t want to be promising to care for someone on their deathbed, while they’re promising to always DVR Grey’s Anatomy for you. As Nielsen-Jones says, “In my experience, it’s rare that the vows are so different from each other, but when they are, I would say that half the time couples try to meet in the middle, and half the time they say, ‘Yep that’s our dynamic! let’s keep it that way!’ The aim of this is to avoid an unfortunate surprise during vows.”

Photo: Zoe Larkin

Create a Structure

Think together about how long you want your vows to be, and think about how you want them to fit into your ceremony. Having a structure will also help you keep your word limit and help your vows match your partner’s. Finding a structure that works for you may require some tracking down, but don’t be afraid to mix and match from lots of examples you find. And of course, look to your own story and build around that. Alexis Dent, who owns vow-writing company XO Juliet , says, “I always recommend including an anecdote or quote to start, at least one anecdote in the middle, and a clear declaration of vows towards the end.”

Photo: Hannah Shea Photo

A good place to start is reading traditional vows . See what strikes a chord with you. You can even incorporate these into what you write, or use them as a jumping-off point. Secondly, steal ideas! Borrow freely from poetry , books, and even movies or video games . Jot down words and phrases that capture your feelings. The quotes you keep closest to your heart ring true for a reason. Use them. And if you’re someone who keeps a journal, go back and steal from your past self too. You’re not publishing a book or writing a college essay. Plagiarism is both allowed and encouraged (though as always: avoid cultural appropriation , which is a whole different thing). The truth is, most vows are plagiarism since we’re hoping to steal some wisdom from people that have gone before us, both in vows and in marriage.

Think About Your Relationship

Take some time, both separately and together, to think about what you love about each other and what makes your relationship special. Write down the most memorable moments you have shared together, good or bad. Think about the promises you want to make to your partner, and which ones you don’t. Alexis of XO Juliet says that “The best advice I would give to someone who is writing their wedding vows is to include the tough times in their relationship. It makes it much more meaningful to hear about the struggles the couple has endured. We all know that relationships are not all rainbows and butterflies, but people get so wrapped up in thinking that vows only have to be about the perfect times. Including an allusion to hard times makes your vows more relatable, and it also seems honest.”

Jackie Reinking , a wedding officiant specializing in elopements in New York City, says that if you get stuck, ask yourself some questions. “What is something your partner did for you that made you feel special? Is there something about your partner that you never want to live without? Think back to the first time you said, ‘I love you.’ Why was that the moment you had to say it?” She advises that “After reading the question, take a mental note of the first thing that comes to mind. Don’t give yourself more than a couple of minutes to flip through your thoughts. This shouldn’t be something to add stress but an exercise in feeling the joy of how much you absolutely adore this person you are marrying.”

Edit for tone, and then shorten

It’s best to decide on your overall tone before you put pen to paper, but make sure to go back over your words and refine the tone you want to achieve. Poetic and romantic? Humorous but touching? It’s up to you. The most important thing is that your marriage vows ring true and sound like they’re from your heart. While your vows can be lighthearted, they should, in some way, acknowledge the seriousness of the commitment you’re about to make. Use humor in moderation, and remember, at the end of the day, making the audience laugh is not your goal. Keep in mind that your vows shouldn’t be so personal that they can’t be followed by anyone, so don’t make them overly cryptic or embarrassing. You’ve invited your family and friends to witness your vows in order to make your bond public, so think about your words from their point of view—your guests want to feel included in that moment, even if they’re not feeling exactly what you’re feeling. That means putting a soft limit on inside jokes, deeply personal anecdotes, obscure nicknames, or code words.

And then, shorten. Aim to have your vows last for about one minute or less per person. Believe me, it’s longer than it sounds. Get at the heart of what marrying this person means to you; pick the most important promises and make them well. If you have more to say, save the more personal thoughts and give your spouse a letter on the morning of the ceremony .

Photo: Imani Photo

Memorization is optional, practicing is not.

Not only will practicing help with your delivery, but it’s also an important part of the editing process. Beth Stokes, a Humanist wedding officiant in Massachusetts and owner of Well Wed by Beth , says “My best advice for delivering vows is to practice. Especially practice saying the whole thing out loud. Send your partner out to dinner with friends while you walk around your place practicing. You’d be surprised how many words sound great on paper, but stiff and ungainly when spoken. Practice looking up while you read your vows, so you can actually look at your partner as you say the words. Beth advises that “Once you’ve got the right words for delivering your vows aloud, use different colored pens if you want to underline words for emphasis. Insert pauses that will allow you to look at your partner in those moments. You want to connect with your partner when saying your vows.”

It’s common to mumble or speak softly when reading, so practice your vows to make sure your family and friends will hear you. These are words that are meant to be heard by the assembled crowd, so check how they sound when spoken. Read your vows out loud to make sure they flow easily and watch out for tongue twisters and run-on sentences—both easy mistakes to make when you write marriage vows. And then, practice slowing down and speaking clearly. Beth notes that “unless you’re a professional speaker, you’re probably rushing through the reading. Aim for 150–170 words a minute. During the ceremony, see if you can pace your reading to a pretty relaxed inhale and exhale.”

Then do what you want

At the end of the day, they’re your words. Do what you want . Seriously. Your vows don’t even have to sound or read like marriage vows; you could write an essay, a sonnet, or rap them if that’s what is going to mean the most to you. Vows should sound like you , especially when you’re making promises to your partner. On this day of all days, you shouldn’t sound like someone else, so write vows that matter to you and feel authentic.

Couple kissing after saying wedding vows

Photo: Rad + In Love

THE BEST SAMPLE WEDDING VOWS TO STEAL (OR BE INSPIRED BY)

Now that you know how to write your vows, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite vows from APW couples, along with marriage vows from religions across the world, to get you started. And yes, we’ve added some real vows—even special post-pandemic ones. Let’s look at some of the best real wedding vows we’ve come across, plus a selection of beautiful traditional vows from world religions.

Pandemic Inspired Vows

I promise to love you every day of our lives; even in the event that a pandemic caused by a bat virus turns the world upside down and forces us to quarantine.

I promise to cherish you for eternity; even if we are putting together backyard furniture during said pandemic because we didn’t want to pay for assembly and this resulted in my nose being bruised.

I will do my best to never forget to order our groceries a few days before we are out, knowing that Instacart will repeatedly tell me “no delivery times available”, which will, in turn, cause us to mass panic.

I hope to be your constant strength, even when I am certain every single day that the tickle in my throat is not in fact allergies but The Virus and that causes mini (big) mental breakdown.

I promise to continue learning with you, like reading crisis news articles to you out loud every single day when you absolutely did not ask me to. You’re welcome.

Most importantly, I vow to be one of the first to hoard toilet paper, as to save us from having to worry about where we will get our next roll. (Also this is a joke please do not stockpile TP, for the love of all that is good). And with these promises, I know we can build a life that we are proud of (in, or out, of quarantine). I love you. Wouldn’t want to be stuck inside with anyone else.

— Kaila Strickland (pictured at the top of the post)

Romantic Vows From Real Weddings

Alex, you are my best friend. I promise to laugh with you, cry with you, and grow with you. I will love you when we are together and when we are apart. I promise to support your dreams and to respect our differences and to love you and be by your side through all the days and nights of our lives.

I, Alex, choose you Sam to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, trusting what things I will discover. I will respect you as a person, a partner, and an equal. There is little to say that you haven’t already heard, and little to give that is not already freely given. Before you asked me, I was yours and I am devoted to you in every way. I marry you with no hesitation or doubt, and my commitment to you is absolute. Do you take me to be your lawfully wedded husband/wife/partner?

I choose you. To stand by your side and sleep in your arms. To be joy to your heart and food for your soul. To learn with you and grow with you, even as time and life change us both. I promise to laugh with you in good times and struggle alongside you in bad times. I promise to respect you and cherish you as an individual, a partner, and an equal, knowing that we do not complete, but complement each other. May we have many adventures and grow old together.

I, Alex, do pledge you, Sam, my love, for as long as I live. What I possess in this world, I give to you. I will keep you and hold you, comfort, and tend you, protect you and shelter you, for all the days of my life.

More PersonaL

I love you unconditionally and without hesitation. I vow to love you, encourage you, trust you, and respect you. As a family, we will create a home filled with learning, laughter, and compassion. I promise to work with you to foster and cherish a relationship of equality knowing that together we will build a life far better than either of us could imagine alone. Today, I choose you to be my husband/wife/partner. I accept you as you are, and I offer myself in return. I will care for you, stand beside you, and share with you all of life’s adversities and all of its joys from this day forward, and all the days of my life.

Today, I promise you this: I will laugh with you in times of joy, and comfort you in times of sorrow. I will share in your dreams and support you as you strive to achieve your goals. I will listen to you with compassion and understanding, and speak to you with encouragement. Together, let us build a home filled with learning, laughter, and light, shared freely with all who may live there. Let us be partners, friends, and lovers, today and all of the days that follow.

I, Alex, take you, Sam, to be my husband/wife/partner. I promise to always be your biggest fan and your partner in crime. I promise to create and support a family with you, in a household filled with laughter, patience, understanding, and love. I vow not just to grow old together, but to grow together. I will love you faithfully through the difficult and the easy. What may come, I will always be there, each one believing that love never dies. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep.

Modern marriage Vows From Real Weddings

Image of wedding vow books with text that says: "Vows! How to write your wedding vows (or, you can just steal these!)

Officiant: Do you, Sam, promise to be a loving friend and partner in marriage , to talk and to listen, to trust and to appreciate, to respect and to cherish Alex’s uniqueness? Do you promise to support, comfort, and strengthen him/her/them through life’s joys and sorrows? Do you promise to share hopes and dreams as you build your lives together, and to grow with Alex in mind? Will you strive to build a home that is compassionate to all, full of respect and honor, filled with peace, happiness, and love? Do you promise to always be open and honest with Alex, and cherish him/her/them for as long as you both shall live?

I, Sam, take you, Alex, to be the wife/husband/partner of my days, the companion of my house, the friend of my life. We shall bear together whatever trouble and sorrow life may lay upon us, and we shall share together whatever good and joyful things life may bring us. With these words and all the words of my heart, I marry you and bind my life to yours.

Today, surrounded by people who love us, I choose you, Alex, to be my partner. I am proud to be your wife/husband/partner and to join my life with yours. I vow to support you, push you, inspire you, and, above all, love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live.

I take you to be my spouse. I promise to choose you every day, to love you in word and deed, to do the hard work of making now into always. To laugh with you, cry with you, grow with you, and create with you. To honor the divinity in you, of you, and around you. To be your kin and your partner in all of life’s adventures. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I don’t yet know, I give you my hand. I give you my love. I give you myself. Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me?

Photo: River Medlock Photography

More-traditional

I, Sam, commit myself to you, Alex, as wife/husband/partner, to learn and grow with, to explore and adventure with, to respect you in everything as an equal partner, in the foreknowledge of joy and pain, strength and weariness, direction and doubt, for all the risings and settings of the sun. We tie these knots to symbolize our connection to one another. They represent our trust in each other and our combined strength together.

Today, surrounded by people who love us, I choose you, Alex, to be my partner. I am proud to be your wife/husband/partner and to join my life with yours. I vow to support you, push you, inspire you, and above all love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live

OFFICIANT: Do you, Sam and Alex, pledge to create a life of mutual respect, compassion, generosity, and patience toward each other as you grow together in years? COUPLE: We do. OFFICIANT: Do you pledge to recognize each other’s individuality and celebrate each other’s uniqueness as a strength in marriage? While at the same time, will you guard one another’s weaknesses with understanding, support, and inspiration? COUPLE: We do. OFFICIANT: And do you pledge to share the love you have for each other with all living beings? To be a couple that lets their marriage radiate into others, making their lives more beautiful because of it? COUPLE: We do. OFFICIANT: Sam and Alex, if you will face each other and repeat after me. Sam: Alex, I give you my life. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you. Alex: Sam, I give you my life. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.

You have taught me that two people joined together with respect, trust, and open communication can be far stronger and happier than each could ever be alone. You are the strength I didn’t know I needed and the joy that I didn’t know I lacked. Today, I choose to spend the rest of my life with you.

I promise to love you for who you are, and for who you are yet to become. I promise to be patient and to remember that all things between us are rooted in love. I promise to nurture your dreams and to help you reach them. I promise to share my whole heart with you and to remember to show you how deeply I care for you, no matter the challenges that may come our way. I promise to love you loyally and fiercely—as long as I shall live.

Do you take me to be your lawfully wedded husband/wife/partner?

I, Alex, do pledge you, Sam, my love, for as long as I live. What I possess in this world, I give to you. I will keep you and hold you, comfort, and tend you, protect you, and shelter you, for all the days of my life.

Our Favorite marriage Vow Books on Etsy

Collage image of wedding vow books from Etsy

1. Celestial Stars Vow Books by Peach Paper Shop | 2. Best Day Ever Vow Books by Peach Paper Shop | 3. Boho Vow Books by The Cozy Comfy Home | 4. Personalized Wedding Vow Books by Blush Printables | 5. Leather Wedding Vow Booklet by Cover Cafe | 6. His & Her’s Personalised Vow Books by Paigen Co. | 7. Minimal Vow Books by Pape In Co. | 8. Custom Vow Book by Studio Tenebris

Have you written your marriage vows? If you have, please share! What did you say? What felt hardest about writing them yourselves? What marriage vows have moved you the most? Share in the comments!

Parts of this post were excerpted from the #APWPlanner . For more useful advice like this, get your #APWPlanner at AMAZON , BARNES & NOBLE , INDIEBOUND , or on ITUNES .

Founder & Editor-In-Chief

Meg is the Founder of APW, and has been the sites EIC for the past twelve years. She has written two best selling wedding books: A Practical Wedding and A Practical Wedding Planner . Meg’s work has been referenced in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Jezebel, and Refinery29 . She’s also written hugely viral wedding articles for Buzzfeed. She lives in Oakland, CA with her husband and two children. For more than you ever wanted to know about Meg, you can visit MegKeene.com .

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A Complete Guide to Wedding Vows, Toasts, Speeches & Readings

If the thought of speaking at a wedding stresses you out – you’re not alone. Studies have shown that more people are afraid of public speaking than they are of death! It's indeed a significant moment, often in front of friends and family, where you want to deliver a heartfelt and memorable speech. What do you do when you are asked by a best friend or a family member to stand in front of 200 people at a wedding? Take a deep breath – and trust that with a bit of guidance and preparation, anyone can overcome this fear and deliver an impressive speech.

In this complete guide, we've sought out expert advice from Steven Greitzer, the CEO of Provenance , a site that offers easy-to-use tools and professional speech-writing support to help you create personalized and meaningful ceremonies, vows and toasts.. Drawing from Provenance’s pool of expertise, we'll provide you with golden tips and advice on how to ace your wedding vows, toasts, speeches, and readings.

Writing Your Wedding Vows

Your wedding vows are perhaps the most important part of the ceremony. They are a public declaration of your love and commitment to your partner, and they should reflect your unique personalities, authenticity, and values.

Tips on how to write your vows:

Crafting personal vows is indeed an art, a gentle balance between speaking from the heart and painting a vivid picture of your shared journey. Greitzer suggests honing in on the specifics, those little anecdotes and quirks that are unique to your relationship.

Imagine sharing a light-hearted story that perfectly encapsulates your partner's delightful silliness, like the endearing insistence on everyone having a wig collection, or the joyful Harry Styles singalongs that grace your Sundays.

So, when you find yourself seeking those perfect words, dive deep into your well of shared memories, and choose details that are as joyous and real as your love story. It's those little specifics, expressed earnestly, that will bring warmth and a personal touch to your vows, creating a beautiful moment that truly celebrates your unique bond.

How long should your vows be?:

Finding the perfect length for your vows is super important. Steven Greitzer advises aiming for around 2-3 minutes to keep things heartfelt without going overboard.

Break it down like this: spend about a minute sharing 4-5 sentences of personal anecdotes and words of appreciation, another minute to voice 4-5 solid promises you're making to your partner. Then, set aside 30 seconds to give a shoutout to your community, and wrap things up with a 30-second declaration of your love, hinting at the bright future ahead.

And don't forget to sync up with your partner on the length of the vows & possibly even tone to avoid any awkwardness on the big day. Keeping it balanced means there won't be a big difference between one person’s few lines and the other’s long speech. It's all about keeping things even and true to both of your styles.

Mistakes to avoid when writing your vows:

Navigating the do’s and don’ts while writing your vows can be a tightrope walk. Steven Greitzer suggests avoiding clichés and steering clear of overly romantic language that doesn’t feel true to your story.

