Writing Your Wedding Vows the Way Poets Do
Let's face it, not many of us have the kind of skills or experience to write truly poetic wedding vows. Or do we? Here's the truth: Even if you don't know Dylan Thomas from Bob Dylan, and you're pretty sure T.S. Elliot was that guy who wrote the words to Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Cats," all is not lost! In fact, there are ways to learn to write the words you want. With four simple steps, you can take what you feel in your heart and make it come out as sweetly as any Shakespearian sonnet.
Step 1: Decide on a theme
Finding a theme should arguably be the easiest part of writing poetry for your wedding vows. But you don't want to be stuck with something trite or cliché, even though the theme of romantic love is probably the oldest known for poetry. There are lots of ways to avoid writing the same old "roses are red, violets are blue" type of poem. One trick the pros use is to envision what a newspaper article about your relationship would say. Would it discuss how and where you met? How your relationship has stayed strong, even during the hard times? What your love has meant to one another? Since newspaper articles get right to the point, this exercise can help you pick out an overriding theme for your vows.
Step 2: Allow time for reverie
No, not "revelry" (hopefully that will be what your wedding day is all about), but reverie ? a quiet time devoted to a kind of dreamy meditation. Try some tricks for allowing yourself time to truly think about your poem -- and not just those things that allow you to "act like a poet." Go for a walk alone, listen to instrumental music, or simply shut the door to a room in your house and ask not to be disturbed. The most important thing to remember with any of these methods is that you don't let other people interrupt your time.
Step 3: Choose your topic
Theme, as discussed above, is the driving idea behind your poem. The topic, however, is the specific vehicle you use to express the theme. While finding the theme should be the easiest part of writing a poem for your wedding, finding a topic that isn't hackneyed and trite can be a challenge. For instance, love is your theme, but the beauty of your betrothed's eyes may be the topic. You are using the example of her eyes as the symbol for your love. The key is to find something new. There's something that makes your chosen one special, be it appearance, wit, or style. That's the topic you want to choose. Poets use tools like automatic writing, journals, or "dream work" to come up with topics for their prose. (These tools are all discussed in detail in the home-study course I put together for couples personalizing their wedding vows ? visit http://www.WeddingVowToolkit.com for more info.) But anything that allows you to spark your creativity can suffice if you're short on time.
Step 4: Pick Your Style
As many different poems as there are, there are almost an equal number of styles in which they are written. There are traditional forms, modern, post modern, and many more. You can work on fitting your rough draft poem into one of these many forms, or you can go with no form at all. The benefit of working on an art form is that there are no hard and fast rules on what the end product must look like. Perhaps you'd like to try your hand at penning your vows in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet. Or, to go a completely different route, maybe "experimental" is right up your alley. No matter what you choose, just make sure it fits your style. After all, personalizing your wedding vows means just that ? they should be personal, not forced to fit into a style that just isn't "you."
Chris Simeral is the creator of The Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit, the wedding-coordinator-approved home-study course for couples personalizing or renewing their wedding vows. Learn more at http://www.WeddingVowToolkit.com.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:08:09 GMT Sarah Palin may have women flocking - to Barack Obama - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - BY KENNETH R. BAZINET and MICHAEL McAULIFF WASHINGTON - If John McCain wanted to poach the women's vote from Barack Obama, he shouldn't have tapped a running mate who dubbed herself a "pit bull with lipstick. Sarah Palin's appeal to working-class women may be limited A feminist's argument for McCain's VP Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:10:33 GMT Health Buzz: Immunosuppressive Drug Warning and Other Health News - U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report - The Food and Drug Administration has asked the manufacturers of Humira, Cimzia, Enbrel, and Remicade—which belong to a class of medications known as tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers (TNF-alpha blockers)—to strengthen the warning for risk of fungal ... FDA urges more caution over TNF blocker infections Arthritis Drugs Linked to Risks From Infection Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:23:08 GMT 'Wrestler' wins Golden Lion - Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood Reporter - By Eric J. Lyman ROME - Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler," which set the Venice Lido abuzz after its world premiere Friday, won the festival's top prize Saturday. Video: Mickey Rourke Pinned in 'The Wrestler' Will victory at the Venice Film Festival help 'The Wrestler' in ... Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:36:04 GMT Yes, the mosquitoes were nasty this summer - Yakima Herald-Republic Yakima Herald-Republic - by Ross Courtney PROSSER - Cody Jansen sloshes through a pasture, his rubber boots squishing in muddy puddles as he goes. He dips a ladle into a tiny pool and looks closely. Rockland resisted West Nile virus query Aerial survey being conducted to find mosquito breeding grounds Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:47:33 GMT 'Home: A Novel' by Marilynne Robinson - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - Drawing on the characters of prize-winning novel 'Gilead,' Marilynne Robinson revisits an Iowa town. By Emily Barton UNLIKE novels that delight in plot twists and structural play, Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Gilead" is seemingly ... Back at home, troubled siblings look for refuge Their Father's House Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:04:58 GMT Tim Tebow leads Florida past Miami - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - * at No. 5 Florida 26, Miami 3: Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes for the Gators (2-0), who ended a six-game losing streak against the Hurricanes with their first win in the on-again, off-again series since 1985. Tebow's maturity key to Gators' win over Canes - College Football Marve's debut gives Miami (Fla.) reason for hope Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:58:47 GMT Gates outacts Seinfeld in Back To The Future - CNET News
