Vows in private or ceremony?

Completely up to you, if you want you can do it privately and then again in front of everyone. Nobody has to know you had that special private moment. Best of luck to you

You have to confirm what the legal requirements are of your location. Where we are, during the ceremony itself there must be a declaration of intent that you are entering the union of your own free will and then vows said, whether repeating the officiant or something personally written. Everything else is optional. From talking to brides we know in other states, the same applies there too. During your first look, you can share anything you want.

We haven't decided either! We are writing our own and both tend to be emotional + good with words, so I imagine our vows will be super, super emotional. While I kind of want to be in private for that, I feel like because we are so close with all of our guests that they would cherish hearing + seeing us in these moments. Have you ever seen video/pictures of MOG, MOB, friends, etc crying while listening to the bride + groom exchange vows? So beautiful, and I know I would love looking back on that too. A lot of your guests are likely very invested in your love!

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Great point! I think we are leaning toward saying them during the ceremony. Thank you

We're getting married in a Catholic church, so personal vows were out from the start. We are writing each other letters that we'll read before the ceremony and have our videographer capture it and include it in the video. We aren't doing a first look, but I did want to give us each some "personal" time before the wedding to take everything in before the ceremony. I also love when couples' personal vows or letters are included in their wedding videos

We decided to say some traditional/generic vows at our ceremony. We repeated it after the officiant.



We did consider writing our own vows but thought it was a bit too personal and we might be shy to divulge more intimate details. Instead we wrote letters to each-other to read the morning of the wedding since we were in separate locations.

Traditionally, guests at your wedding ceremony serve as witnesses of the vows you’re making each other. That said, tradition is pretty much out these days with weddings and you should definitely do whatever you want! To me, the significance of making vows in front of witnesses matters. Maybe you could read your personal written vows to each other in private and then do the classic “in sickness and in health till death do us part” or something in front of the guests if you care about it.

We plan on doing private vows at our first look then the traditional vows at the actual ceremony in front of everyone. My fiancé is great on front of people but I’m only good in front of people I don’t know. I’m just going to be too nervous to pour my heart out to him in front of everyone. I do not want to be standing up there in front of everyone stumbling over my words because I’m nervous to speak in front of everyone.

We decied to do the "traditional" vows in front of everyone, but exchange personal vows privately. The personal vows will probably be after the ceremony, when every one else is at cocktail hour, and its just me and my FH.