Keep the promises realistic and achievable, bypassing the temptation to share overly intimate details or to turn the spotlight solely onto your partner’s LinkedIn achievements.

Another crucial tip is to ensure your vows match your partner's in both length and tone, maintaining a harmonious vibe during the exchange.

And for those drafting vows at the last minute — though it’s not the recommended route — make it a point to practice them aloud several times before the big moment. This helps in delivering them smoothly, avoiding any hiccups when all eyes are on you.

Crafting a Memorable Wedding Toast

Wedding toasts are an opportunity to celebrate the couple and offer well-wishes for their future together. However, delivering a toast can be nerve-wracking, especially if you're not used to public speaking.

How to write a killer wedding toast:

Crafting that killer wedding toast is all about structure. Steven Greitzer advises starting strong with an opening that grabs attention.

Move on to share 2-3 stories that really paint a picture of the person you're closer to, but don't forget to spotlight the other partner and their standout traits. A good rule of thumb is a 70-30 split between the two.

Round it all off by highlighting how they’ve grown individually and as a pair, aiming for a takeaway that has everyone nodding in agreement, thinking “yup, that’s so them.” It might feel overwhelming, but this blueprint can help keep you on track.

How long should a wedding toast be?

When it comes to the ever-important wedding toast, the golden rule is to check in with the couple or the wedding planner, suggests Steven Greitzer. They’ll often have a vision for the flow of the day, which would guide the length of the speech.

Yet, if a direct guideline remains elusive and you’re aiming to hit just the right note, a roundabout perfect pitch could be a toast lasting approximately 3 minutes. It’s a timeframe that allows for a sweet spot of heartfelt words without holding up the festivities for too long. It’s like a cozy chat that leaves everyone with warm smiles and perhaps a glistening eye or two!

Do’s and don't’s of wedding toasts:

Do keep it short and sweet, do practice beforehand, and do speak clearly and confidently, suggests Greitzer. It's equally important to steer clear of certain don'ts: avoid drinking too much before your toast, refrain from using inside jokes understood only by a few, and ensure you celebrate both halves of the couple rather than just your friend. And, perhaps most importantly, avoid embarrassing stories that might leave anyone red-faced.

If you’re unsure about certain content, the couple can provide guidance on what to avoid. The perfect toast harmonizes humor and sentimentality, utilizing personal stories to convey genuine affection and well wishes for the couple.

How to overcome your nerves and deliver a memorable toast with confidence

“Practice, practice, practice!” stresses Greitzer. Run through your toast multiple times before the big day, and don’t hesitate to ask friends for honest feedback during rehearsal sessions. In your quiet moments, visualize yourself on stage, radiating confidence as you deliver a memorable speech.

Doing a Wedding Reading (or the whole Ceremony Script)

Whether you’re doing one reading during the ceremony, or you’re officiating the whole thing, it’s important to be intentional and personalize the moment for the couple.

How to choose the right reading for the occasion:

Choosing the right reading can be a significant task, especially when aiming to find something that truly resonates with the couple, shares Greitzer. He advises to deeply consider the couple's unique blend of beliefs and values, coupled with the envisaged tone and style of the ceremony. Whether the choice swings towards a profound religious text or something as light-hearted and classic as a quote from “When Harry Met Sally,” the core idea is to echo the heartbeat of the couple's relationship in the reading.

How many wedding readings should there be?

Traditionally, the sweet spot tends to be around 0-2 wedding readings, which generally unfold over a span of roughly five minutes, with each reading lasting between 1-3 minutes, shares Greitzer. However, he notes that he has witnessed ceremonies where readings become a vibrant canvas representing the couple's diverse cultures, involving as many as 14 friends and family members each sharing passages in different languages, adding a rich texture of inclusivity and celebration to the ceremony.

How to make your ceremony script personal and meaningful:

Undoubtedly, officiating a wedding is both a great honor and a substantial responsibility, Greitzer points out. To craft a ceremony script that is both personal and brimming with meaning, it’s essential to delve deep into the couple’s love story. Engaging with them to understand their vision for the wedding can be a vital step.

Do’s and don't’s of wedding officiant ceremony scripts

Greitzer shares some golden nuggets to ace this role!

Do aim to wrap things up in 20 minutes or so, keeping it crisp to hold everyone’s attention (but always stick to what the couple wants). A little rehearsal never hurt anybody; in fact, rehearsing aloud in front of a friend for feedback is the way to go to perfect that script.

Avoid making it the ‘me' show; a tiny snippet about your bond with the couple is more than enough. The spotlight should evenly grace both the bride and the groom, ensuring a balanced and harmonious narrative that's 50/50, a little different from the wedding toast scenario where a 70/30 ratio works just fine.

As D-day approaches and it's time to hold the mic, remember to pace yourself, articulating each word with warmth. Engaging with the gathered friends and family through spontaneous eye contact adds that magical touch. Let your heartfelt joy resonate through gentle body language, creating a ceremony brimming with love and shared happiness.

FAQ about Wedding Vows, Toasts, Ceremony Scripts, and Readings.

In this section, Greitzer answers some frequently asked questions about wedding ceremony scripts, vows, toasts, speeches, and readings.

How can I personalize my wedding ceremony script?

You can personalize your wedding ceremony script by including readings or passages that are meaningful to you, writing your own vows or speeches, and incorporating cultural or religious traditions that are important to you.

What if I'm not a good public speaker?

If you're not a good public speaker, don't worry! Practice beforehand, take deep breaths, and speak slowly and clearly. You can also consider enlisting the help of a friend or family member to deliver a speech or reading on your behalf. Public speaking coaches can help give you that final confidence boost as well!

How can I make my wedding toast stand out?

To make your wedding toast stand out, use personal anecdotes or stories about the couple, strike a balance between humor and sentimentality, and practice beforehand.

Can I include religious or cultural traditions in my wedding ceremony?

Yes, you can include religious or cultural traditions in your wedding ceremony. You also don’t have to! At the end of the day, delivering a memorable and heartfelt wedding vow, toast, ceremony script, or reading doesn't have to be stressful or overwhelming.

And there we have it, your one-stop guide to mastering the art of wedding words – from vows to toasts, and everything in between! Thanks to tips from Provenance's speech guru Steven Greitzer, you're now ready to craft messages that are both genuine and memorable.

Remember, the best speeches are the ones that feel true to you and the couple's journey. So, take a breath, embrace those little stories that make your relationship unique, and you'll nail it.

With a bit of prep and your personal touch, you’re all set to contribute to the day's joy with words that resonate. You’ve got this!

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A Complete Guide to Wedding Vows, Toasts, Speeches & Readings

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How (and why!) to end the wedding ceremony with a grand finale-Courtesy of Unboring!Wedding Academy

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— March 15, 2022
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1. PRONOUNCE YOUR COUPLE AS MARRIED

2. get ’em to kiss, 3. make your closing remarks.

I know, I know. You’re thinking, “Make closing remarks? Now? Is this really the time for pedantic housekeeping announcements?”

And that’s why a lot of officiants just skip this part! They try to stuff this in after the recessional when the couple and the wedding party are gone. And the ceremony ends like a deflating balloon.

But we’re not gonna do that. We know better. To answer your question: No! It’s not at all time for pedantic housekeeping announcements! What it is time for: building the energy in the room while giving our couple a moment to head up the aisle for the grand finale.

Which means: when we properly orchestrate this moment in the ceremony, two things are happening at the same time here. One: our closing remarks will be fun and get all the guests ramped up for their biggest cheer yet. And Two: our couple will be chomping at the bit to charge outta here – the recessional! So when the couple stop kissing and the guests stop cheering, you’ll feel the energy ebb. It’s like a tide going out. Now, it’s nothing to worry about – when you’re expecting it. It just means it’s time to step back in and step it up.

THE REMARKS In that moment, we want to step back into frame (I keep to the right or left of the couple), and deliver our quick, high-energy closing remarks.

First, we want to tell the guests where our couple are going next – whether to the bar or out for photos. They’re the stars of the show, and people should know where they are and when to expect them to rejoin us.

Second, we want to tell the guests what they’re doing next. Is it cocktail hour? Group photo time? Lawn games back at the barn? Guest-book signing? Check in to their hotel rooms? What time do they need to be back for the reception? In twenty seconds or less, give the guests an idea of what’s in store for them over the next hour or so.

Third, thank everyone for coming – on behalf of the couple and their family. (And if you’re wondering whether you’ve already thanked everyone for coming at the start of the ceremony: no, you haven’t. We avoid platitudes as much as possible at the start of the ceremony. But that’s another article for another time.

Thank the guests now, not before.

Finally, I like to end the closing remarks with a question that will get everyone cheering. Like, “Are you ready to celebrate with these two tonight?” in your best outdoor voice. That will get the guests smiling and laughing and shouting, “Yeah!” Which is the perfect setup for the next part of the Grand Finale Formula.

THE FACE-OUT But wait! Before we get to that, we need to talk about what the couple were doing while you were making those closing remarks. They’re not just standing there! Our couple need to get ready for the big recessional. It’s Face-Out time!

And this is something you want to practice at the rehearsal so they know exactly what to do.

While you’re speaking, your couple need to do two things:

First , they need to turn themselves outward to face the aisle. The guests and the photographer love this part! Your couple has been facing each other the whole time up to now. But at this point, they get to look at their guests straight-on, and the guests get to see them. There are loads of smiles and great photos here.

Second , it’s time to get the flowers back! If your couple has a bride (or two!), she likely doffed that off to a Maid of Honour or parent in the front row. For the recessional, we want the bride to have her bouquet in her hand. So whoever has that bouquet steps over and gives her flowers back. With our closing remarks done, our couple facing the aisle, and our bride holding her flowers, it’s time for the last two steps of the Grand Finale Formula.

4. GET THE GUESTS ON THEIR FEET

5. present the couple as married.

And without skipping a beat, “…because it’s my honour to officially present to you for the very first time….”

Let’s hit pause there – like we’re in a Marvel movie where we control time. Look around. There you are, standing off-centre, gesturing towards the couple.

And your couple? They’re facing their guests, just beaming. The DJ or band are at attention, fingers hovering over the button or the keys or the strings – poised to start the recessional song the moment you finish your sentence. They’re just waiting for their cue word.

And the cue word is whatever your couple decided you’d say to present them.

It might be “Alex and Bailey as wife and wife!” It might be “Mrs. and Mrs. Burns!” Whether first names or a last name, when you say that cue word…. Unpause!

The music comes in with a bang.

The guests clap and cheer.

The couple bounce up the aisle.

The wedding party follows, arms in the air.

The family in the front row follow them, and then the guests eagerly head out to whatever’s waiting for them.

And you? Well, you’re standing front and centre. Smiling at the guests. Drinking it all in. Knowing you just perfectly punctuated a terrific ceremony with the biggest possible ending: a Grand Finale.

Mark Allan Groleau

HAVE WE MET? I'm Mark Allan Groleau.

I've been officiating weddings for 10 years. The first few were rough. In fact, I didn't even like doing weddings. But then in a risky move, I departed from convention and made the ceremony all about the couple and their story.

It was electrifying. I did it again and again. Over a few years, I developed a style and system that could guarantee I'd thrill every couple and their guests.

The Unboring!Wedding Formula was born. And with it, I found my mission: make weddings unboring everywhere. And this mission doesn't only extend to couples getting married. It includes you.

With this training, you join an elite group of officiants and celebrants worldwide who are demonstrating just how fun and moving and elating a wedding ceremony can be. And the world is taking notice. My work has appeared on every major North American news network.

For your couple, their guests, and your maximum potential... let's do this. Let's settle for nothing less than what your ceremony can be: an Unboring!Wedding!

Still looking for a wedding officiant? Search for your perfect Officiant here on our website .

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The Best Ways To Conclude A Wedding Speech

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To conclude your toast, you ask everyone to raise their glasses and say something endearing, humorous, or heartfelt aloud for everyone to repeat. Typically, you would end it with “to the bride and groom/happy couple/newlyweds” or use their names, and the wedding party would repeat it back to you.

How do you wrap up a wedding speech?

According to Chertoff, “the conclusion of a wedding speech should summarize the feeling of the speech and the occasion.”. “The speaker might ask everyone to raise a glass in toast to the couple, or they might just want to end by expressing their love for the newlyweds. It’s actually that easy. CachedSimilar.

In the past, guests at weddings would raise their glasses to their gods. Giving a speech (or toast) in honor of the newlyweds is still a significant component of wedding celebrations today.

According to Allyson Joseph, an event producer at Bob Gail Events in Los Angeles, California, wedding speeches are typically given by the newlyweds’ parents, one member of each side of the wedding party (the best man and maid of honor), and the newlyweds themselves.

Given that they frequently host this event, the father and mother of the groom typically make a toast at the rehearsal dinner, whereas the bride’s family typically does so at the wedding.

What phrases are used to conclude a wedding toast?

Please lift your glasses in honor of the bride and groom. These are some common closing statements for the maid of honor speech. Join me in congratulating the bride and groom on their marriage! Here’s to you, bride and groom, with love and happiness! Cheers to the joyful newlyweds!

Amy has a B and has worked in a variety of fields. A. to coordinate events like weddings, which is why communication skills are so important.

Making sure the bride and groom will remember and find the maid of honor’s toast meaningful is crucial. Unlike other maid of honor duties that are done “behind the scenes,” the maid of honor toast is one responsibility that will put you in the spotlight. You can make the perfect toast with the help of a few useful writing and speaking hints, as well as fantastic examples of speech endings.

Some people may find it difficult to write a toast. Even if you are the bride’s sister or her best friend and the maid of honor, you might struggle to find the right words to use during the toast. When writing your essay, try to keep these suggestions in mind.

How do you make a toast?

If you frequently attend formal dinners, it can be a good idea to memorize one or two go-to toasts, whether heartfelt (“May your house always be too small to hold all our.

If you came across this page after frantically searching for “how to give a wedding toast when you just got asked to be the maid of honor and you’re terrified of public speaking,” welcome. You’ve found yourself in the middle of a book about public speaking. We’ll do our best to educate you.

When we consider public speaking situations, wedding toasts frequently loom large in our minds. This perception may arise from the fact that wedding toasts combine several of the distinctive (and potentially intimidating) aspects of public speaking that we have practiced throughout this course. The components of public speaking for a toast at a wedding are:

Of course, most weddings will deviate from this trend, particularly considering that all of the speakers on the aforementioned list are male. More importantly, every family and every couple is unique. What happens if there are two brides or grooms, a female best man, the couple pays for their own wedding, etc.? The main benefit of the “traditional” toasting order at weddings is that it makes sure that everyone is acknowledged and thanked. Find out if there is anyone or anything at the wedding that you should specifically mention in your toast before beginning to prepare your speech.

What should a thank-you speech’s final words be?

Thank you for your time today, tonight, or this morning. That concludes our discussion. I appreciate you giving me your time and attention today. I greatly appreciate your interest and focus.

Do you have anything in mind for your audience to do or consider after your presentation? Give your audience clear instructions on what to do by using a Call to Action if you want them to take action.

Please take two minutes to leave a comment about your experience with presentations after you have finished the lesson for today. The comments section at the bottom of this lesson is the ideal place to join a discussion on this subject; feel free to add your ideas or pose questions there.

Here are a few helpful phrases to use when introducing your CTA:

How do you toast at the conclusion of a speech?

The Customary Toast “Please join me in raising a glass to the happy couple, (NAME) and (NAME).” “I’d like you all to join me in wishing the new Mr. and Mrs. (NAME) all the wealth, health, and happiness in the world.” Greetings from the new Mr. and Mrs. or Mr. and Mrs. (NAME) to my best friend and his lovely bride or groom.

Making a toast to the happy couple is a requirement for the best man speech; here are 22 toasts to get you started.

Give a best man toast to the newlyweds as part of your best man speech preparation. You’ll need to ask everyone to raise their glasses in celebration of the happy couple and their future together.

The best man’s wedding toast is the traditional way to conclude a best man’s speech, but if you need some inspiration for a memorable conclusion, check out these great best man speech toast examples.

What is a suitable way to conclude a speech?

The simplest way to conclude a speech after delivering the content is to say, “Thank you,” to the audience. That has the advantage of being widely accepted. Anyone can use it to tell the crowd that it’s time to applaud and then go home.

The beginning and ending of your presentation are the most important. You must capture the audience’s interest at the outset of your speech if you want them to pay attention for the duration of it. Your opportunity to leave a memorable impression that listeners will carry with them is at the conclusion.