CNET News - Which is why Crispin Porter Bogusky, the agency responsible for the otherworldly new Microsoft TV spot featuring the clowning Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, is already happy. Microsoft's Renewed Vista Strategy Journals week in review: news from One Microsoft Way Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:01:52 GMT Increase Website Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Gatlinburg in Tennessee is the city with streets of art... Read More All brides want that one photograph that perfectly captures the... Read More If your wedding or party is being held in a... Read More There are many things to remember in preparation for your... Read More It's a fact, however odd it seems, that some brides... Read More Embarking upon a marriage is a wonderful time in life... Read More One of my favorite memories from last year was not... Read More Ritual symbolism abounds in everything we do; this is particularly... Read More As most of you know the evening festivities for a... Read More The sole purpose of save-the-date cards is to give the... Read More Marriage counseling is an investment of money, time, and energy... Read More The bridesmaid gift is essential to the planning of a... Read More Have you heard enough about the "Runaway Bride" yet? Well,... Read More You and the one you love are dreaming of an... Read More Selecting a wedding photographer can be a daunting task. Not... Read More If you forget the ring, there is still a chance... Read More Your wedding rings were meant to last a lifetime. They... Read More Love should not blind a couple to the realities of... Read More Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many... Read More Wedding photography is an evolving field that requires artistic talent,... Read More Are you in the process of planning that last special... Read More Personalized wedding favors are among the most popular of gift... Read More Let's talk about writing love letters.Not candy coated pap. Not... Read More Have you ever been irritated because your spouse does things... Read More What should you "walk down the aisle" to? Should you... Read More
Adsense
websites
Gatlinburg Honeymoon Packages
How to Save Money on Wedding Photography
Hey, Where Do I Put My Speakers? Unique Venues Require Unique DJs
Wedding Lingerie ? Honeymoon in Paradise
Let Them Eat Cake -- Just Not at Your Wedding
Creating A Prenuptial Agreement
To Stay Married, Keep Dating
Expressions of Devotion: Buying Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, and Wedding Bands Online
The Enigma of Daytime Bachelor Party Activities
Wedding Save the Date Cards?Best Ideas and Wording
Marriage Counseling: How to Get the Most Value for Your Time and Money
Finding the Perfect Bridesmaid Gift
What Can We Learn From the ?Runaway Bride? Story?
Top Ten Reasons to Plan a Destination Wedding
How to Select a Wedding Photographer
The Bachelor Party: A Guide For The Best Man
Wedding Rings
The Marriage Test
5 Tips To Select The Best Wedding Reception Location
Current Trends in Wedding Photography
Lingerie Party Ideas: Tips to Help Break the Ice
Personalized Wedding Favors
How to Write a Love Letter
Control Issues That Cause Marriage Problems
Wedding Music
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Create A Beautifull Wedding Album With A Simple And Fun Way
Hi If you are getting married or have a Bar... Read More
Twelve Ways to Make Your Spouse Dislike Sex
It's really not difficult to ruin what could have been... Read More
Marriage: Where is the Fairy Tale?
"Presently, 40% of all first marriages in this country end... Read More
Can a Marital Separation Ever Save a Marriage?
As an experienced counselor, one of the questions I'm asked... Read More
The Charm of Homemade Wedding Favors
Homemade wedding favors come from a centuries old tradition of... Read More
Wedding Lingerie ? Honeymoon in Paradise
There are many things to remember in preparation for your... Read More
Wedding Favors - How to Graciously Thank Your Wedding Guests
Thank You, Merci, Arigatou, Gracias, Xie-Xie?Gratitude is a universal emotion.... Read More
Wedding Flower Ideas
Your wedding flowers cover all button holes, all the bouquets,... Read More
Marriage Tips: Breathe Your Way to a Happier Marriage
One way to increase your chances of enjoying a happy... Read More
The Bachelor Party: A Guide For The Best Man
If you forget the ring, there is still a chance... Read More
The Second Time - Another White Wedding?
That first wedding was a dream, a gorgeous long white... Read More
Building Your Marriage: Some Thoughts From St. Paul
These verses of Scripture from St. Paul are commonly used... Read More
The Gracious Bride
The key to being a gracious bride is to be... Read More
Should You Wear White?
White is traditionally a symbol of purity and as it... Read More
Unique Beach Wedding Themes
If you are considering a beach wedding, the ideas are... Read More
How To Survive Your Honeymoon
Once you've mortgaged the rest of your life for the... Read More
The Most Important Things In Marriage
When it comes to marriage, there are things that you... Read More
How to Find the Right Bridesmaid Dresses for Your Wedding
The kind of bridesmaid dresses your bridal attendants should should... Read More
Saving Money on Wedding Music
When it comes to wedding music, there are some choices... Read More
All The Details: 25 Ways to Make Your Wedding a Unique and Truly Memorable Event
If you've been to one wedding, you've seen it all.... Read More
Wedding Budget - What Can You Do To Shave It, Yet Still Have A Memorable Wedding?
OK, so you have your heart set on the top... Read More
Toss a Garter or Two
The tempo of the music begins to rise. Drums begin... Read More
Moissanite Engagement Rings ? Find The Perfect Glam You?re Looking For
Wish to make that one day in your life really... Read More
Wedding Planning: Prioritize to Stay Within Your Wedding Budget
So you're planning your wedding and a thousand decisions must... Read More
Cookie Wedding Favors
Cookies as wedding favors, create an unique twist on the... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |