What to Include in Your Wedding Vows (And What to Skip)

Your wedding vows are one of the most personal parts of your ceremony. They’re not just words - they’re your promises, your perspective on love, and your way of saying “I choose you” in your own voice. But when it’s time to actually sit down and write them, many couples feel the same thing: a blank page and a lot of pressure.

The good news is, you don’t need to write a masterpiece. You just need to be sincere, thoughtful, and real. That starts with knowing what to include, and just as importantly, what you can leave out. Let’s walk through how to write vows that truly reflect your love, without overthinking it.

Start with Why You’re Standing There

Begin with a reminder of what brought you to this moment. This can be a simple reflection on your relationship, a specific memory that changed everything, or even a few words on what makes your partner so special. Starting from the heart helps ground your vows in authenticity.

This doesn’t have to be dramatic or overly poetic. Even something like “From the day we met, I knew everything was about to change” or “I didn’t believe in soulmates until I met you” creates a meaningful opening that feels personal.

Make a Few Specific Promises

Wedding vows are called vows for a reason - they’re promises. Include a few clear, heartfelt commitments that you want to make to your partner. These can be traditional or completely your own.

Think about what matters in your relationship. Maybe you promise to always support their dreams, to be their calm during chaos, or to make them coffee every morning, even when you’re running late. The blend of everyday and forever promises makes your vows feel grounded and true.

Three to five well-chosen vows are usually enough. They give your words structure without making them sound like a checklist.

Reflect the Real You

If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re romantic, lean into it. If you’re awkward with words, don’t worry - sincerity matters more than polish. Your vows should sound like you, not like a speech from a movie or something you copied off the internet.

The best way to do this is to write how you speak. Don’t worry about grammar or being poetic. Imagine you’re telling your partner how you feel on a quiet night at home. That voice is the one that should come through.

Keep It Personal, Not Private

There’s a subtle difference between being vulnerable and being too inside-baseball. Personal stories and specific references make vows meaningful, but try not to go so deep into inside jokes or private anecdotes that your guests are left confused.

The goal is to make your partner feel seen and loved, while also letting your friends and family share in that moment. If a story needs context or feels too private, consider saving it for a letter or toast instead.

Keep It Timeless

It’s tempting to pack in every detail of your current life, but remember: your vows will live on in your memory and probably in photos or video. Try to write with the long view in mind. What do you want to remember about this day five, ten, or twenty years from now?

It’s fine to reference real moments, even pop culture or current routines, but balance those with thoughts about the future, growth, and what it means to share a lifetime.

What to Skip

You don’t need to include your entire relationship history. A quick nod to how you met is sweet, but your vows aren’t a timeline - they’re a message. Stay focused on how you feel now, what you’ve learned, and what you’re choosing.

Skip anything that sounds overly scripted or cliché, unless it genuinely resonates with you. Lines like “You complete me” are fine if they feel true, but if they sound like filler, leave them out.

Avoid oversharing, too. If something makes your partner uncomfortable or brings up a past conflict, this isn’t the time to reference it. Keep your vows uplifting, honest, and focused on love.

And finally, don’t stress about being perfect. The goal is connection, not performance.

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

Wedding vows aren’t about impressing anyone. They’re about looking your partner in the eye and saying, “This is who I am, this is what I promise, and this is how much you mean to me.”

Include the things that make your relationship real - the tenderness, the laughter, the quiet strength. Skip the fluff, skip the pressure, and just speak from your heart.

You only have to write them once. But if they come from a genuine place, they’ll echo in both your hearts for a lifetime.