According to studies, people perform best at the beginning and end of recall tasks. It’s therefore essential that you leave an impact with your closing statement. A compelling conclusion inspires action, empowers the audience, and motivates readers.

We frequently use the rule of three in both written and verbal communication because it is a straightforward yet effective method of communication. The audience is more likely to remember information when it is presented in groups of three.

How do you toast the bride and groom at the end of a speech?

Congratulate the happy couple. Tell them how excited you are that they are getting married and how much it means to you to be there. Say hello. dot. A story should be told. dot. Address each partner separately. dot. Choose the favorites of the crowd. dot. Raise your glass for a toast.

Trying to figure out how to write a wedding toast can be a very nerve-wracking and intimidating task. Wedding toasts can go one of two ways: they’re either hilarious, memorable, and totally sweet, or they’re a train wreck waiting to happen and a moment guests dread. Every couple hopes the speeches at the reception fall into the first category, but there is no assurance—until now.

To combat those awful speeches, Marisa Polansky and Kristine Keller founded Speech Tank, offering completely custom, one-of-a-kind toasts for any occasion. And what better reason to turn to the experts than for your best friend’s wedding? We sat down with Polansky and Keller to get the inside scoop on writing a totally killer speech. With their help, your audience will be begging for an encore!

Your toast should be heartfelt but brief. An introduction, middle, and conclusion should all be included.

What particular speech pattern is a closing toast known for?

To conclude a toast, simply say something like, “Please join me in recognizing Joan for her achievement” and lift your glass. When you lift your glass, this will signal to others to do the same, and then you can all take a drink, which is the end of your speech.

Many entertaining speeches fall under the category of special-occasion speeches. All the speeches in this category are given to mark the significance of particular events. Common events include weddings, bar mitzvahs, award ceremonies, funerals, and political events. On each of these different occasions, speakers are asked to deliver speeches relating to the event. For purposes of simplicity, we’ve broken special-occasion speeches into two groups: ceremonial speaking and inspirational speaking.

Ceremonial speeches are speeches given during a ceremony or a ritual marked by the observance of formality or etiquette. are speeches given during a ceremony or a ritual marked by the observance of formality or etiquette. It shouldn’t be surprising that these ceremonies provide platforms for speeches because they are typically very special for the participants. Let’s examine each of the eight types of ceremonial speaking: introductions, presentations, acceptances, dedications, toasts, roasts, eulogies, and farewells.

The first type of speech is called the speech of introduction. Speech given by the host of a ceremony that introduces another speaker and his or her speech. to introduce another speaker and his or her speech, which is a brief speech delivered by the host of a ceremony. There are few things worse than when the speaker or introducer stands up and announces, “This is Joe Smith; he will talk about stress.” While we did learn the speaker’s name and the topic, the introduction falls flat. The audience won’t be the least bit excited about listening to Joe’s speech.

What is a good sentence to end a speech?

Once you’ve finished presenting your content, thanking the audience is the easiest way to conclude a speech. Everyone will be able to understand that, so that is a plus. Anyone can use it to tell the crowd that it’s time to applaud and then go home.

The most crucial parts of your presentation are the beginning and conclusion. The beginning is where you grab the audience’s attention and ensure they listen to the rest of your speech. The conclusion gives you a chance to leave a lasting impression that listeners take away with them.

According to studies, people perform at their peak during the beginning and end of recall tasks. You must make sure your closing statement has impact. People are inspired, empowered, and motivated to take action by a strong conclusion.

We frequently employ the rule of three, a straightforward but effective communication technique, in both written and spoken communication. Information that is presented in groups of three helps the audience remember it better.

How do you end a speech sentence?

Here are some options for ending your speech: Close with an inspirational quotation. Find a short quote that captures the feeling you want the audience to have. Include a call to action. Tell a story. Describe the impact of what happens if the audience does what you ask. Transition to Q+A Match the opening sentence.

This month’s topic addresses a special request from one of our readers. Jon writes, “I was wondering if… you could cover dynamic closings in speeches. My team and I work very hard on that aspect of our presentations, and any advice you could give us would be extremely helpful.

Absolutely! In fact, the opening and closing sentences are the two most important parts of any speech or presentation.

Every speech is an opportunity to influence people’s behaviors, beliefs, or actions. That’s an incredible opportunity and a deep responsibility to make your speech matter. One of the ways to do that is through writing a powerful conclusion.

How do you say thank you at the end of a speech?

And the most basic one you can give is whether you can say is. Thank you for being here today. I really appreciate that you took the time to be here and listen to my presentation.

How do you end a wedding speech, maid of honor?

How do you end a maid of honor speech? A maid of honor speech should end on a sincere and happy note. Celebrate the couple and how they make each other better, share your love for the bride, offer pearls of wisdom for a happy life together, or recite a meaningful quote.

One of the most challenging maid of honor duties can be giving a speech at the reception or wedding ceremony.

Although the MOH is typically someone who knows the bride well as either a best friend, sister, or other family member, public speaking is one of the most common phobias, and the pressure to come up with the right words to describe the bride and groom can leave maids of honor not knowing where to begin.

To give maids and matrons of honor a good starting point for their wedding toast, we’ve pulled together some helpful tips for making your speech memorable.

What is an example of a good closing speech?

Formal Closing Remarks It’s been a pleasure being with all of you today; thank you. Thank you all for your patience. I wish you all a very good evening. Good Bye. It’s been an honor to be among such accomplished individuals and to be able to present my perspective before you all. Thank you and have a good evening or day.

Two aspects of a speech or presentation hold immense importance to ensure that you are able to leave a lasting impact on your audience, i.e., the opening and closing remarks. Using the right words can help you leave on a high note, and needless to say, failing to do so can make your presentation forgettable and, in some cases, regrettable.

The type of closing remarks you add to your presentation will depend upon the environment, the topic of the speech, and the kind of audience you are addressing. Let’s take a look at some sample closing remarks that you can use, along with some basic tips for concluding your presentation in an appropriate manner.

You might want to end your presentation formally with comments like these:

The Best Ways To Conclude A Wedding Speech

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How to Write Wedding Vows (Examples And Template)

moniquehesslerweddings via instagram

Have you and your fiance decided to write your own wedding vows? Are you unsure of how to get started? The following article will discuss how to write wedding vows. As well, we will provide you with examples of different types of wedding vows.

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Brides Often Ask

What are wedding vows.

They are a lifetime pledge to commit your heart and your life fully to your partner. You can use traditional vows or compose your own and speak from the heart.

Who says vows first – man or woman?

Traditionally, the groom will say his vows first. But the bride can go first or both can say the vows in unison. The order is not as important as the spoken vow itself. However, it is important to decide whom will go first before the ceremony, to avoid any awkwardness.

How Long Should Wedding Vows Be?

That is a very good question. Of course, you want to be able to express your love for your partner and you could probably go on for hours. However, it is wise to keep your vows to around two minutes max.

The wedding ceremony itself will probably run around thirty minutes including the blessing, the ring ceremony, etc. So both you and your partner should take about 2 minutes each for your vows to keep with the pace of the ceremony. Remember, you will have the rest of your lives together to express your love.

blue_note_weddings via Instagram

When composing your wedding vows, the first thing to remember is that you should speak from the heart. However, trying to put this on paper might be challenging for some. Following is a guide for wedding vow structure to you overcome your fears and doubts. Keep in mind that this is a guide and you can alter it to make it more personal.

Take a look back at your relationship

You can start with words that capture the beautiful memories of your relationship.

Example: “I know this is true because the moment you walked up to me on the beach that day, you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen!”

Share sentimental qualities

Express the good qualities you always see in your partner.

Example: “There are too many qualities to mention. You are extremely thoughtful,with you, every day is special. You keep me on my toes with your happy-go-lucky attitude.”

“I love you because…”

Express the reasons why you love your partner.

Example: “I love you because you make me laugh even when I’m sad. You don’t dare leave me even when I’m mad.”

Make a few promises

In conclusion, recite your promises to your partner.

Example: “I, Brian, take you, Caitlin, to be my wife. “To love forever, as long as I have breath. To be yours as long as we shall live.”

50 Best Wedding Readings For Your Ceremony

Tips for writing wedding vows.

When writing your own wedding vows, you must structure them in a way that flows seamlessly. See the ultimate wedding vow tips below to help you craft a heartfelt and memorable message. Learn how to write your vows with clarity, emotion, and personal significance.

Begin by stating what your partner means to you Name what they represent in your life. They could be a lover, friend, confidant, and all.
State what it is you love most about them Why did you decide to spend forever with your partner? What’s that trait(s) that turns you on and assures you that you’ve chosen right?
Tell a story Bring this love to life by illustrating it in a story. A memorable personal and intimate story you can’t forget.
Make promises and personalize them Promise your spouse that you’ll always be with them. Be specific about the things you hope to do with your spouse. Learn the art of personalizing wedding vows by throwing in some humor or romance.
Reassure and show eagerness to the future Promise your partner once again that you’ll be there no matter what life brings. Remind them that you are ready to walk into the future with them. Tell them that you have a lot of wins to experience together.
Wrap up with one last promise about never parting till death.

How To Start Wedding Vows

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siempreweddings via Instagram

If you are still unsure how to start wedding vows, remember that you are speaking to the person with whom you are spending the rest of your life. Sure, your friends and family will hear you exchange your vows, but they are really only for you and your fiancé. Start off by telling them how much they mean to you. If you both enjoy humor, you can start off with a joke or include a funny story of you as a couple. Keep it personal and to the point. For more guidance on how to write vows, focus on what makes your relationship unique and meaningful. When writing vows, aim for sincerity and authenticity.

Sara, we have known each other since we were toddlers. Our parents used to joke about us getting married, but we both thought they were crazy. Then one day, in our teens, I fell in love with you. And I knew at that moment that they were right.

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kreativwedding via Instagram

Still unsure of what you want to say in your vows to make them stand out? As the groom, you could always include phrases that end with a vow. For example, “I make this my solemn vow” or “Today I pledge my love to you in this sacred vow.” These phrases can serve as inspiration and give you a solid starting point for how to write wedding vows that are both meaningful and memorable.

Connor, I today I pledge my love eternal. I will love you every second of every day. My every thought shall be of you and our life together. I will love you until the day I die. Let this be my solemn vow!

Ways To Personalize Wedding Vows

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Personalizing wedding vows is perhaps one of the best ways to make your vows memorable. You don’t just want to ramble on endlessly or sound as though you are reciting a rehearsed speech. Again, the key to writing your own wedding vows is to speak from your heart.

Following are some ways you can personalize your wedding vows. Don’t be afraid to be happy if you are a hopeless romantic. But we have also included some examples of non-sappy wedding vows quotes for him .

Use humor: Start off with a funny story from your relationship, maybe about how you met. Again, you don’t want to embarrass your partner so if you are not sure whether they want you to share a certain story, you should ask them first.
Use song lyrics: Do the two of you have a certain song that symbolizes your relationship? You can quote a line or two from that song in your vows and explain the significance of the lyrics.
Use movie (or television) quotes: Are you both a fan of romantic movies? Do you have a favorite movie quote that sums up your relationship or is meaningful to you as a couple? Incorporate this into your vows. If you can’t think of a movie, you can quote a line from your favorite television show as a couple.
Use literature: Are either of you poetry buffs? Quote a few lines from your favorite love poem. Or recite a passage from your favorite novel. Just make sure that is the line that your partner will understand.

If you are still stuck, you can search for vow quotes online, or paraphrase one of the examples we have provided in this article for inspiration.

I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived: I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.

11 Wedding Ceremony Outlines (Bonus: Free Templates)

Wedding vows template.

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Look at this wedding vows template-free as a simple guideline, not as rules set in stone.

1. What marriage means to you

Think about what marriage means to you, the reason you have chosen to be with this person, and put it in words. You can include your favorite line from a song, poem, or book.

2. Reference your relationship

Look back on your relationship and the important moments and milestones that you had together. Perhaps the first time you met, your first kiss or first fight. Or even the moment you knew that your partner was the one. Incorporate this in your vows.

3. Be sentimental

This is where you really get in touch with your feelings. Talk about the great qualities of your partner that bring out the best in you, and how this matches with your qualities. Compliment your partner like never before.

4. “I Love You Because…”

This is a great phrase to start this part of your vows with. Here you can indicate all of the reasons you love your partner. All the reasons you have chosen to spend forever with them.

5. Make the promises

Whether it’s serious, funny, or sentimental. You know the promises you are making to your partner. End your vows by reciting these promises and promising that they will be forever.

Wedding Vows Examples

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Traditional Wedding Vow Template

The timeless nature of traditional wedding vows makes them sturdy templates across races, cultures, and beliefs. See some examples below.

I, (name), take you, (name), to be my wife/husband; 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 cherish always

In the presence of God and these our friends, I take thee to be my wife/husband, promising with divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband/wife so long as we both shall live.

I vow you the first cut of my meat, the first sip of my wine, from this day it shall only your name I cry out in the night and into your eyes that I smile each morning; I shall be a shield for your back as you are for mine, not shall a grievous word be spoken about us, for our marriage is sacred between us and no stranger shall hear my grievance. Above and beyond this, I will cherish and honor you through this life and into the next.

Funny Surprise Wedding Vows

For funny surprise wedding vows, take your partner totally unawares. Give a hint of stories you’d likely share and see that it’s okay by them. But think outside the box and add some humor. Make them laugh while telling them they mean the world to you.

I promise not to hog the remote control or force you to watch chick flicks unless I then agree to watch an action movie in exchange.

Dear _____, I promise to put the toilet seat down, listen to gossip about the neighbors and not ignore you when the Lakers are playing.

I promise not to hide when your parents come over. I vow not to steal the covers at night and not to turn the heat up too high

Wedding Vows For A Long-Term Relationship

Writing wedding vows for a long-term relationship can be quite overwhelming. For whatever reasons both of you waited to get married, your love sustained you. Your love brought you this far and it’s one to celebrate. Talks about the highs and lows, the wins, and how much you’re meant to be. Make promises to stay together forever. The same goes for anniversaries. How far you’ve come is a reason to celebrate.

Today marks 50 years since we first said: “I do.” We built a home together, raised our children and watched them raise theirs. We laughed, we cried, and we survived many hurdles together as a couple. As I look into your eyes, I still see the young man who was quite scared to ask me to the movies. I am so glad I said yes then and I will continue to say yes for the rest of our lives!

We have been together through thick and thin. We started dating in high school, stayed together while we both attended separate colleges, and then spend a year pursuing our careers. Now, we are finally joining our lives together to live out everything we have planned for years. It was worth the wait because we are going to have the perfect marriage and spend the rest of our days together as husband and wife.

Wedding Vows For Him

Whether you’re learning how to make wedding vows or you’re getting inspired by a source, personalize it. Pick out something that relays your message while representing the bare essence of your love. Our wedding vows examples are the perfect template. Use as s or modify to suit.

I vow to make my life forever yours and build my dreams around you.

Dear _____, I promise to be the man that I see now in your eyes, today, tomorrow, and for always.

I vow to always protect you from harm, to stand with you against your troubles, and look to you when I need protection

Wedding Vows For Her

It’s your wedding and you want to serenade your partner with a vow that’s unforgettable. Take inspiration from books, literature, movies, or just cook up yours. It’s also fine to get sentimental without sounding cheesy. Bottom line is to make it come straight from the heart. The examples below will inspire you.

I promise to laugh with you and to laugh at myself.

You are the love of my life and I am proud to marry you. I promise to support your dreams and to be there for you for all eternity.

I vow to be a loving and devoted wife, without judgment, without scorn, but always with an open heart and mind

Wedding Vow Delivery Tips

Delivering your wedding vows with confidence and emotion can make your special moment even more memorable. Here are practical tips to help you present your vows with grace, ensuring your words resonate with your partner and guests. Whether you’re writing your own vows or wondering how to start vows, these insights will guide you through the process.

Rehearse your vows multiple times to get comfortable with the wording and flow. Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend to simulate the real experience.

Speak slowly and clearly, giving each word the weight it deserves. Pause for emphasis after key phrases to allow the meaning to sink in.

Look into your partner’s eyes while delivering your vows to create an intimate connection. Glance occasionally at your guests to engage them in the moment.

It’s natural to get emotional—take deep breaths and pause if needed. If you’re overwhelmed, a small laugh or smile can help ease the tension.

Keep a written copy of your vows with you in case nerves make you forget your lines. Hold the paper or card discreetly to avoid distracting from the moment.

We hope that you have found some inspiration and guidance with our advice on how to write wedding vows. Remember, these are your wedding vows so don’t let anyone else influence you. Speak from the heart and you will be fine!

