I’m Kayla. I write reviews for things I actually use. And yeah, I used a vows template for my wedding. I thought I’d wing it. I didn’t. My brain was mush. I needed help that didn’t sound like a robot.
If you want a play-by-play from someone in the exact same headspace, I found this step-by-step breakdown super relatable.
Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and the exact lines I wrote using the template.
What I Bought (and Why I Needed It)
I bought a “Vows Template Pack” from an Etsy shop called PaperRings Studio. It came as a Canva file. It had prompts, sample lines, and printing cards for 5×7 and A5. I also played with the free sample vows from The Knot and Zola. The Etsy one felt warmer, and I liked the layout.
Before committing, I skimmed Brides' step-by-step guide to writing your own vows, which helped me figure out the big beats I wanted to hit.
Why I bought it? I wanted my vows to sound like me. Not a Hallmark card. Also, tears. So many tears. I also binged a bunch of first-person pieces like what worked and what didn’t when writing vows to see if I was on the right track.
How It Worked for Me
- I opened the Canva link.
- I picked a clean template with a serif header and small hearts. Cute but not corny.
- I filled in prompts like “When did you know?” and “One promise for tough days.”
- I swapped the font to something bold because my hands shake when I read.
- I printed on thick cream cards at home. The color came out soft and easy to read.
- If you’re curious how different formats can shake out, this writer tested eight totally different vow approaches—worth skimming before you pick a lane.
It took me about an hour on a Sunday. Then I read it out loud and cut three lines. My voice shook less when I practiced. That helped a lot.
The Good Stuff
- The prompts pulled real memories out of my head. Like our first bad camping trip. And that time we got lost and laughed anyway (see how another bride wrote her vows three different ways for inspo).
- The sample lines didn’t sound stiff. I tweaked them so they felt like me.
- Layout was simple. Big headings. Short lines. Easy for my brain.
- The pack had versions: classic, funny, faith-leaning, and short. I mixed them.
The Not-So-Good
- On my phone, text boxes moved a little. Desktop was best.
- One fancy script font looked cute but was hard to read when I cried—big block font won. Practising out loud helps; this review of reading and tweaking vows out loud backs me up.
- Margins were tight on my home printer. I had to print “fit to page.”
- A few sample lines were a bit sweet for me. I cut them.
Was it a deal-breaker? No. Just small fuss.
Real Vow Lines I Wrote (Thanks to the Template)
Here are actual lines I used or built from the prompts. Take what helps. Change what doesn’t.
My Vows (What I Read Out Loud)
- “I didn’t know love could feel quiet and sturdy until you.”
- “I promise to be kind when it’s late and the sink is full and the dog is barking.”
- “I will laugh with you when the plan falls apart, and stay when the day is heavy.”
- “I promise to say what I mean, and listen the first time.”
- “I will make pancakes when you sleep in, and coffee when you don’t.”
- “I choose you as my home. Every day, I choose you.”
My partner snorted at the pancakes line. It broke the nerves. People smiled. It felt like us.
Short and Sweet (1 Minute)
- “I choose you today and every day.”
- “I promise to be honest, soft, and brave with you.”
- “I will hold your hand through storms and small stuff.”
- “I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Warm and Funny
- “I promise to share the blanket and the last fry.”
- “I’ll charge your phone when you forget.”
- “I will hear your stories, even the long ones, and ask for more.”
- “I love your best days. I choose your hard days too.”
If humor is your love language, this reviewer’s roundup of funny wedding vows that actually landed gave me courage to keep the pancake joke.
Faith-Leaning (Simple)
- “I thank God for you.”
- “I promise to pray with you and for you.”
- “I will be slow to anger and quick to forgive.”
- “I love you with grace, today and always.”
If you’re leaning more traditional, I loved reading an honest take on using Catholic marriage vows and another on borrowing Biblical wording before settling on my own edits.
Secular, Poetic-ish
- “Your laugh is my favorite weather.”
- “I promise to build a small, good life with you, piece by piece.”
- “I will tell the truth, even when it’s messy.”
- “I will keep choosing you when it’s easy and when it’s not.”
LGBTQ+ Inclusive and Joyful
- “I found home in your voice.”
- “I promise to protect our joy.”
- “I will be your mirror on days you forget you shine.”
- “I choose our love, loud and clear.”
Second Marriage / Blended Family
- “I come to you wiser, softer, and still learning.”
- “I promise to honor your story and mine.”
- “I will love these kids with steady hands.”
- “I choose a peaceful home, with room for every heart here.”
A Tiny Thing That Helped
The template said: “Start with a memory. End with a promise.” That rhythm clicked for me. It kept me from rambling. I also timed myself. My vows ran 90 seconds. The mic guy gave me a thumbs up later.
That pacing trick also shows up in this tear-jerker list of emotional wedding vows that actually made guests cry—worth a read if you want max feels.
For another quick-hit refresher, Vogue’s chic rundown on writing wedding vows distills the process into stylish, doable steps.
Printing and Format Notes (The Boring Stuff That Matters)
- 5×7 cards fit my hand and didn’t shake as much as a sheet.
- Use 80–100 lb card stock if you can. Plain paper curls.
- Print a draft. Check font size. I used 14 pt for body, 18 pt for headers.
- Keep line breaks short. One thought per line. Easier to read when you’re crying.
Compared With Free Templates
- The Knot and Zola have helpful prompts. They’re good for starting.
- The Etsy pack looked nicer and felt more “us” on the day.
- If you don’t care about layout, Google Docs works. But the nice layout kept me calm.
Another place to snag modern, customizable vow templates is VT Vows—worth a look if you’re still shopping around. Start with their roundup of the best wedding vows with real examples if you want a quick shortcut.
Who This Is For
- You get stuck staring at a blank page.
- You want real words that still sound like you.
- You want clean cards to hold during the ceremony.
- Writing from the groom’s perspective? Peek at this guide on how to write groom vows for extra voice tips.
- Future brides wanting something more feminine can borrow lines from these [wedding vows for her](https://www.vtvows.com/wedding