Let’s be real—writing wedding vows is hard. You want them to be heartfelt but not cringey, poetic but not over-the-top, and personal without sounding like a rom-com script. If you're stressing over what to say, take a deep breath—I got you. Here’s how to write vows that actually sound like you (and yes, you can use ChatGPT, just proofread it first!).

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Step 1: Start With the Why

Before you even start writing, think about why you want to write your own vows. Do you want to make your partner laugh? Promise something deeply personal? Share a bit of your journey together?

Having a clear purpose helps keep your vows focused and meaningful—and stops you from rambling about your love of tacos for five minutes (unless that’s relevant, in which case, carry on).

Step 2: Brainstorm What Makes Your Relationship Unique

Think about your love story. What makes your relationship different from everyone else’s? What weird quirks do you love about them? What moments made you realize, “Yep, this is my person”?

Jot ‘em down:

Inside jokes
Shared passions
Little things (like how they always save you the last bite of dessert)
Big moments that shaped your journey

These details make your vows feel personal, not like something you Googled at midnight the night before.

Step 3: Keep It Conversational

Unless you’re a poet at heart, don’t try to sound like Shakespeare. Speak like you. Your vows should sound like something you’d actually say out loud, not like a speech from The Bachelor. If you’re the type to crack jokes, throw one in. If you’re sentimental, lean into that.

Step 4: Make a Few Meaningful Promises

Vows are, well, vows. So yeah, you need a few promises in there. But make them real and specific.

Instead of, “I promise to always love you,” say something like:

“I promise to always make you coffee before you wake up.”
“I promise to be your player two in every game we play.”
“I promise to kill every spider, even if I scream first.”

These kinds of promises hit way harder because they’re personal.

Step 5: Borrow From the Best (But Make It Yours)

There’s no shame in looking at love quotes, books, movies, or yes, even AI like ChatGPT for inspiration. Just don’t copy and paste. Use it as a jumping-off point, then put your own spin on it. No one else can say it like you can.

Step 6: Keep It Short and Sweet

You’re not giving a TED Talk. Keep it to about 1–2 minutes. Long enough to get emotional, short enough that you don’t lose your audience.

Step 7: Proofread (Because, Duh)

Once you’ve got a draft, read it out loud—or better yet, read it to a friend. You’ll catch weird phrasing, clunky spots, or anything that doesn’t quite sound like you. If it feels off, fix it. Even if ChatGPT gave you a hand, you still need to proofread. Go over it again. Then again. The goal? Make sure it actually says what you mean.

📝 Vow-Writing Feeling Like a Midterm? Here’s Your Permission to “Cheat” 😁

Writing vows is hard. Like, harder-than-writing-your-dating-profile hard. So if you’re staring at a blank page and panicking? Use this little hack: ChatGPT. Yup, AI can totally help you brainstorm, get your thoughts in order, or crank out a solid rough draft. No shame in using the tools that make it easier. Honestly? I highly recommend it—and I’m about to hook you up with exactly how to make it work for you.

Here are a few cheat prompts to help you get started:

1. “Help me write wedding vows for my partner [name]. We’ve been together for [X] years. They’re [funny traits], [sweet traits], and we love [shared hobbies or memories]. I want my vows to be [romantic/funny/sweet/nerdy, etc.].”
→ You’ll get a first draft you can tweak until it sounds like you.

2. “Can you help me write vows that are funny but still sweet? I want people to laugh but also cry a little.”
→ That emotional rollercoaster your guests won’t forget.

3. “Give me a list of memories or milestones to include in my vows. We’ve been together since [year] and have done [trips/moves/life stuff].”
→ Boom—memory jog activated.

4. “Write a Mad Libs-style wedding vow I can fill in the blanks with.”
→ A fun, customizable starting point (especially if you’re procrastinating).

5. “Write wedding vows in the style of The Office / Taylor Swift lyrics / a rom-com / video game characters.”
→ Look, sometimes you need a little flair.

Then take what works, ditch what doesn’t, and sprinkle in your real voice. Whether you write it from scratch or cheat a little with AI, it’s still your heart on the page.

Final Thought: Speak From the Heart

Your vows don’t need to be perfect. They need to be you. Whether they’re poetic, goofy, raw, nerdy, sweet, or sarcastic, say what you feel in a way only you can.

And if all else fails? Just promise to always share your fries. That’s love in its purest form.

How to Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Sound Cheesy (and Yes, You Can Use ChatGPT)