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How to Write the Perfect Wedding Vows

A wedding ceremony can take many forms. A couple may choose to have music performed as they glide down a flower-lined aisle, or keep things simple at a courthouse. A religious officiant could provide blessings, or a friend might give an original speech about the couple. At the core of every wedding, however, are the vows exchanged and agreed to by saying “I do.” While many choose to follow a traditional script prompted by their officiant (“in sickness and health,” or “til death do us part”), an increasing number of newlyweds prefer to recite an original set of vows—words they’ve written to reflect the unique qualities of their relationship, and their promises for one another as they begin the next phase of life as a married couple.

If you don’t often put pen to paper to share your emotions, writing your original wedding vows might sound like a daunting task. Ahead, we asked two professional vow writers (yes, you can hire someone to help!) to share their tips on how to create your own personal wedding vows that both you and your partner will enjoy reciting—and listening to—on your big day.

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What to Include in Your Wedding Vows

While vows can run the gamut from a short paragraph to an original song, most follow a basic structure and length. Wedding vow and speech writer Katelyn Peterson advises the following breakdown: “Address your partner and briefly recap your love story, communicate traits that you admire about your partner, describe what you appreciate about your relationship, list three to six specific promises, and close with how you envision your future together.” She suggests that the total time should run from two to five minutes. “Brevity is best so when possible, make your vows on the shorter side,” she adds.

Tips for Writing Your Wedding Vows

Condensing all your memories, love, and hopes for your partner into a few minutes isn’t an easy task, so professional vow writers advise you to take your time with the process. Tanya Pushkine of The Vow Whisperer suggests beginning your brainstorming up to three months before the wedding so you aren’t too overwhelmed with other planning tasks. “A person needs time to be creative,” she says. “If you get into a rut, leave it alone for a few days. Most importantly, give yourself as much time as possible. Rushing vows is never a good idea.”

Begin the process by reflecting on your relationship. “I suggest doing a brain dump o f memories and moments you’ve shared,” she recommends. “Why do you want to marry this person? What incredible experiences have you had together and how do you see your future? Ideally, take the time to sit quietly and reflect, ponder, relive moments, and put that on paper.” Peterson agrees that it’s important to have a proper brainstorm before thinking about structure. “When you’re not focused on the format or how your vows will sound, you can come up with ideas more freely,” she explains. “Then you’ll have material that you can edit and polish into vows you love.”

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Don’t forget that your inspiration should truly come from the heart. “Remember, you are the storyteller,” says Pushkine. “Writing your own vows not only enhances the entire experience, but it is a declaration of love you are making to your future spouse. If done well, every guest in the room will be completely swept away by these incredible words and the setting has been set for the rest of the magical wedding day.” She does advise to keep your guests in mind, though. Anything your partner might not want shared or a very detailed challenge your relationship faced can be kept private.

While stories and kind words bring beautiful color to your vows, don’t forget the main purpose of the task. “The number one details to always include are specific promises, as these are the heart of wedding vows,” shares Peterson. “List three to six and make sure they can stand the test of time.” She notes, “Inside jokes you share today may dwindle over the years. To create meaningful promises, consider how you can keep your commitment strong and your partner happy.”

While vows can lean towards sentimentality (and it’s absolutely okay to cry), try to find a balance that feels authentic to you and your future spouse. “I recommend writing sweet and sentimental vows that also include some playfulness and humor,” says Peterson. “This provides a nice balance and reflects most couple's personalities.”

How to Recite Your Wedding Vows

Once you write your vows, go ahead and read them (many times) out loud. “Practice, practice, practice, and focus on your speed and tone,” advises Peterson, who works with her clients on delivery after the writing process. “Most couples speak too quickly. Slow down to make sure guests and your fiancé understand what you’re saying.”

Not only should you consider your pace, but also think about how you bring your vows to life through voice and gesture. “You can write the most beautiful words ever written, but if you sound monotonous without any expression or feeling, it will all get lost, and people will be bored silly,” says Pushkine. “You have to work on being as animated, expressive, and soulful. The more you practice, the better you’ll be.”

Both vow writers say that you should not try reciting your speech from memory. “If you forget one word or line, your mind might go blank and you’ll freeze in front of your fiancé,” notes Peterson. She advises writing them down in a vow booklet instead. Pushkine adds, “Never memorize, but get to know the words so well that you can make eye contact. You don’t want to be glued to your vow book or paper.”

And finally, of course, there’s no pressure—you and your partner should always feel able to do your wedding your way. If public speaking isn’t your thing, you can agree to exchange vows privately after a first look or even exchange letters ahead of the ceremony. Just be ready for makeup touch-ups if you shed a tear or two.

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How to Write Your Wedding Vows with Examples

For many couples, the thought of writing their own wedding vows (and then sharing them in front of loved ones!) can be seriously daunting.

Let’s be honest – summarising your love towards your partner, your marriage and your future together in just a few short paragraphs is no easy feat. But we promise, the end result will ultimately be one of your favourite memories from the entire day!

Writing your wedding vows requires careful thought and reflection, but that doesn’t mean it has to be stressful. If you’re looking for some wording inspiration to get those creative juices flowing, keep reading for a selection of wedding vow examples you can totally swipe for yourself – from traditional to modern and fun.

Traditional Wedding Vow Examples

If you and your partner share an appreciation for tradition, you might want to follow a more classic route when it comes to writing your wedding vows. Traditional wedding vows usually include meaningful sentiments that have stood the test of time – maybe even the same words your parents and grandparents shared for their very own ceremony.

Traditional wedding vows tend to be short and sweet, with a more serious and formal tone. They can also be customised to include any religious or cultural sentiments that are significant to you and your partner.

If you love the idea of sharing classic vows that have been passed down through the generations, check out these traditional wedding vow examples below:

I, (name), take you, (name), to be my (husband/wife). To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.

I, (name) take you, (name), to be my (husband/wife). I promise to always be faithful to you, honest with you, and supportive of you. I promise to stand by you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I promise to respect, trust, help and care for you as we share our life together. Today, I give you my hand, my heart, and my eternal love, from this day forward, as long as we both live.

I, (name), commit myself to you, (name), as your (husband/wife), partner in life, and loving soulmate. Through this commitment, I promise to learn and grow alongside you, to explore and adventure with you, to laugh and cry with you, and to respect you in everything as my equal partner. I promise to always cherish our union, and love you faithfully through good times and bad, from this day forward until eternity.

I, (name), take you (name), to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be faithful, supportive and loyal, and to give you my companionship and love throughout all the changes of our life. I vow to bring you happiness, and I will treasure you as my companion. I will celebrate the joys of life with you. I promise to support your dreams, and walk beside you offering courage and strength through all endeavors. From this day forward, I will be proud to be your (husband/wife) and your best friend.

Modern Wedding Vow Examples

If you’re the kind of couple looking to deviate from tradition and add a personal feel to your ceremony , these modern wedding vow ideas might be the perfect fit for you.

Modern wedding vows usually have a more light, relaxed and conversational tone, while still remaining romantic and sincere. This vow style is generally longer and more informal than traditional vows, and often includes anecdotes and personal references to your partner.

Check out these modern wedding vow examples below to get the ball rolling:

(Name), my partner in crime, my best friend and my number one supporter. Today I take you to be my (husband/wife), loving everything I already know about you, and looking forward to discovering new things about each other as we embark on the journey of a lifetime together.

I promise to always respect and appreciate you for the person you are, as well as the person you wish to become. I promise to support your goals and ambitions, celebrate your wins, and cheer you on through any obstacles, because we are a team – now and for always.

I promise to keep our lives exciting, spontaneous and full of passion, embarking on adventures together, and creating new memories together. Above all, I promise to show you every day how lucky I am to have you by my side. I can’t wait to start building our life together.

(Name), from the moment I met you, I just knew we were meant to be in each other’s lives. I love everything about you – your adventurous outlook on life, your ridiculous sense of humour, and your infectious passion for making the world a better place.

I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be standing by your side here today. From this day forward, I promise you these things.

I promise to laugh with you in the good times, and comfort you through the bad. I promise to share in your dreams, and support you as you strive to achieve them. I promise to help you when you need it, and step aside when you don’t.

I promise to listen to you with compassion, to speak to you warmly, and to have patience. I promise to make space for adventure and romance, and to cherish the special bond we both share.

Above all, I promise to always remember the gratitude I feel when I wake up next to you each morning and fall asleep with you each night. You are my best friend, and I will love and respect you always.

(Name), it seems like only yesterday we were making awkward small talk on our very first Tinder date. I remember being so captivated by your quiet confidence, witty banter and rugged good looks, and feeling the same butterflies that I feel standing here with you today.

There are so many things I love about you, but here are a few of my favourites. I love the way you talk to people, the way you treat your friends and family, and most of all, the way you care for me. I love knowing that you have my back, and I want you to know that I will always have yours. I love how ambitious you are, and I promise to always support your goals and dreams (even the crazy ones).

I promise to always put our relationship first, to keep sharing experiences and adventures together, to laugh and cry together, and to keep our sacred Friday dinner dates alive until we grow old and grey together. I feel so grateful to have you as my partner in life, and I wouldn’t want to embark on this crazy ride with anyone else.

Fun Wedding Vow Examples

If getting deep and meaningful with your wedding vows just isn’t your style, why not inject some humour? This is a celebration of you and your partner, so have some fun with it if that feels more natural to you.

Fun wedding vows can help to ease the tension, calm your nerves and showcase your personality. If you want to take a more playful and authentic approach to your wedding vows, don’t be afraid to insert some funny anecdotes, witty jokes or banter if that reflects the relationship you both share.

Pro tip: The key to injecting humour into your wedding vows is to find the right balance between silly and serious. Remember, you’re making a pretty special commitment to one another, so try to include some more sincere sentiments amongst the jokes.

A great way to do this is by inserting some “realistic” promises to break up the serious stuff, like:

I promise to never secretly watch an episode of (tv show) without you. I swear, it was just the one time!
I vow to protect you from spiders, insects, and everything else you deem creepy or gross
I promise to always remind you of our anniversary 2 days beforehand
I promise to always love you, even when you (insert bad habit – eg, steal the covers every night)
I promise to always comfort you when (favourite sports team) loses…again.
I promise to like your Facebook photos within a reasonable time frame
I promise to never keep score – even when I’m clearly winning

You can also share some of your favourite memories from your relationship journey, your partner’s little quirks and mannerisms, or simply poke fun at each other in a loving way.

Take some inspiration from these fun wedding vow examples below:

7 years ago, I went on a blind date with a guy who rocked up 20 minutes late, forgot his wallet, and took 2 weeks to call me back. Today, I’m here to marry him.

(Name), in all honesty, you’re the best person I know, and I feel pretty damn lucky to be standing here by your side today. You make me laugh until I cry, you pick me up when I’m down, and you inspire me to be a better person.

I promise to always be your biggest fan and number one supporter. I promise to put up with your bad habits, if you promise to put up with mine. Yes – this means I’ll be okay with you stealing the blankets each night, as long as you remain cool with my poor sense of direction and navigation skills.

I promise to love you, support you, respect you, and above all, make sure I’m not just yelling at you because I’m hungry. I promise to encourage and appreciate you, and to frustrate and challenge you. And one day, if the stars align, I might even let you win an argument.

Most importantly, I promise to never forget that this is a once in a lifetime kind of love. I can’t wait to make new memories, tick off our bucket list together, and build an awesome life with you.

(Name), today, in front of our friends and family, I promise to love and support you as your (husband/wife) as we begin this new chapter together. I know, right – who would have thought that the (guy/girl) who spilled an entire glass of red wine on me during our first date would end up becoming the (man/woman) of my dreams?

From this day forward, I vow to love you through everything – including your obsession with trashy reality tv, your questionable taste in music, and your bad dad jokes. If I’m honest, these things somehow make me love you even more.

I promise to always stand by you – when it’s easy, and when it’s not. I promise to be your biggest cheerleader, your best friend and your number one supporter. I promise to try my hardest to keep my makeup in its designated drawer – as long as you promise to pick your wet towel off the floor.

I promise to cherish those everyday moments that make me smile – walking down to the beach together each morning, attempting (and failing) to impress each other with new recipes, and sitting down to watch a movie knowing we’ll both fall asleep within 10 minutes. I still get excited to see you at the end of each day, and miss you whenever we’re apart. (Name), I love everything about you, and I can’t wait to live a long and happy life with you.

(Name), the thing I love most about you is how you inspire me to be a better person. You’ve taught me to stand up for the things I believe in. You’ve taught me to have confidence and to always back myself. You’ve taught me to treat people with kindness, patience and generosity. And of course, you’ve taught me the many virtues of watching football. Wait, no, I think we’re still working on that one.

(Name), you are my best friend and my favourite person in the whole world. I love that we share an appreciation for Italian food, bad puns and funny cat videos. I love that we can spend our weekends together doing nothing at all, but somehow having the best time ever.

From this day forward, I promise to love and support you through everything, and to care for you the way you care for me. I promise to kill the spiders, share my food, and eat the pineapple off your pizza. I choose you as my (husband/wife), best friend and equal partner. I can’t wait to spend forever with you.

Wedding Vow Wording 101

When it comes to crafting the perfect wedding vows, all you need to do is speak from the heart and you can never go wrong. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just take a step back and simply think about the things you love most about your partner, your relationship, and your dreams for the future. Because ultimately, that’s what this day is all about.

Need some extra help pulling your vows together? We’ve got you. Check out our list of brainstorming prompts and bonus wedding vow tips right here!

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How to Write the Perfect Wedding Vows and Speeches

Writing your own wedding vows and speeches is no small feat. But if you know how to handle it right, all your efforts will be totally worth it in the end. Sure, you can always follow the traditional wedding vows that your officiant has already prepared, but nothing leaves a deeper impression more than personalized wedding vows. The same goes with wedding speeches, which are a chance for you to show your heartfelt appreciation for your beloved spouse and wedding guests. Do you want to start writing but don't know where to start? Don't worry, we've got some great tips to help you get started. Just read our guide below, try to spend some time alone, and write it one at a time.

Wedding Vows

Wedding vows are the most important and meaningful part of every wedding ceremony, so we understand if you're a bit nervous about writing your own vows. Before you give up, just think about it. In ten years, your vows will be the things you'll cherish even more than your five-tier cake and color-coordinated table settings. Just take a deep breath, go through our guide slowly, and you'll be just fine.

Step-by-step guide for writing your own wedding vows

1. Start doing some research

You can find many templates for traditional, by-the-book wedding vows online, but don't just copy them blindly without any adjustments. Use the vows as guidance to give you a bigger picture about wedding vows. Remember to always bookmark or save vows that you love to make your work a lot easier.

2. Agree on some rules with your fiancé

Do you want your future spouse to know about your special vows or do you prefer keeping them as a secret? Have you both decided on a specific style, like poetic or funny wedding vows? These days many couples tend to do away with the rules and limitations, but setting expectations is never a bad idea

3. Read dozens of wedding vow samples

Read up on as many wedding vow examples as you like, but try to limit them to the kinds of vows you are planning to say. Most brides prefer romantic vows, but if you have a fun personality, you can always incorporate some light jokes. Just remember, you'll only have around two minutes to finish your vows.

4. Write down all the ideas you can think of

Whenever you have new ideas, jot them down right away. Keep a notebook or binder at hand or use a text app on your smart phone. It's fine to have messy jumbles of text at first, as this is only the first step of writing your personalized wedding vows. Later on, you can create an outline and organize all your ideas.

5. Sort through your notes and cast out clichéd phrases

Clichéd words can sound insincere, so always try to rephrase overused phrases and tailor them to your own relationship. For instance, instead of saying "love surpasses all", you can say something like, "I promise to always be your partner in crime in creating an adventurous life free of boredom."

6. Keep it short, simple, and to the point

For wedding vows, the suggested time span is around 1 to 2 minutes for each person. Stop yourself from rambling and just keep your private inside jokes for you and your partner. It's good to have a personal touch, but don't confuse your guests and risk losing the heartfelt moment of the sacred ceremony.

7. Save a few copies of your finished vows

Feel free to write your vows on a paper napkin, post-its, or anything you can find whenever you get a sudden bout of inspiration, but don't forget to take additional notes. Type it up on your phone, send it to your own email, or save it in a document on a cloud-based service like Google Drive.

Questions to ask yourself before writing your wedding vows

To get you started, refresh the fond memories of your relationship by asking yourself the following questions. Aside from giving a smile on your face, these questions will also help you decide on what you should add to your vows.

