Write vows from your real love story
Tell us a few true things about your partner and the life you’re building. We’ll help you turn them into promises you can keep, in words you’d actually say.
Write your wedding vows
Writing a wedding vows
Free: 3 complete drafts, 30 section rewrites and 10 sets of opening lines a day. Editing, timing, cue cards and printing are always free. A free tool from Text My Wedding.
The shape of a wedding vows
Vows aren’t a speech. You’re talking to one person, in front of everyone, and making promises. The tool helps you choose the moments and everyday details that belong to the two of you, turn them into concrete promises, and keep your vows to a length that matches your partner’s and suits your ceremony. It leaves out everything that belongs at the reception.
Address your partner
Begin with their name and speak to them, not about them, from the very first line.
What you love
One or two specific things about who they are, preferably everyday details the room may not know.
The moment you knew
A short memory of when you understood this was your person, told in a few sentences.
Your promises
Three to five concrete promises, mixing serious commitments with small, real ones.
A closing line
One sentence that gathers it all into a lasting commitment, in your own words, before you hand back to the officiant.
An example, with notes
Ade is saying his vows to Lina. They’ve been together five years and share a love of takeout dumplings. About one and a half minutes.
Lina. I’ve been trying to write these for three weeks, and every draft started with a joke, because that’s what I do when something matters this much. So I’m going to get the jokes out of the way first, and then I’m going to mean every word.
Naming your own habit up front lets you be funny and sincere without the shift feeling jarring.
I promise to let you have the last dumpling at least sixty percent of the time. I promise to stop saying ‘five minutes’ when I mean twenty. I promise to learn the difference between your ‘fine’ and your other ‘fine.’ I’m about halfway there.
Funny promises work best when they’re true. Each one is a real habit the guests may recognize, which is where the laugh comes from.
I promise to warm up the car on January mornings, even on the days it’s my turn to be grumpy.
And now the real ones.
A short line on its own tells everyone, including you, that the tone is about to change.
When you’re scared, I promise to listen all the way to the end before I try to fix anything. When you’re right, I promise to say so out loud, in front of witnesses, like today. And when we’re old and you’ve heard all my stories, I promise to go out and find new ones.
The sincere promises follow the same concrete pattern as the funny ones, so the vows hold together as one voice.
Etiquette, without the rules
Speak to them, not the room
Vows are addressed to your partner: “You make every kitchen feel like home,” not “She makes every kitchen feel like home.” The guests are witnesses, not the audience. Look at your partner, hold their hands if you can, and let the room overhear. Writing this way changes the words, too; you’ll find yourself choosing simpler, truer lines.
Make promises concrete
The strongest vows mix large promises with small, specific ones. “I promise to stand by you” means more when it sits beside “I promise to always leave you the last dumpling” or “I promise to learn enough Tagalog to keep up with your aunts.” Specific promises show you’ve thought about your actual life together, and they’re easier to keep.
Match your length to your partner’s
Agree on a rough length before either of you writes, so one person doesn’t give a minute while the other gives four. A shared target of 1–2 minutes each, or a word range, works well. You don’t have to share the content; many couples keep their vows a surprise. Some ask the officiant to read both sets and confirm they feel balanced.
Religious and officiant requirements
Some faiths use set vows, and some ask that traditional words be said alongside or instead of personal ones. Many officiants like to see vows in advance. In England and Wales, for example, civil ceremonies include required legal declarations and can’t include religious content, so registrars may ask to review what you’ve written. Check with your officiant early about what’s possible.
Save the thanks for later
Vows aren’t the place to thank parents, mention guests or tell the full story of how you met; those belong at the reception. Keep inside jokes to a light touch as well. One shared reference is lovely; three can leave the people who came to witness your promises feeling shut out of the most important moment.
Questions people ask
How long should wedding vows be?
Personal vows usually run 1–2 minutes each, roughly 130–260 words. That’s long enough for a few specific details and promises, and short enough to say while holding hands without losing your place. Agree on a rough length with your partner so your vows feel balanced.
What should I include in my vows?
Include your partner’s name, one or two specific things you love about them, a short memory and a handful of concrete promises, then close with a line that sums up your commitment. Leave out thank-yous, mentions of guests and long stories; those belong in the reception speeches.
Should vows be funny or serious?
Mostly serious, with room for a smile. A light, specific promise, like taking over the laundry or never again questioning their parallel parking, can relax you both and the room. Keep the heart of the vows sincere, and avoid jokes that only make sense to the two of you.
Do we have to share our vows before the wedding?
No. Many couples keep them a surprise and only agree on length and tone. If you’d like reassurance without spoiling anything, ask your officiant or a trusted friend to read both sets and tell you whether one is noticeably longer or more serious than the other.
Can I write my own vows for a religious ceremony?
Sometimes. Some faiths and congregations welcome personal vows, some ask that you say traditional vows as well, and some don’t permit changes. Ask your officiant early. If personal vows aren’t possible in the ceremony, you can share them privately beforehand or at the rehearsal dinner.
Should I memorize my vows?
You don’t have to. Many people read their vows from a card or a small booklet, which is often easier than reciting under emotion. Practice them aloud enough that you can look up often. If you’re reading from a phone, switch on airplane mode and turn the brightness up.
What if I get too emotional to speak?
Pause, breathe and hold your partner’s hands; nobody minds a moment of silence during vows. Short sentences are easier to say when your voice catches, so write with that in mind, and practice the line you find hardest until it feels familiar.