Writing wedding vows can be a daunting task. It can be overwhelming to attempt to sum up all the things that you want to say to your partner. The vows, which at the end of it only add up to a few minutes of talking, are a summary of the love you have for your partner, the promises you are making to them, and the hopes and dreams you have for your future together.
What makes this more difficult for many, is that it has to be done not only in front of your partner but also in front of all your guests.
We’ve compiled a list of tips to ensure that you’re writing the best wedding vows you can.
Things to say in your vows
– First, mention your own name and your partner’s name. There are probably many people in the audience staring at you; this could take away some of the intimacy of your vows. Emphasise the intimacy by adding something like, “I, Harry, take you, Sally.”
– Second, add some anecdotes and personal stories. The guests will enjoy listening to this, and your partner will enjoy the trip down memory lane.
– Third, make sure you’re saying meaningful things. Cute and funny stories will only get you so far. Say things that also show how serious you are about this commitment.
– This final one should be a no-brainer, but we know that the stress of vow writing can cause some forgetfulness so we’ll mention it just incase. Always say “I love you”.
Writing tips
– Do not, we repeat, do NOT write them at the last minute.
– Read through some samples of vows before you start writing. This may help you to work out what your tone should be and could give you some inspiration.
– Actually write your vows down. “I will remember them”, never works out.
– Cut out clichés and things that might embarrass your partner.
– Make sure your vows are not too long. Your audience may get fidgety.
– Get somebody to proofread it. An outside opinion always ensures improvements.
-Preparation tips
– Practice your vows. Say them out loud. Say them in the mirror. You’ll be nervous on the big day and the practice will ensure you’re familiar with what you want to say.
– Carry a written or typed copy of your vows with you. If you do end up stumbling on your words, this will be a great help.
– With all of these tips in mind, remember to also get creative and take into account the finer details and context of your relationship like Jimmy Gisondi, who wrote a set of vows not only for his bride, Kelsea, but also for his new step-daughter, Olivia.
In his separate vows to Olivia, he said “I promise to never treat you [like] anything less than my own child”. This thoughtful additional set of vows brought the crowd to tears.
Last but not least, don’t forget to add your personality. Your partner-to-be loves you for who you are, so staying true to yourself will make the vows unforgettable for them.
Image: Pexels
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What is the secret to a long-lasting and successful relationship? Maybe we should turn to the experts on this one. This American couple celebrated their 82 year wedding anniversary, proving that love is not dead. And their secret? It’s much simpler than you might think.
103-year-old D.W and 100-year-old Willie from Charlotte, North Carolina are defying the odds. From both world wars, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Era, they’ve seen the world through its many phases and changes. Yet here they are, still loving it up.
To honour and celebrate their love, granddaughter BJ Williams-Greene threw the centenarian couple a massive party. In addition, they each celebrated a birthday, making this party extra special.
“To see them at this age and still doing well, it’s just a blessing to have them here,” Williams-Greene told WSOC-TV.
So what’s the key to a strong relationship? How do they make it work this long?
“I don’t have no secret for that, just be nice to each other,” D.W. and Willie Williams agreed.
“It’s communication and loving each other and working together.” their granddaughter added. “They are each other’s best friend.”
This truly is a love for the ages.
Image: WSOC-TV
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One size fits all? No! Not when it comes to your body shape.
Women come in all shapes and sizes and it’s so important to know your body type and shape to dress accordingly and accentuate your best features. There are many different body shapes and types, and each one is unique. To avoid your dress shopping experience being a stressful one, it’s important to know and stick to what works for your body.
It’s also important to remember that very few women fall into only one category as we can have different features from various body types. Why? Because we’re beautifully unique!
In this upcoming series, we’ll be looking at all the different body shapes and some gorgeous weddings gowns that will accentuate YOU perfectly.
Next up, is the hourglass shape.
For many years, women have called upon the aid of a corset to create the enviable hourglass silhouette, and it’s safe to say that this gorgeous body shape might just be the easiest to dress as well. Hourglass body shapes have it all – from being well-proportioned to having curves in all the right places, along with a distinct waist.
The goal of this shape would be to choose a gown that flatters and embraces your curves. You want to define your waist, highlight your neckline and make the most of showing off your bust and naturally cinched-in waist. A woman with an hourglass figure normally has shoulders, bust and hips that are similar in measurement and a narrow waist with the smallest measurement. The shape is feminine yet structured so something fitted will be your first go-to. So if you’re looking to show off those natural curves, the golden rule is to follow your body line!
Opt for a formfitting silhouette, like the fit and flare or the mermaid style gown:
The mermaid dress is the iconic figure-hugging silhouette. It’s sleek, sexy and fitted from the bust through to the hips, then dramatically fans out from the lower part of your thigh or just below the knee.
The fit and flare, or trumpet style, is a variation of the mermaid style that is fitted through the body and flares out from a higher point on the thigh, which gives the skirt a bit more volume. Both these figure-flaunting styles are romantic, elegant, glamorous and will accentuate your curves perfectly.
As with all silhouettes, you have the option of many different necklines, but if you’re slightly smaller on top, you’ll want to choose something that will highlight your shoulders and bust to balance it out – the boat neck, V-neck, scoop neck or sweetheart neckline are all perfect options. However, stay away from high necklines if your bust is bigger as it has the ability to make your bust look disproportionally large – empire style dresses will disguise your nipped waist.
If you want to downplay your curves slightly, choose a ballgown or a gown with an A-line skirt. This will still emphasize your narrowest part – simply add ruching or a belt detail to create a cinched-in waistline.
Get your inspiration here:
The Mermaid
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Fit & Flare:
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By Amy-lee Steenkamp
Feature image: Unsplash
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South Africans are truly feeling the love this November! Straight off the heels of the KFC proposal that captured everyone’s hearts, yet another public proposal is making the rounds. This time, a man wanted his girlfriend to know she means the world to him and he showed it by proposing on stage at Toni Braxton’s concert.
The RnB sensation is currently in South Africa as part of her As Long As I Live world tour. Uber driver Moegamad Luddy, from Strandfontien, knew that the concert was the perfect moment to pop the big question. His girlfriend, Camilla Hassan from Lentegeur, was brought on stage under the guise of having the crowd sing ‘happy birthday’ to her.
The couple danced together on stage as Braxton serenaded them with a rendition of ‘Unbreak my heart’. Mid song, Luddy went down on one knee and proposed to a shocked Hassan.
Speaking to the Daily Voice, Luddy explained that he wanted to go big for his love’s birthday because he had failed to the previous year.
“Last year I messed up on her birthday, I left her heartbroken,” he said. “This time I just wanted to unbreak her heart, so that there will be no more sad love songs wrecking her brain, for as long as she lives she won’t have to get over me, so that by the end of the night I can hold her in my arms like a Spanish guitar and make her melt like an iceberg in the sea.”
That’s not the only proposal that has happened on Braxton’s stage. In early November, another lucky South African couple became engaged in Braxton’s presence.
Love is beautiful guys #ToniBraxtonProposal #ToniBraxton pic.twitter.com/g1do1z7N51
— HRH Princess Temhle Dlamini (@Temhle) November 9, 2019
Image: the Daily Voice