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The dos and don'ts of writing your own wedding vows

1. Do: Be personal and sincere

The whole point of writing your own vows is being yourself, so you should add your own personal touch. If you're fine with traditional vows, you can slip in romantic quotes from your favorite movie as the intro.

2. Don't: Make it too lengthy

What is touching at first can turn lackluster if it drags on. Keep your vows simple yet meaningful without taking too much time. Remember that your guests won't have the time or attention span for overly long vows.

3. Do: Try to memorize your vows

Saying your vows without reading them leaves a better impression. Imagine looking at your partner's eyes while declaring your vows, how romantic is that? Just keep practicing and you'll have them memorized in no time.

4. Don't: Add overly private inside jokes

Avoid things that only you and your partner can understand. It's good to add a personal touch, but having only the two of you laughing while all the guests are scratching their heads will make the whole situation awkward.

5. Do: Surprise your partner

State your intentions of having personal wedding vows up front, but keep the exact words under wraps before the wedding. This way, your partner will get a pleasant surprise when hearing your vows for the first time.

6. Don't: Underestimate your vows

Your vows may be short, but they're not exactly a piece of cake. Your nerves can get the better of you on your wedding day, so you should always take time to practice out loud without a cheat sheet.

7. Do: Keep calm and stay confident

This is your show, and there is no right or wrong. To deal with stage fright, try to breathe slowly, smile, and focus your eyes and thoughts on the most important person standing in front of you.

8. Don't: Forget to take notes

Any good idea that pops up in your head can be easily replaced by other thoughts about work, wedding planning, or other problems. Write notes anywhere you can; on your phone, post-its at the office, or your notebook.

9. Do: Remember to have fun

There's no better way to enjoy your own wedding than to relax and just let it flow. Even a slip of the tongue can be remembered by everyone as a lighthearted, memorable moment instead of an embarrassment.

10. Don't: Drink too much or even at all before saying your vows

Sure, a drink or two can calm you down and make you feel confident, but it's better to find more sober ways so you can stay focused. If you really must, limit your alcohol consumption to only 2 glasses.

Examples of religious and non-religious wedding vows

Wedding Speeches

Giving a wedding speech is a good way to show just how much you appreciate your new spouse, your parents, your trustworthy bridal party , and all your beloved guests who especially came to celebrate your union. To create heartfelt moments and avoid embarrassing ones, just follow this guide we've prepared for you and anyone who is planning a speech on your wedding day.

The who's who of wedding speeches

Traditionally, the ones giving out speeches are the father of the bride as the host, the groom, and the best man, but these days you don't really need to follow these often outdated rules. To help you schedule and prepare your speech, here is a simple guideline for each responsible party.

Father of the bride's speech : Welcomes the guests and thanks them for coming, compliments his daughter and welcomes her new husband into the family, and ends with a toast for the happy couple.

Groom's speech or bride's speech : Traditionally, the groom responds to the father of the bride's toast. These days, sometimes both the bride and groom thank the guests, their parents, and the bridesmaids, before offering a toast together.

Best man's speech or maid of honor's speech : The best man and maid and honor thanks the groom and bride, compliments them, reads out messages from absent friends and relatives, and proposes a toast.

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The steps involved in writing a wedding speech are actually not much different from the ones used for wedding vows. The main difference is how the speech is delivered, as it is usually more informal and jovial. Below, we've compiled a comprehensive guide for writing a wedding speech. Be sure to learn from it and pass it along to your partner, father, and everyone else who will be giving a speech on your wedding.

Step-by-step guide for giving a wedding speech

1. Study up on wedding speeches

Find as many examples of wedding speeches as you can and save the ones you like the most. As with the wedding vow examples, you should save or bookmark every speech for future reference.

2. Dig up some memorable anecdotes

Take some time to ask for amusing or touching insights and anecdotes from the bride and groom's family members. Remember, this doesn't mean you can snoop around for family secrets.

3. Stay organized

Take notes whenever you get ideas from books, movies, or other sources. Though they can be messy at first, try slowly organizing them once you have enough ideas.

4. Practice with the right time frame

The ideal time frame for a wedding speech is 5 to 7 minutes. As this isn't a formal speech, you can speak casually and make changes on the spot when they feel right. When practicing, try to speak out loud in front of a mirror and keep your eye contact locked to yourself. This way, you will feel less stressed out when you need to look at the guests. Record it if you need, so you can see how you performed and easily fix any awkward gestures.

5. Scout the location

Take some time to see where you are going to give your speech before the reception takes place. Check out the scenery and imagine the guests looking at you. If you have time, try to rehearse there.

6. Be confident with your speech

Start the speech by letting your guests know just how nervous you are in a humorous way. This trick acts as a simple ice breaker than can make you feel relaxed instantly. Keep your talking points on a small card or phone and maintain eye contact with the guests.

7. Use visual props

For someone who is not fully comfortable with public speaking, props can work wonders. Just prepare a slideshow filled with funny and nostalgic photos of the groom or bride to keep you company and entertain all the guests.

Questions you should ask yourself before writing a wedding speech

Whether you're the bride or groom, a family member, or part of the bridal party, asking these questions to yourself will help you get ideas for your wedding speech.

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The dos and don'ts of giving a wedding speech

1. Do: Tell jokes that everyone will understand

If you want to spice it up with amusing stories and anecdotes, make sure to explain them so all the guests can laugh together with you. Otherwise, you can leave them confused and stuck in an awkward situation.

2. Don't: Embarrass the couple with inappropriate stories

You might know him or her longer than they know each other, but that doesn't mean you can say anything you want. Stories of exes, bad break ups, or any below the belt digs should not be included.

3. Do: Share memorable moments

There is no better speech than one that includes poignant memories. Try to end your wedding speech on a high note by sharing a touching experience you had with the groom or bride.

4. Don't: Give cryptic messages that only you and the couple understand

It's great that you have inside jokes or secret codes that only you and the groom or bride understand. But unless you're willing to share with everyone else, just exclude them from your speech.

5. Do: Invite other family members to participate

If you're the only one giving a speech, try asking someone else, like the father of the bride and groom, to add their own stories. Make sure to limit the number of people you're asking to join in on the speech.

6. Don't: Comment on the other guests

Maybe your high school rival or that ex you hate is sitting among the guests, but your wedding speech shouldn't be used to insult them publicly. Remember that it's about the bride and groom, not about you.

How to structure your wedding speech

Now that you've figured out all the basics of creating a wedding speech, it's time to start putting your thoughts into writing. To keep your words organized and easy to understand, just follow the basic wedding speech structure below.

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Other ideas for your wedding vows and speeches

Still can't get those creative juices flowing? Don't worry, you still have plenty of time. Even if your wedding is less than 6 months away , we're sure you'll make it in time. As with any case of writer's block, all you need to do is relax, have a notebook ready at all times, and get inspired. A fun way is to read plenty of books, watch a lot of movies, and look through famous quotes. If you're wondering about the best sentence to start with, you can quote the romantic quotes we've collected for you below.

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There you have it, all you need to know about writing your own wedding vows and speeches. Do you have any other romantic quotes you'd like to add to your vows? Any funny or touching anecdotes for your wedding speech? Share your stories on the comments section below.

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Ikuti akun Instagram @thebridestory untuk beragam inspirasi pernikahan

50 Speech Closing Lines (& How to Create Your Own) | The Ultimate Guide

Hrideep barot.

Public Speaking , Speech Writing

While speech openings are definitely one of the most important components of a speech, something that is equally as important is the way you conclude your speech.

There are few worse ways to end your speech than with a terse ‘thank you’–no elaboration or addition whatsoever.

Speech endings are just as crucial to the success of your speech as speech openings, and you must spend just as much time picking the perfect ending as you do to determine your best possible speech opening.

The words you speak at the beginning and end of your speech are words that your audience will pay the most attention to, and remember longer than any other part of your speech.

Speech endings can put even the most experienced speaker in flux, and increase their anxiousness manifold as they sit there attempting to figure out the perfect way to end your speech.

If you’re someone who’s in flux about your speech ending too, don’t worry. We’ve got some amazing ways to conclude your speech with a bang!

1. Circling Back To The Beginning

The idea behind circling back to the beginning of your speech is to reinforce the idea of your speech being a complete whole. By circling back to the beginning and connecting it to your ending, you let the audience understand that the idea of your speech is complete & standalone.

Circling back to the beginning of your speech also acts as an excellent way of reinforcing the central idea of your speech in the audience’s mind, and makes it more likely that they will remember it after the speech ends.

Need more inspiration for speech opening lines? Check out our article on 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines & Tips To Create Your Own.

How To Circle Back To The Beginning

The easiest way to do this is to set up your beginning for the conclusion of your speech. That is, if you’re saying something like, say, a story or joke in the beginning, then you can leave your audience in a cliffhanger until the ending arrives.

Another great way to circle back to the beginning is by simply restating something you said at the start. The added knowledge from attending the rest of your speech will help the audience see this piece of information in a new–and better–light.

1. Will Stephen

Ending Line: “I’d like you to think about what you heard in the beginning, and I want you to think about what you hear now. Because it was nothing & it’s still nothing.”

2. Canwen Xu

Speech Ending: My name is Canwen, my favorite color is purple and I play the piano but not so much the violin…

Think of a memorable moment from your life, and chances are you’ll realize that it involved a feeling of happiness–something that we can associate with smiling or laughter. And what better way to generate laughter than by incorporating the age-old strategy of good humor.

The happy and lighthearted feeling you associate with good memories is the kind of emotional reaction you want to create in your audience too. That’s what will make your speech stick in their memory.

Done incorrectly, humor can be a disaster. Done right, however, it can entirely transform a speech.

Humor doesn’t only mean slapstick comedy (although there’s nothing wrong with slapstick, either). Humor can come in many forms, including puns, jokes, a funny story…the list is endless.

How To Incorporate Humor In Your Speech Ending

The simplest way to incorporate humor into your speech ending is by telling a plain old joke–something that’s relevant to your topic, of course.

You can also tell them a short, funny anecdote–may be an unexpected conclusion to a story you set up in the beginning.

Another way would be by employing the power of repetition. You can do this by associating something funny with a word, and then repeating the word throughout your speech. During the end, simply say the word or phrase one last time, and it’s likely you’ll leave off your audience with a good chuckle.

1. Woody Roseland

Ending Line: “Why are balloons so expensive? Inflation.”

2. Andras Arato

Ending Line: “There are three rules to becoming famous. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.”

3. Hasan Minhaj

Ending Line: “And you want to know the scariest part? Pretty soon every country on the earth is going to have its own TLC show.”

4. Sophie Scott

Speech Ending: In other words, when it comes to laughter, you and me baby, ain’t nothing but mammals.

5. Tim Urban

Speech Ending: We need to stay away from the Instant Gratification Monkey. That’s a job for all of us. And because there’s not that many boxes on there. It’s a job that should probably start today. Well, maybe not today, but, you know, sometime soon.

6. Hasan Minhaj

Speech Ending: Showing my legs on TV is probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done. And keep in mind last week I went after the Prince of Saudi Arabia.

3. Question

The idea behind posing a question at the end of your speech is to get the wheels in your audience’s minds turning and to get them thinking of your speech long after it has ended. A question, if posed correctly, will make your audience re-think about crucial aspects of your speech, and is a great way to prompt discussion after your speech has ended.

How To Add Questions To Your Speech Ending

The best type of questions to add to your speech ending is rhetorical questions. That’s because, unlike a literal question, a rhetorical question will get the audience thinking and make them delve deeper into the topic at hand.

Make sure your question is central to the idea of your speech, and not something frivolous or extra. After all, the point of a question is to reinforce the central idea of your topic.

1. Lexie Alford

Speech Ending: Ask yourself: How uncomfortable are you willing to become in order to reach your fullest potential?

2. Apollo Robbins

Speech Ending: If you could control somebody’s attention, what would you do with it?

Quotes are concise, catchy phrases or sentences that are generally easy to remember and repeat.

Quotes are an age-old way to start–and conclude–a speech. And for good reason.

Quotes can reinforce your own ideas by providing a second voice to back them up. They can also provoke an audience’s mind & get them thinking. So, if you add your quote to the end of your speech, the audience will most likely be thinking about it for long after you have finished speaking.

How To Use Quotes In Your Speech Ending

While adding quotes to your speech ending, make sure that it’s relevant to your topic. Preferably, you want to pick a quote that summarizes your entire idea in a concise & memorable manner.

Make sure that your quote isn’t too long or complicated. Your audience should be able to repeat it as well as feel its impact themselves. They shouldn’t be puzzling over the semantics of your quote, but its intended meaning.

1. Edouard Jacqmin

Speech Ending: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

2. Chris Crowe

Speech Ending: “It’s more certain than death and taxes.”

3. Olivia Remes

Speech Ending: I’d like to leave you with a quote by Martin Luther King: “You don’ have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

4. Tomislav Perko

Speech Ending: Like that famous quote says, “In twenty years from now on, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do.

5. Diana Nyad

Speech Ending: To paraphrase the poet, Mary Oliver, she says, “So, what is it? What is it you’re doing with this one wild and precious life of yours?”

5. Piece Of Advice

The point of giving a piece of advice at the end of your speech is not to pull your audience down or to make them feel bad/inferior about themselves. Rather, the advice is added to motivate your audience to take steps to do something–something related to the topic at hand.

The key point to remember is that your advice is included to help your audience, not to discourage them.

How To Add Piece Of Advice To Your Speech Ending

To truly make your audience follow the advice you’re sharing, you must make sure it resonates with them. To do so, you need to inject emotions into your advice, and to present it in such a manner that your audience’s emotions are aroused when they hear it.

Your advice shouldn’t be something extra-complicated or seemingly impossible to achieve. This will act as a counter-agent. Remember that you want your audience to follow your advice, not to chuck it away as something impossible.

Our article, 15 Powerful Speech Ending Lines And Tips To Create Your Own , is another great repository for some inspiration.

1. Ricardo Lieuw On

Speech Ending: “Learn something new, or a new way of approaching something old because there are a few skills are valuable as the art of learning.”

2. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Speech Ending: “If we want to improve the competence level of our leaders, then we should first improve our own competence for judging and selecting leaders.”

3. Sharique Samsudheen

Speech Ending: “Some people love money, some people hate money, some people crave money, some people even kill for money. But what they miss is they just need to learn how to manage money well, and that will give them financial freedom.”

4. Kate Simonds

Speech Ending: Teens, you need to believe in your voices and adults, you need to listen.

5. Melissa Butler

Speech Ending: When you go home today, see yourself in the mirror, see all of you, look at all your greatness that you embody, accept it, love it and finally, when you leave the house tomorrow, try to extend that same love and acceptance to someone who doesn’t look like you.

6. Iskra Lawrence

Speech Ending: Speak to your body in a loving way. It’s the only one you got, it’s your home, and it deserves your respect. If you see anyone tearing themselves down, build them back up And watch your life positively grow when you give up the pursuit of perfection.

6. Contemplative Remark

As the name itself suggests, contemplative remarks are intended to make your audience contemplate or mull over something. The ‘something’ in question should be the idea central to your speech, or a key takeaway that you want them to return home with.

The idea is to get your audience thinking and to keep them thinking for a long, long time.

How To Add A Contemplative Remark To Your Speech Ending

To add a contemplative remark to your speech ending, you first need to figure out your key takeaway or main theme. Then, you want to arrange that as a question, and propose it to your audience at the end of your speech.

Remember that your question shouldn’t be something too wordy or complicated to understand. As with the quotes, you don’t want your audience stuck on the semantics. Rather, you want them to focus on the matter at hand.

1. Lisa Penney

Speech Ending: “So I invite you to pay more attention to your thoughts & consider the legacy you leave behind.”

2. Grant Sanderson

Speech Ending: “Some of the most useful math that you can find or teach has its origin in someone who was just looking for a good story.”

3. Greta Thunberg

Speech Ending: “We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up & change is coming whether you like it or not.”

4. Bill Eckstrom

Speech Ending: Now, think about this: it’s not the complexity-triggering individuals or events you should fear the most, but it’s your own willingness to accept or seek discomfort that will dictate the growth of not just you, but our entire world.

5. Robert Hoge

Speech Ending: Choose to accept your face, choose to appreciate your face, don’t look away from the mirror so quickly; understand all the love, and the life, and the pain that is the part of your face, that is the art of your face. Tomorrow when you wake up, what will your choice be?

7. Personal Anecdote

Personal anecdotes, as the name suggests, are anecdotes that are personal to the speaker or instances from their life. Personal anecdotes are a great way to incorporate the magical powers of storytelling in your speech, as well as to make a personal connection with the audience. Using personal anecdotes, you can hit two birds with one stone!

How To Add Personal Anecdotes To Your Speech Ending

To add personal anecdotes to your speech ending, you need to filter through your life experiences to find out ones that directly relate to your topic at hand. You don’t want to include an anecdote, no matter how compelling it is, if it doesn’t relate to your topic.

Remember to not keep your anecdote too long. Your audience will most likely lose their attention if you do so.

1. Sheila Humphries

Speech Ending: “Why do you go work for these people?” My answer to them was, “If I could help one child make it in this world, it’ll be worth it all.”

8. Call To Action

A call-to-action is one of the absolute best ways to conclude a speech with a bang. A well-written speech should aim to alter the audience’s mind or belief system in some way and to make them take an action in that direction. One crucial way to assure your audience does this is by using a call to action.

How To Add A Call To Action To Your Speech Ending

A call to action comes right before the ending of your speech to provide your audience with a clear idea or set of instructions about what they’re supposed to do after your talk ends.

A call to action should provide a roadmap to the audience for their future steps, and to outline clearly what those future steps are going to be.

1. Armin Hamrah

Speech Ending: “So tonight, after you finish your Math homework & before you lay your head down on that fluffy pillow, bring a piece of paper and pen by your bedside…”

2. Graham Shaw

Speech Ending: “So I invite you to get your drawings out there & spread the word that when we draw, we remember more!”

3. Andy Puddicombe

Speech Ending: You don’t have to burn any incense, and you definitely don’t have to sit on the floor. All you need to do is to take out 10 minutes out a day to step back, familiarize yourself with the present moment so that you get to experience a greater sense of focus, calm, and clarity in your life.

4. Amy Cuddy

Speech Ending: Before you go into the next stressful evaluative situation, for two minutes, try doing this in the elevator…

5. Jia Jiang

Speech Ending: When you are facing the next obstacle or the next failure, consider the possibilities. Don’t run! If you just embrace them, they might become your gifts as well.

9. Motivational Remark

As the name clearly explains, a motivational remark motivates your audience to carry out a plan of action. It ruffles the audience’s mind and emotions and has a powerful impact on the steps that your audience will take after you’ve finished speaking.

How To Add A Motivational Remark To Your Speech Ending

The key to a good motivational remark is to inspire your audience. Your motivational remark should act as a ray of hope to your audience and positively inspire them to take a desired course of action.

Your motivational remark should not be negative in any way. You don’t want to guilt or coerce your audience into doing something or feeling a certain way. You want to leave them on a positive note to move forward with their life.

1. Khanh Vy Tran

Speech Ending: “No matter what you’re going through right now & no matter what the future holds for you, please don’t change yourself. Love yourself, accept yourself & then transform yourself.”

2. Mithila Palkar

Speech Ending: “Get a job, leave a job, dance, sing, fall in love. Carve your own niche. But most importantly: learn to love your own randomness.”

3. Andrew Tarvin

Speech Ending: “Anyone can learn to be funnier. And it all starts with a choice. A choice to try to find ways to use humor. A choice to be like my grandmother, to look at the world around you and say WTF–wow, that’s fun.”

4. Laura Vanderkam

Speech Ending: There is time. Even if we are busy, we have time for what matters. And when we focus on what matters, we can build the lives we want in the time we’ve got.

5. Julian Treasure

Speech Ending: Let’s get listening taught in schools, and transform the world in one generation into a conscious listening world, a world of connection, a world of understanding, and a world of peace.

6. Mariana Atencio

Speech Ending: Let’s celebrate those imperfections that make us special. I hope that it teaches you that nobody has a claim on the word ‘normal’. We are all different. We are all quirky and unique and that is what makes us wonderfully human.

10. Challenge

Much like a call to action, the aim of proposing a challenge at the end of your speech is to instigate your audience to take some desired course of action. A challenge should make an appeal to your audience’s emotion, and motivate them to meet it.

How To Add A Challenge To Your Speech Ending

To apply a challenge effectively to your speech ending, you need to make sure that it’s something relevant to your topic. Your challenge should drive the central topic of your speech forward, and make your audience engage in real-life steps to apply your idea in the real world.

While its always a good idea to set a high bar for your challenge, make sure its an achievable one too.

1. Jamak Golshani

Speech Ending: “I challenge you to open your heart to new possibilities, choose a career path that excites you & one that’s aligned to who you truly are.”

2. Ashley Clift-Jennings

Speech Ending: So, my challenge to you today is, “Do you know, would you even know how to recognize your soulmate?” If you are going out in the world right now, would you know what you are looking for?

11. Metaphor

Metaphors are commonly used as a short phrase that draws a comparison between two ideas in a non-literal sense. People use metaphors quite commonly in daily life to explain ideas that might be too difficult or confusing to understand otherwise. Metaphors are also great tools to be used in speech, as they can present your main idea in a simple and memorable way.

How To Add Metaphors To Your Speech Ending

To add a metaphor to your speech ending, you need to first decide on the main idea or takeaway of your speech. Your metaphor should then be organized in such a way that it simplifies your main idea and makes it easier for your audience to understand & remember it.

The key is to not make your metaphor overly complicated or difficult to retain and share. Remember that you’re trying to simplify your idea for the audience–not make them even more confused.

1. Ramona J. Smith

Speech Ending: “Stay in that ring. And even after you take a few hits, use what you learned from those previous fights, and at the end of the round, you’ll still remain standing.”

2. Shi Heng YI

Speech Ending: “If any of you chooses to climb that path to clarity, I will be very happy to meet you at the peak.”

3. Zifang “Sherrie” Su

Speech Ending: “Are you turning your back on your fear? Our life is like this stage, but what scares are now may bring you the most beautiful thing. Give it a chance.”

12. Storytelling

The idea behind using stories to end your speech is to leave your audience with a good memory to take away with them.

Stories are catchy, resonating & memorable ways to end any speech.

Human beings can easily relate to stories. This is because most people have grown up listening to stories of some kind or another, and thus a good story tends to evoke fond feelings in us.

How To Incorporate Stories In Your Speech Ending

A great way to incorporate stories in your speech ending is by setting up a story in the beginning and then concluding it during the end of your speech.

Another great way would be to tell a short & funny anecdote related to a personal experience or simply something related to the topic at hand.

However, remember that it’s the ending of your speech. Your audience is most likely at the end of their attention span. So, keep your story short & sweet.

1. Sameer Al Jaberi

Speech Ending: “I can still see that day when I came back from my honeymoon…”

2. Josephine Lee

Speech Ending: “At the end of dinner, Jenna turned to me and said…”

Facts are another excellent speech ending, and they are used quite often as openings as well. The point of adding a fact as your speech ending is to add shock value to your speech, and to get your audience thinking & discussing the fact even after your speech has ended.

How To Add Facts To Your Speech Ending

The key to adding facts to your speech ending is to pick a fact that thrusts forward your main idea in the most concise form possible. Your fact should also be something that adds shock value to the speech, and it should ideally be something that the audience hasn’t heard before.

Make sure that your fact is relevant to the topic at hand. No matter how interesting, a fact that doesn’t relate to your topic is going to be redundant.

1. David JP Phillips

Speech Ending: 3500 years ago, we started transfering knowledge from generation to generation through text. 28 years ago, PowerPoint was born. Which one do you think our brain is mostly adapted to?

14. Rhethoric Remark

Rhetoric remarks are another excellent way to get the wheels of your audience’s minds turning. Rhetoric remarks make your audience think of an imagined scenario, and to delve deeper into your topic. Rhetoric remarks or questioned don’t necessarily need to have a ‘right’ or one-shot answer, which means you can be as creative with them as possible!

How To Add Rhethoric Remarks To Your Speech Ending

Since rhetorical questions don’t need to have a definite answer, you have much freedom in determining the type of question or statement you wish to make. However, as with all other speech endings, a rhetorical question shouldn’t be asked just for the sake of it.

A rhetorical question should make your audience think about your topic in a new or more creative manner. It should get them thinking about the topic and maybe see it from an angle that they hadn’t before.

Rhetorical questions shouldn’t be too confusing. Use simple language & make sure it’s something that the audience can easily comprehend.

1. Mona Patel

Speech Ending: Pick your problem, ask “What if?” Come up with ideas. Bring them down. Then execute on them. Maybe you’re thinking, “What if we can’t?” I say to you, “What if we don’t?”

2. Lizzie Velasquez

Speech Ending: I want you to leave here and ask yourself what defines you. But remember: Brave starts here.

Another great way to end your speech with a literal bang is by using music! After all, if there’s something that can impact the human mind with just as much force as a few well-placed words, it’s the correct music.

How To Add Music To Your Speech Ending

To add music to your speech ending, you must make sure that the music has something to do with your speech theme. Remember that you’re not playing music in your concert. The piece of music that you choose must be relevant to your topic & work to have a contribution in your overall speech.

1. Tom Thum

Speech Ending: *ends the TED Talk with beat boxing*

16. Reitirate The Title

The title of your speech is its most important component. That’s why you need to pay careful attention to how you pick it, as it is something that your viewers will most likely remember the longest about your speech.

Your title will also act as a guiding hand towards how your audience forms an initial idea about your speech and is what they will associate your entire speech with.

By repeating your title at the end of your speech, you increase the chances that your audience will remember it–and your speech–for a long time.

How To Retierate The Title In Your Speech Ending

Your title is something that your audience associates your entire speech with. However, you don’t want to simply add the title in your speech end for the sake of adding it. Instead, make it flow naturally into your speech ending. This will make it seem less forced, and will also increase the chances of your audience remembering your entire speech ending and not just the title of your speech.

1. Ruairi Robertson

Speech Ending: I feel we can all contribute to this fight worth fighting for our own health, but more importantly, our future generations’ health by restoring the relationship between microbe and man. There is SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

Need more inspiration for speech closing lines? Check out our article on 10 Of The Best Things To Say In Closing Remarks.

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To sum up, speech endings are just as imperative to the success of your speech as speech openings, and you must spend just as much time picking the perfect ending as you do to determine your best possible speech opening. The words you speak at the beginning and end of your speech are words that your audience will pay the most attention to, and remember longer than any other part of your speech.

Still looking for inspiration? Check out this video we made on closing remarks:

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Where does the Uncommitted movement go from here? Groups vow to keep pushing for ceasefire

Published: Aug. 26, 2024, 2:07 p.m.

"No is not an acceptable answer. Please reconsider. We’re being extremely reasonable," said Michigan Uncommitted organizer Abbas Alaweih. Reckon

Vanessa Arredondo

Anti-war protestors were disappointed that the Democratic National Convention (DNC) held last week ended without a Palestinian representative taking the main stage. The convention brought an average of 20 million television viewers each night and included speeches from an American family whose son was taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7 .

At the DNC, thirty delegates from across the country represented Americans who voted “uncommitted” during the Democratic primaries in protest of the U.S. funding the war in Gaza. More than 650,000 people left ballots blank, wrote in other names or chose “uncommitted” when voting for the party’s nominee in the primaries.

“We’re not going anywhere,” the Uncommitted National Movement said in a statement . “This was never about four days, it was about achieving life-saving policy change now and for the next four years.”

Advocates of the movement said there is a “clear disconnect” between the Democratic party and some constituents who helped elect Biden in 2020. These voters – many young and members of diverse or marginalized communities – are “ hurt and betrayed ” by the president’s decisions to continue funding the war. The coalition is asking for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an arms embargo and an end to the long-term siege on Gaza.

The Uncommitted National Movement began in February when the advocacy group Listen to Michigan asked residents in the state to vote “uncommitted” during the Democratic presidential primary to protest Biden’s policies regarding the war in Gaza. The groups, made up of a coalition of Palestinian, anti-war and progressives, expected about 10,000 votes but received more than 100,000, ( about 13 percent ).

The movement spread to other states like Washington, Missouri and Wisconsin. In Minnesota, 19 percent voted uncommitted, sending 11 delegates to the convention. Twenty-nine percent of voters in Hawaii cast their ballots for “uncommitted,” sending 7 delegates.

Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris has supported President Joe Biden’s attempts to negotiate a ceasefire but has not indicated she supports an arms embargo.

During Harris’ Thursday night speech, she affirmed that the U.S. would continue its support of Israel. “I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself,” Harris said . Chicago has one of the largest Palestinian communities in the country.

The Associated Press reported that the DNC planned a panel addressing Arab and Palestinian issues with leaders from the Uncommitted movement. Advocates also asked for a speaking slot for a doctor who worked on the frontlines in Gaza. A speaker representing the group was denied, and the panel was hosted off the main stage and untelevised .

On Wednesday, leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement said they received a firm response denying them a representative to speak on stage. The delegates and other supporters staged a sit-in outside the convention that night until Thursday evening, when the DNC ended, to protest the decision.

The movement said its push for a Palestinian American speaker at the DNC was “but one small request as part of a larger strategy to save lives and help save our democracy.”

“It’s their loss, not ours,” advocates said. “With the historic action our delegates took inside and outside the DNC, we amplified Palestinian voices in unprecedented ways, proving that our strongest power doesn’t lie within the convention halls but with the people.”

Organizations like the United Auto Workers and Muslim Women for Harris-Walz also denounced the decision, with the latter pulling support for the Democratic candidates.

“A historic number of members of Congress, labor unions, faith leaders, humanitarian workers and progressive organizations stood with our movement in these last four days. This is the beginning of an American majority for Palestine,” the movement said in a social media post.

The Associated Press reported that Harris met with Dearborn, Michigan Mayor Abdullah Hammoud ahead of the DNC to respond to criticism related to the war. Michigan is a swing state with a large Arab and Muslim population.

Demonstrations from the Uncommitted National Movement were held throughout the DNC. A coalition of progressive organizations protested on Monday, drawing 20,000 people, another 8,000 on Wednesday, and 11,000 on Thursday. The group has vowed to continue its work as the November election looms closer.

“It’s important that we keep up the momentum and keep putting pressure on the powers that be to stop the genocide and end U.S. aid to Israel,” said Kobi Guillory, co-chair of the coalition and co-chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, in a statement. “If anything is to change, it’s because we built a mass movement that forced these genocidal politicians to finally do the right thing.”

The Uncommitted National Movement invited Harris’ team to meet with Palestinian leaders and people directly impacted by the Gaza conflict by Sept. 15.

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Tue 27 Aug 2024

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Budget will be ‘painful’, starmer warns as he hints of tax rises.

Sir Keir Starmer warned of unpopular decisions in the Budget during a speech at No 10 (Pic: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer has warned that the Budget will be “painful” as he hinted of tax rises to come.

In a speech delivered in the rose garden at No 10, the Prime Minister said “those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden” and said he had “no other choice given the situation we’re in”.

Ahead of MPs returning to Westminster next week, Sir Keir said he will make “big asks” of the public and “accept short-term pain for long-term good”.

Follow the latest politics updates in the i live blog.

Starmer won’t say if he is planning tax rises

Starmer says he ‘had to’ means-test winter fuel payment, ‘things are worse than we ever imagined,’ says starmer, watch starmer’s speech live here.

Starmer to scrap Sunak’s £40m VIP helicopter contract
Starmer to promise Government will do ‘hard work’ to ‘root out 14 years of rot’ in speech

Starmer says he is ‘getting the best people into the best jobs’ in the Civil Service

Sir Keir is asked about “political appointments in the Civil Service” which should be “strictly non-political” and asked if he will commission a review on standards.

He says: “Most of these allegations and accusations are coming from the very people that dragged our country down in the first place.

“We are going to fix the foundations […] and I’m determined to have the right people in the right places to get on with that job.

“I’m enormously aware of how big a task this is and how we have to move at pace, and that’s why we’re getting the best people into the best jobs.”

Sir Keir is asked by Sky News if he is looking to raise taxes, and if so, for whom.

He says: “In relation to working people – income tax, VAT, national insurance – we will not increase tax.

“Obviously the Budget is in a number of weeks and the detail will be set out there, but I say again what I said before the election, which is that we have to get away from this idea that the only levers that can be pulled are more taxes or more spending,” and that growth is key to helping the economy.

“We’re going to have to take tough decisions. I did not cater for a £22bn black hole, and that’s because it wasn’t on the OBR’s books.

“£22bn black hole on top of what we knew to be the situation is a problem that I’m not going to just pretend isn’t there,” he says, adding that the Government will work to “get the rot out now”.

Starmer ‘not pretending for one minute’ he wanted to release prisoners early

Sir Keir is asked by Channel 4 what guarantee he can give to the public that no prisoner let out early will go on to harm someone.

He says: “Obviously we’ve put in place a framework to ensure that we don’t release those who pose the greatest risk.

“I’m not pretending for one minute this is a decision I want to make.

“The idea of releasing people who should be in prison […] goes against everything I’ve worked for.

“But we’ve got to face facts. They’ve not built the prisons – the previous government – they’ve pretending that you can have longer and longer sentences, send more people to prison, at the same time that you could veto or choose not to have a prison built near you.”

He says that he could not have let prisons get so crowded that people convicted of crimes could not be given a custodial sentence.

Starmer asked how he reconciles public sector pay rises with means-testing winter fuel payment

Sir Keir is asked by ITV how he reconciles giving pay rises to public sector workers while means-testing the winter fuel payment.

He says that the allowance is “not a particularly well-designed scheme,” and he wants to “make sure the support is there for pensioners who need it most, which is why we are pushing for Pension Credit to be taken up”.

“Equally, simply allowing national strikes to go on and on and on […] was costing the country a fortune.

“We’ve got to get the economy going, so that is why we have made the decisions we have made.”

Starmer insists he was honest with public during election campaign

Sir Keir takes questions from the media.

He is asked by the BBC how he would respond to those saying he was not honest in the election campaign about the fate of the winter fuel payment, and wanting to know now what the Budget will bring.

He says: “We were being honest about the situation before the election; we set out very clearly what we would be doing with tax rises.

“That remains the position. I also set out that our plans were fully funded and fully costed. What I did not expect was a £22bn black hole.

“I didn’t want to have to deal with the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, but we have to fix the NHS, our homes, our schools.

“I’m not going to pre-empt the Budget, but I’m absolutely not going to accept that the inheritance we have is anything other than dire.”

Starmer says he will be making ‘big asks’ of country in ‘short term’

“I will be honest with you: there is a Budget coming in October, and it’s going to be painful,” Sir Keir says. “We have no other choice, given the situation that we’re in.

“Those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden. That’s why we’re cracking down on non-doms. Those who made the mess should have to clean it up, and that’s why we’re strengthening the powers of the water regulator.

“Just as when I responded to the riots, I’ll have to turn to the country and make big asks of you as well, to accept short-term pain for long-term good, the difficult trade-off for the genuine solution.”

He says he knows that is “difficult to hear” and it is “not the position we should be in,” but “we have to end the politics of the easy answer that solves nothing.

“I also know that we can get through this together, because the riots didn’t just reveal the sickness but also the cure, found not in the cynical populism, but in the coming together of a country, the people who got together the morning after […] with their brooms, their shovels, their trowels and cleaned up their community.

“I felt real pride in those people.”

He says: “Imagine the pride we will feel in our nation, when after the hard work of clearing up the mess is done we have a country that we have built together, built to last, that belongs to every single one of us.”

This Government will not be ‘business as usual,’ says Starmer

Sir Keir says that the Tories lost their “focus on the hopes and ambitions of working people”.

He says he “made huge asks” of the criminal justice system during the riots, and “I’m not going to apologise for it,” but “they delivered. They deserve our gratitude”.

“That’s why I went to Southport, to Lambeth, to Belfast, to thank them personally.

“They deserve a government that trusts them, supports them and works with them.”

He says his Government will be “honest” about the challenges ahead “and working tirelessly to fix them.”

He says that when Parliament returns next week “it won’t be business as usual because we can’t go on like this anymore”.

“We will do the hard work to root out the rot, reverse a decade of decline and fix the foundation. Between now and Christmas we will carry on what we started, action not words, we will introduce legislation and take decisions to protect taxpayers’ money.”

Public ‘will be in the forefront of our minds’ in Government, says Starmer

“This shouldn’t be a country where people fear walking down the street, their TV showing cars and buildings being set on fire,” Sir Keir says.

“This shouldn’t be a country where the PM can’t guarantee prison places. This shouldn’t be a country where people are paying thousands more on their mortgages […] or our waters are filled with sewage […] where nothing seems to work anymore.

“When I talk about the inheritance the last government left us […] that isn’t about a line of a graph, that’s about people’s lives, your lives, and the Tories are still not being honest. They know their recklessness cost them the election, but they won’t accept the cost they’ve inflicted on the country.

“They’re just still thinking about themselves. This Government won’t always be perfect, but I promise you this: you will be at the heart of it, in the forefront of our minds, at the centre of everything we do.”

Sir Keir says that he must be “honest” about the “choices we face,” that “things will get worse before they get better”.

“I didn’t want to release prisoners early. I was chief prosecutor for five years. It goes against the grain of everything I’ve ever done. But to be blunt, if we hadn’t taken that difficult decision immediately we wouldn’t have been able to respond to the riots as we did.

“I didn’t want to means-test the winter fuel payment, but it was a choice that we had to make, a choice to protect the most vulnerable pensioners while doing what is necessary to repair the public finances.

“Pensioners also rely on a functioning NHS, good public transport, strong national infrastructure. They want their children to be able to buy homes, they want their grandchildren to get a good education.”

Starmer speaks of ‘downward spiral’ in society since 2011 riots

Sir Keir says that he “saw the beginning” of the “downward spiral” of the Tory government “first hand” in the 2011 riots when he was director of public prosecutions.

“Responding to those riots was hard […] but dealing with the riots this summer was much harder.

“Back in 2011 I didn’t doubt that the courts could do what they needed to do, but this time to be honest with you, I genuinely didn’t know.

“Every day of that disorder [..] we had to check the precise number of prison places and where those places were, to make sure we could arrest, charge and prosecute people quickly.

“Those people throwing rocks, torching cars, making threats, they didn’t just know the system was broken, they were betting on it, gaming it.

“They thought ‘they’ll never arrest me, and if they do I won’t be prosecuted’ […] They saw the cracks in our society after 14 years of failure.

“That’s what we’ve inherited, not just an economic black hole, but a societal black hole, and that’s why we have to take action and do things differently.”

Summer riots ‘exposed the state of our country,’ says Starmer

“We’ve also seen shocking scenes across the nation: a mindless minority of thugs who thought that they could get away with causing chaos,” Sir Keir says.

He says: “As if that wasn’t despicable enough, people displaying swastika tattoos, shouting racist slurs on our streets, Nazi salutes at the Cenotaph […] under the pretence […] of legitimate protest.

“Now they’re learning that crime has consequences […] I will not listen to those who exploit grieving families and disrespect local communities.”

He says that the riots “exposed the state of our country, revealed a deeply unhealthy society, the cracks in our foundations laid bare.”

He says that “every time” the Tories “faced a difficult problem, they failed to be honest, they offered the snake oil of populism.”

Sir Keir continues: “Before the election I also gave a warning. I said change would not happen overnight. When there’s a deep rot at the heart of a structure you can’t just cover it up […] you have to overhaul the whole thing.

“Otherwise, what happens? The rot returns, in all the same places, and it spreads worse than before.

“This project has always been about fixing the foundations of our country.

“Things are worse than we ever imagined. In the first few weeks, we discovered a £22bn black hole in the public finances, and before anyone says ‘this is just performative’ […] let’s remember that the OBR didn’t know about it […] because the last government hid it.”

He says that recently the Government discovered that due to Tory “recklessness” we “borrowed almost £5bn more than the OBR expected in the last three months alone”.

‘We’ve done more in seven weeks than the last government did in seven years,’ says Starmer

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer begins his speech. standing at a podium bearing the words “fixing the foundations”.

He says: “When I stood on the steps of Downing Street two months ago I promised that this Government would serve people like you: apprentices, teachers, nurses, small business owners, firefighters.

“I promised that we would get a grip on the problems we faced, and that we would be judged by our actions, not our words.

“Growth […] is the number one priority of this Labour Government, and that’s why in our first few weeks, we’ve set up the National Wealth Fund,” and “set up Great British Energy”.

“It’s why we’ve ended the national strikes that have crippled our country for years. I defy anyone to tell me that you can grow the economy when people can’t get to work because the transport system is broken, or can’t return to work because they’re stuck on an NHS waiting list.

“We’ve done more in seven weeks than the last government did in seven years.”

Starmer ‘absolutely right to highlight rotten mess’ inherited from Tories, says TUC boss

Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, has said that Sir Keir Starmer is “absolutely right to highlight that the Government is inheriting a rotten mess from the previous Conservative administration.”

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Whether you look at the state of the nation’s finances, the state of public services, I would struggle to think of one public service that is better now than it was 14 years ago.

“I think he’s right to say that there are no quick fixes […] but that this is a Government that is serious about getting to the heart of some of those deep-rooted problems, getting the UK economy growing again, getting more money into people’s pockets, raising living standards and starting that long, hard job of repairing our public services.

Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the TUC

“A serious message, I think, from a serious Prime Minister, that his Government is committed to putting right what went wrong over the last 14 years.”

He said that public sector pay rises are “essential” to address “recruitment and retention” issues in public services.

Asked if Labour is risking further and bigger demands from unions after offering pay deals to junior doctors and train drivers, Mr Nowak said: “I think it’s a case of respecting the findings of those pay review bodies, recognising that public sector workers have had a difficult time over the last few years and recognising also that this is the first step towards repairing our public services.

“At the heart of that has got to be the staff who deliver those services.

“In the medium term, we’ve got to work together – unions, Government, public sector employers – to think about how we do resolve these recruitment and retention issues and put right our public services.”

Starmer hints at Whitehall savings to take sting out of tax rises

Sir Keir Starmer has hinted at a government efficiency drive by pledging to protect “taxpayers’ money and people’s living standards”.

The Prime Minister will make the commitment in a Downing Speech speech on Tuesday morning at a time when Labour is riven with disagreements over plans to cut winter fuel payments .

i revealed yesterday that Starmer is already facing disquiet in the Cabinet over the cuts. Labour MPs have also suggested they may vote against the policy if opposition parties succeed in forcing a debate.

In a speech looking forward to the return of Parliament next week, Starmer will invite ordinary Britons into the Number 10 Rose Garden in a move aimed at portraying his administration as a “government of service” in contrast to the Partygate scandal under the Conservatives .

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves are under pressure over plans to means-test the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, with Ms Reeves also preparing for tax rises in October’s Budget .

To take the sting out of the criticism, Starmer will use the speech to stress that public money will not be wasted.

Dagenham fire: Minister calls for work to be ‘ramped up’ on buildings with dangerous cladding

Remediation work on buildings with dangerous cladding “needs to be ramped up”, Cabinet Office minister Ellie Reeves has said, after a fire engulfed a multi-storey block in Dagenham, east London, yesterday.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: “My heart goes out to everyone that has been affected by that fire, I know it will be incredibly difficult for the residents of that block.

“We want remediation work to be ramped up, and I know that the housing minister will be looking at that really, really closely.”

Pressed on when remediation work will be completed, Ms Reeves said: “It’s important that developers are doing what they ought to be doing in relation to remediation works, and where they are not, action is taken.

“My understanding is that in blocks with Grenfell-style cladding, something like 88 per cent of remedial works have been completed. There is further to go in blocks with other sorts of cladding that need remedial work.

“But, as I say, I know that the housing minister is looking at this and remediation work needs to be ramped up.”

Starmer wants to ‘fix foundations of the country,’ says minister

Sir Keir Starmer wants to “fix the foundations of the country”, Cabinet Office minister Ellie Reeves said, ahead of the Prime Minister’s speech from Downing Street’s rose garden today.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer stands near a wind turbine during a visit to the RWE Brechfa Forest West Onshore Wind Farm in Pencader, south Wales on August 20, 2024. (Photo by Ben Birchall / POOL / AFP) (Photo by BEN BIRCHALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to LBC radio, she said: “The Prime Minister will be speaking later today about the inheritance from 14 years of Conservative government, the black hole in the country’s finances, but also the societal black hole that we’re facing.

“For example, the fact that the prison estate has been operating at 99 per cent capacity with no plan from the previous government to fix that, so he’ll be talking about fixing the foundations.

“Under the previous government, we saw the sticking plaster politics papering over the cracks, hoping that something would come up, whereas Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, wants to fix the foundations of the country so that people’s lives can be better.”

Labour’s financial problems stem from ‘political choices’ and not previous government – shadow minister

He told Sky News: “We’ve got the independent [Office for Budget Responsibility]. They opine about the state of the public finances. Across most Western economies it’s been a difficult decade, amplified in particular by Covid.

“But significantly, almost all of the economic metrics […] since the election have been positive. The UK is one of the fastest-growing economies in the G7, and so there really shouldn’t be a debate about the actual legacy Labour inherited, but what they’ve done of course is come in and make political choices to give inflation-busting pay rises to the public sector which weren’t in their manifesto.

“That has put pressure on the public purse. We’ll wait to see whether they’re about to break one of their other promises in the election, which was not to put up taxes.

“But pensioners have already paid the price with their scrapping of the winter fuel allowance this summer” for pensioners not in receipt of pension credit and other benefits.

“Labour promises energy prices would be frozen; they won’t be frozen, they’ll be going up for millions of pensioners because of that broken promise.”

Shadow minister doesn’t want ‘one syllable’ from Starmer on trust in politics until he faces ‘cronyism’ claims

A shadow minister has said he does not “want to hear one syllable out of the Prime Minister’s voice on trust in politics until he’s grasped the nettle on what’s been this burning issue over the summer about Labour parachuting in donors to some of the most senior Civil Service roles.”

Shadow Science Secretary Andrew Griffith told Sky News: “No government of any flavour has ever done that before, and these appointments should be rescinded,” and added that Sir Keir Starmer should be looking at “which of his ministers have broken the Ministerial Code – very important”.

Asked if he accepts that trust in politics was lost during the Tory government, he said: “We’ve had an election, and we abide by the result of that. I do think that you lose trust in politics when politicians don’t do what they say they will do.

“We saw with Labour there was nothing in the manifesto about scrapping the winter fuel allowance, which is going to cost millions of pensioners dear.

“There was nothing about the political choice they’ve made to give inflation-busting pay rises to unions […] that were big donors to the Labour Party.

“There’s a growing stench about this Government. It’s very early days, and in particular, this idea […] that putting in political supporters to some of the most senior Civil Service roles […] roles that would normally take somebody in the Civil Service a lifetime’s career to attain […] It’s just not acceptable.

“Anyone who’s interested in standards in public life, in restoring trust in politics, needs to see the Prime Minister get a real grip to this issue before he talks about anything else in the rose garden today.”

Politics latest: 'Painful' budget to come in October - as PM tells public he will make 'big asks' of them

Sir Keir Starmer has given a major Downing Street speech about his plans for government ahead of parliament's return from recess next week, warning of a "painful" budget and "unpopular decisions" to come.

Tuesday 27 August 2024 10:58, UK

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'Painful' budget to come in October, PM warns
'Things are worse than we ever imagined,' says Starmer
Labour leader touts early record but says change will take time
Analysis: PM offers biggest clue yet on which taxes may rise
Electoral Dysfunction : Is the chancellor telling us everything?
Which taxes could increase in the budget?
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Sir Keir Starmer is asking for more time and to trust him.

As expected, the prime minister used his speech this morning to lay the blame for the myriad of problems in this country on 14 years of Tory rule.

He said successive Conservative governments allowed a "rot" to set in that will take a decade to reverse - which is essentially an ask for two terms in power.

But he also spoke about bringing honesty and integrity back into politics and with that sentiment, he made a pretty stark admission.

He described the budget that's coming in October as "painful" and especially for those "with the broadest shoulders" - the biggest clue so far about where there might be tax rises.

And too, an explanation for what Starmer calls "difficult choices" as he asks the public to "accept short-term pain for long-term good".

There were some of other snippets we picked out from the prime minister's answers to questions from journalists after his speech.

Here are the highlights beyond what we've already reported - you can scroll through the Politics Hub for more:

He insisted pensioners who need support "most" will still get it despite his government deciding to means test the winter fuel payment - and argued the scheme is "not particularly well-designed" and was "costing a fortune" ;
Negotiating pay rises with junior doctors and rail workers is the right approach, he said, because having "hospitals that can't operate properly" and "a transport system where people can't get to work" hurts the economy;
Sir Keir Starmer refused to say whether he'd allow Ukraine to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles in Russia after heavy bombardment from Moscow at the weekend, but insisted he will "stand with them for as long as it takes";
And on stopping the boats , he again pointed to his Border Security Command plan and working closer with European partners, and compared taking down people smuggling gangs to his work prosecuting terrorists when he was director of public prosecutions.

That's all for now - we'll have analysis from the PM's speech shortly.

The PM is asked by Channel 4 about prisons and whether early release schemes carry with them an undeniable risk for the public.

He says a framework has been put in place to ensure those who "create the greatest risk" are not released.

But he adds that the idea of releasing people who should be in prison because there are no spaces for them "goes against everything I've worked for for years".

He blames the current situation on the last government, which he says did not build enough prisons.

"I can't tell you how shocked I was when I discovered the full extent of what they've done with our prisons, and it's going to take time to fix it. I can't build a prison by Saturday."

Sky News' Beth Rigby has asked the prime minster how he can build trust with pensioners who voted for Labour after he cut their winter fuel allowance.

This, Beth points out, wasn't in the Labour manifesto, so how can the PM promise not to raise other taxes?

Sir Keir reiterates again that "in relation to working people, income tax, VAT and national insurance, we will not increase tax".

He says the "number one mission" of the government is to grow the economy, and says fixing the transport system and the NHS will both help this.

He also says that the new National Wealth Fund, Great British Energy and "unlocking planning" will allow the country to focus on improving the economy.

Given the grim tone of much of the PM's speech, he is asked by the BBC whether he's been honest with the public about the potential for tax rises when the budget comes round in October.

He says he was clear during the election that income tax, national insurance and VAT "would not go up".

"That remains the position," he says.

He says that Labour's plans "were fully funded and fully costed" but that he did not expect the Conservatives leaving a black hole in public finances.

On the cuts to winter fuel payments, he says he "didn't want to have to deal with" the issue, "but we have to fix the NHS, we have to fix our homes, our schools, and pensioners rely on them in the same way as everybody else does".

The PM says that things will get worse before they get better and that "unpopular decisions" must be made.

Among those is the decision to scrap the winter fuel payment for some pensioners, which he says is "necessary to repair the public finances".

He also says the October budget "will be painful" but that the country will have to accept "short-term pain for long-term good".

He acknowledges he'll be making "big asks" of the public.

The chancellor will deliver the budget on 30 October.

Sir Keir Starmer goes on to say that when there is a "deep rot" at the heart of a structure, you must tackle it at root.

He says "things are worse than we ever imagined" after discovering a £22 billion "black hole" in the public finances.

The PM next address the "shocking scenes" that saw riots break out across the UK during August.

He says the "mindless minority of thugs" thought they could get away with "causing chaos, smashing up communities, and terrifying minorities".

Now, Sir Keir says, "they're learning that crime has consequences".

But he says the ugly scenes were a sign of "how far things have fallen" over the past 14 years.

The prime minister starts by addressing the people he met on the election campaign, many of whom he has invited into the Downing Street garden for his speech.

"I promised that this government would serve people like you," he says.

"Apprentices, teachers, nurses, small business owners, firefighters, those serving our community and our country every day."

He says his Labour government has done more in seven weeks "than the last government did in seven years" - pointing to things like negotiating with junior doctor and train driver unions to end strikes.

But Sir Keir Starmer says serious change "won't happen overnight".

The prime minister is giving a speech in the gardens of 10 Downing Street ahead of parliament's return next week.

He'll be warning of tough times ahead as he vows to "reverse a decade of decline" under the Tories and "fix the foundations".

You can watch Sir Keir Starmer's speech live in the stream above or below, and we'll bring you the best bits as updates in the Politics Hub from around 10am.

We'll also have analysis from our experts afterwards.

It'll be an important State of the Nation-style speech from the prime minister today.

Not least because it's straight ahead of the first full parliamentary term since the election, but because it'll also be the first speech since the riots.

And we've already been told to expect an incredibly gloomy message.

The PM will say that he believes the last 14 years of Tory rule has left the country in a much more dire place than he expected, and now his focus is "fixing the foundations of the country".

Labour are trying to draw a distinction between what they call the Conservatives "politics of performance" in government and what they hope to bring: "a politics of service".

It's the continuation of an argument they believe helped them win the election.

The problem now is voters who put their faith in Sir Keir Starmer at the ballot box will be wanting more than slogans, more than talk, and will be waiting today to hear details of how Labour can make a difference.

I think one of the most important things Sir Keir will have to address will be the riots. But he will have to go beyond mentioning the community spirit that we saw in the clear up after the disorder, and address how division and hate overspilled so quickly on our streets.

And crucially, what this Labour government will do to stop that from happening ever again.

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CN workers to strike Monday, vow to fight Canada move to end rail shutdown

The union and two rail companies disagree on issues such as safety and scheduling.

A worker climbs aboard a locomotive at a CPKC rail yard Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Kansas City [AP Photo/Charlie Riedel]

The union representing workers at the Canadian National Railway (CN) says they will strike next week, in a new threat to the economy after promising to challenge a government decision to end an unprecedented rail stoppage.

The Teamsters union filed notice on Friday, just days after returning to work, that conductors, locomotive engineers and other workers at Montreal-based CN would strike on Monday.

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The announcement is the latest twist in a labour dispute at Canada’s top two railroads, which locked out more than 9,000 unionised workers on Thursday, triggering a simultaneous rail stoppage that business groups said could inflict hundreds of millions of dollars in economic damage.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, citing the risk to the economy, asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on Thursday to order an end to the stoppage and also impose binding arbitration on the union as well as on CN and rival Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPK).

Canada, the world’s second largest country by area, relies heavily on trains to transport a wide range of commodities and goods. Business and agricultural groups have pressed Ottawa to act quickly.

Francois Laporte, president of Teamsters Canada, said MacKinnon’s announcement was unacceptable.

“The best way to have a contract is at the bargaining table. We don’t believe a third party [should] decide what are going to be our working conditions,” he told reporters at a picket outside CPKC’s Calgary headquarters.

He said that in case of a back-to-work order, “our people will still be on strike. We will still be on the streets, so operations will not resume. It’s not going to be business as usual for both companies.”

In their strike notice, the Teamsters said they were still prepared to negotiate with CN over the weekend and did not see any issues as insurmountable. The union and companies disagree on issues such as safety and scheduling.

A Canadian government official had no immediate comment.

A CN spokesperson said trains were starting to run and the company’s plan to resume operations was under way.

“We are focused on getting back to work,” said Jonathan Abecassis, CN spokesperson. “The Teamsters are focused on getting back to the picket line.”

Continuing tensions

A lockout at CPKC has yet to be officially lifted after Ottawa moved on Thursday to end the stoppage, which for the first time involved both railways simultaneously.

MacKinnon said on Thursday that he expected the CIRB to issue a ruling in the near future. Union and railroad officials met with the CIRB, an independent body, on Friday morning, the Teamsters said on the social media site X.

Teamsters spokesperson Chris Monette said by phone earlier in the day that the union would challenge the constitutionality of the minister’s referral, without giving details.

MacKinnon had expressed confidence that his referral would survive a court challenge, given the broad power he has under the country’s labour code.

“I can’t imagine it … would more practically or appropriately be used than in the case of two national railways ceasing their operations. So we’re very, very confident about the path that we’ve selected here,” he said.

Monette said CN workers would return to work on Friday although the union had not received any back-to-work protocol from the railway.

“The return to work will be chaotic this morning,” he said.

Monette said members working for CPKC would not be back at work as the railway had not yet ended its lockout.

CPKC said late on Thursday that it was preparing to restart operations in Canada and further details on timing would be provided once it received the CIRB’s order.

Keir Starmer to vow to ‘reverse a decade of decline’ in Downing Street speech

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United Kingdom Headlines News

The Prime Minister will warn that the economy is in a dire state and 'we can't go on like this anymore'

Shadow Science Secretary Andrew Griffith has rejected a suggestion that Labour is having to deal with a poor economic inheritance from the Tories, claiming that the Government is making things difficult for itself through its own 'political choices'. He told Sky News: 'We've got the independent . They opine about the state of the public finances. Across most Western economies it's been a difficult decade, amplified in particular by Covid.

The UK is one of the fastest-growing economies in the G7, and so there really shouldn't be a debate about the actual legacy Labour inherited, but what they've done of course is come in and make political choices to give inflation-busting pay rises to the public sector which weren't in their manifesto. 'That has put pressure on the public purse. We'll wait to see whether they're about to break one of their other promises in the election, which was not to put up taxes.

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

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IMAGES

How To End Your Wedding Vows • Bridilly
How to Write the Perfect Wedding Vows and Speeches
How To End Wedding Vows Examples
how to end speech example
How to Write the Perfect Wedding Vows and Speeches
Vow Renewal Wording: 6 Tips for Writing Custom Vows

COMMENTS

How To End Your Wedding Vows • Bridilly
Wrap With a Look in The Future. One of the best ways to end a wedding vow is by sharing your thoughts, hopes, and goals for the future. Of course, you should share thoughts on your future with your partner rather than your personal objectives. Wrapping up a wedding vow with a look into the future is both romantic and logical.
How Do You End Your Wedding Vows
To the newlyweds: "Raise your glass, join me in toasting (name) and (name), and may you always be friends as well as lovers.". The groom, maid of honor, father of the bride, or any other wedding guest may make a speech at the wedding; however, all speeches typically end with a toast.
How to End Wedding Vows Gracefully?
Wrap it up in a bow. Your wedding vows should end with a promise to always be together. Make this last sentence count. "You are my love, and I promise to love you, respect you, and cherish you for all our days." "Today and forever, I give you my heart, soul, and trust." This blog post is about how to write original wedding vows.
How to Write Wedding Vows: Structure, Examples and Top Tips
Step 2 - Draw on inspirations. If you're feeling stuck or want your vows to be more traditional, consider drawing on inspiration from classic films, your favourite books or, if you're religious, from the Bible. Quotes from these sources can give you a good jumping-off point and set the tone for your wedding vows.
How to end your wedding vows
Traditionally, wedding vows were pretty much set in stone - tradition ruled, and couples just went along with it. But these days, things are different, and writing your own wedding vows has become more popular as a romantic alternative to make your special day a more personal, unique experience.Sounds great, right? Except…
How To Write A Beautiful Wedding Speech & Vows
Be open to constructive criticism. Remember, this speech is not about you; it's about your loved one. So, you want it to be natural, charismatic, and heartwarming. Your words will flow better if you know your speech well, too. Getting very familiar with your words will allow you to make eye contact with the crowd.
Wedding Vow Structure: 6 Parts to Custom Vows
Step #6: Close with a Loving Last Line. For the last section in the vow writing structure, end with a love-filled last line. Examples: To my soul mate, partner for life, and now my wife. I will always love you. You are my North star, my best friend, my forever. I love you to the moon and back.
How to Write Wedding Vows: A Procrastinator's Guide
8. Finish off your wedding vows. Figure out what you want your last sentence of your vow to be. JP Reynolds recommends saying, "I take you as my husband/wife/spouse" somewhere within your promises and wedding vows: "That phrase is what turns your words of love into a vow.". End your vow with love and emphasis.
Wedding Vows: How To Write Them Plus 33 Examples
This could be everything from simple personality traits to heartfelt examples of all the times you've seen their good character shine bright. 5. Write Down Your Favorite Memories. Following your list of what you love about your partner, try writing down your favorite memories of them and your relationship.
How to Write Your Own Wedding Vows
I vow to put your needs before my own. I vow to be the man that you inspire me to be and the man that you deserve. Finally, I vow to spend every day I have left on this Earth showering you with a ...
Wedding Vows: How To Write Them (Plus Examples)
I t's funny how not too long ago, wedding vows felt like the thing that landed at the bottom of your wedding to-do list. While "writing marriage vows" languished at the bottom, the top of the list was all that logistical (and sometimes fun and pretty stuff): figure out your seating chart, nail down your perfect dance party playlist, create an amazing photo booth filter.
A Complete Guide to Wedding Vows, Toasts, Speeches & Readings
In this complete guide, we've sought out expert advice from Steven Greitzer, the CEO of Provenance, a site that offers easy-to-use tools and professional speech-writing support to help you create personalized and meaningful ceremonies, vows and toasts.. Drawing from Provenance's pool of expertise, we'll provide you with golden tips and advice ...
How To Conclude Wedding Vows
In my brief wedding vows to her, I pledged to be your sincere, devoted, and loving wife for the rest of my days. I promise to respect, love, and cherish you as my husband today and every day. Although I say "I do" today, I actually mean "I will.". In both good and bad times, I'll hold your hand and be by your side.
The very best ending to a wedding ceremony is a grand finale
After the processional, your officiant speech, the vows, the ring exchange, and anything else your couple want to add to the ceremony, it's the beginning of the end. It's time to deploy the Grand Finale Formula. The very first step in getting the grand finale is to pause for dramatic effect. Smile. Look at your couple.
How To End A Wedding Speech Examples
Please lift your glasses in honor of the bride and groom. These are some common closing statements for the maid of honor speech. Join me in congratulating the bride and groom on their marriage! Here's to you, bride and groom, with love and happiness! Cheers to the joyful newlyweds! Amy has a B and has worked in a variety of fields.
How to Write Wedding Vows (Helpful Tips And Template)
Look at this wedding vows template-free as a simple guideline, not as rules set in stone. 1. What marriage means to you. Think about what marriage means to you, the reason you have chosen to be with this person, and put it in words. You can include your favorite line from a song, poem, or book. 2.
Wedding Vows for Him: The Ultimate Vow Writing Guide for Grooms
Step 5: Close with a Love Note. You'll want to end your vows on an impactful and loving note. Here are a few examples of how you might choose to end your wedding vows: Deandra, I love you more today than I did yesterday and every tomorrow I'll love you more than I did the day before. I love you—my favorite person in the world, my partner ...
How to Write Your Bride Speech With Examples & Tips
Thank Your Guests. The first step when it comes to how to write a killer bride speech: thank your favorite people! The room is filled with loved ones who put in the time, money and effort to support you on your special day, so the first words you say should be a big, heartfelt "thank you." 2. Shout-Out Your VIPs.
How to Write Memorable Wedding Vows
3 Sincere: Sincere wedding vows have a romantic tone. 4 Funny: A marriage vow can be written in a lighthearted, humorous way while also conveying a heartfelt sentiment. 5 Anecdotal: Vows can be short stories or vignettes that illustrate who your partner is and why you want to spend your life with them.
How to Write Wedding Vows
How to Recite Your Wedding Vows. Once you write your vows, go ahead and read them (many times) out loud. "Practice, practice, practice, and focus on your speed and tone," advises Peterson, who ...
How to Write Your Wedding Vows with Examples
I vow to bring you happiness, and I will treasure you as my companion. I will celebrate the joys of life with you. I promise to support your dreams, and walk beside you offering courage and strength through all endeavors. From this day forward, I will be proud to be your (husband/wife) and your best friend.
How to Write the Perfect Wedding Vows and Speeches
Keep a notebook or binder at hand or use a text app on your smart phone. It's fine to have messy jumbles of text at first, as this is only the first step of writing your personalized wedding vows. Later on, you can create an outline and organize all your ideas. 5. Sort through your notes and cast out clichéd phrases.
50 Speech Closing Lines (& How to Create Your Own)
5. Melissa Butler. Speech Ending: When you go home today, see yourself in the mirror, see all of you, look at all your greatness that you embody, accept it, love it and finally, when you leave the house tomorrow, try to extend that same love and acceptance to someone who doesn't look like you. 6.
Where does the Uncommitted movement go from here? Groups vow to keep
Groups vow to keep pushing for ceasefire. Published: Aug. 26, ... an arms embargo and an end to the long-term siege on Gaza. ... During Harris' Thursday night speech, she affirmed that the U.S ...
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'Things don't change overnight,' says Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves ahead of PM speech. Sir Keir Starmer will vow on Tuesday to "reverse a decade of decline" and to "fix the foundations" of the ...
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Sir Keir Starmer will vow "reverse a decade of decline" and promise to "root out 14 years of rot" as he attempts to lay the blame for the perilous state of the economy on the previous ...
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Sir Keir Starmer will vow to clean up Downing Street and put it "back in the service" of working people as he faces a growing cronyism row.. In a speech in the Rose Garden of No 10 on Tuesday ...
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Key points. PM giving Downing Street speech - watch and follow live; Sir Keir Starmer to vow to 'reverse a decade of decline' under Tories; But he will warn things will get worse before they get ...
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CN workers to strike Monday, vow to fight Canada move to end rail shutdown. The union and two rail companies disagree on issues such as safety and scheduling. Canada, the world's second largest ...
Keir Starmer to vow to 'reverse a decade of decline' in Downing Street
The Prime Minister will warn that the economy is in a dire state and 'we can't go on like this anymore' Shadow Science Secretary Andrew Griffith has rejected a suggestion that Labour is having to deal with a poor economic inheritance from the Tories, claiming that the Government is making things ...