Writing your elopement vows can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. You want your special day to be perfect, vows included. Below, I’ll share my top tips for writing your vows with ease. You might even have a little fun with it too!
Do you need vows for your elopement?
While an elopement should be anything you want it to be, you should definitely share vows during your ceremony. Even though it may just be you and your partner, your vows express the promise you’re making to one another.
Your elopement vows don’t have to be like those you hear at a traditional wedding, but it’s ideal for them to be words of commitment, dedication, and love. The best part – your vows can be whatever fits you and your love best. Long, short, funny, serious, cheesy. It’s all about you and your partner on your special day!
Tips for Writing Your Elopement Vows
As an elopement photographer, one of my favorite moments of an elopement is witnessing couples share their personalized vows. Don’t let writing your elopement vows stress you out! Use these tips to create and share meaningful vows you’re proud of and excited to say on your big day.
Here’s a quick overview of my top tips for writing the perfect vows. Then, I’ll share more about the process and how it works.
- Write your vows when you’re ready.
- You don’t have to keep your vows a secret.
- Take notes first.
- Be cheesy.
- Use a vow book.
- Speak directly to your partner.
- Be yourself.
- Practice saying your vows.
Write Your Vows When You’re Ready
Writing elopement vows is a huge deal! After all, it’s all about the promises you’re making to your future spouse and the love you have for them. So it’s important to write them when you’re ready.
No matter how much you love your person, writing your vows can be difficult. To make it easier, you want to be sure you’re in the right headspace and ready to express yourself. Be mindful of the timing and how you’re feeling before sitting down to write your vows.
Tip: Avoid writing your vows after a stressful day at work or in the middle of trying to get chores done.
I recommend scheduling a time for yourself to work on your vows before your elopement day. Maybe set aside a few different times to work on them, so you don’t feel rushed. Make it a whole thing and do a relaxing activity first to clear your head of any distractions and bring yourself to the moment.
You Don’t Have to Keep Your Vows a Secret
While most couples like to keep their vows a secret, you don’t have to. Every couple is different and your big day is all about you! If you and your partner prefer to set “vow writing dates” and work on them together or alongside each other, why not?
Remember that keeping them a secret can add to the fun and excitement the day of. But writing wedding vows together can let you discuss the promises you want to make to one another. You can also write them together without sharing them yet. This is what my partner and I did!
You might also be interested in reading: The Ultimate Mountain Elopement Guide
Take Notes First
This tip might be the most important! I definitely don’t recommend sitting down to write your vows from start to finish the first time. Instead, try taking notes to brainstorm and come up with ideas before you actually begin to write.
You can even jot down special things that come to you in passing leading up to your elopement day. Grab your phone and make a quick note. That way you don’t forget, and you’ll have it to come back to.
Some great topics to take notes on to include in your vows include:
- Your first impression of your partner
- The moment you knew they were the one
- A few reasons you love your partner
- Specific memories you cherish and/or that have brought you closer
- Promises you want to make for your future
- Future plans you’re looking forward to together
- Finish with “I Love You”
Be Cheesy
Your elopement vows are some of the most special words you’ll ever share. So it’s okay to be cheesy! Of course, if you prefer to be serious, that’s okay. But get a little mushy and throw at least a cheesy line or two in there.
Some people find it challenging to be vulnerable, and that’s okay. But this is an important day and commitment, and it’s the best time of any to open up about the love you have for your person.
If you struggle with this, working on your vows over time and practicing them can make it easier.
Use a Vow Book
Vow books are perfect for eloping! Each partner can get their own vow book to write their vows and read from on your elopement day. With the extra pages, you can journal about your special day afterward or use it as an anniversary journal.
Vow books are great because they can be personalized, they’re aesthetically pleasing, and can be the best wedding day keepsake. They also make for great photo ops!
Tip: You can write your vows directly into your vow book after you’ve taken some notes or write a rough draft of your vows before writing them in your vow book.
Speak Directly to Your Partner
This one’s important! You want to make sure you’re speaking directly to your partner when you’re writing your vows.
Remember that your vows are about you and your love, no one else. Say whatever you want that would be special for the two of you. It’s okay to share inside jokes and intimate sentiments. And since you’re eloping, there won’t be a bunch of people around to hear your vows anyways.
Be Yourself
While writing your vows can feel so serious (because it is important), being yourself makes them more meaningful. You want your partner to feel like you’re the one speaking to them. Let your personality shine through!
I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t stress over making your vows perfect. Have fun with it. Be silly, serious, or both – whatever feels authentic to you.
Practice Saying Your Vows
Once you have your vows written, it’s time to practice saying them!
Remember, reading from your vow book at your elopement is perfectly acceptable. But to avoid looking down the entire time, it can help to practice saying your vows a few times before your ceremony. This way, you’ll have at least some of it remembered, and you can look up at your love while you’re sharing your vows.
And if you’re someone who gets nervous, practicing your vows beforehand can relieve some pressure.
Writing Your Elopement Vows: Final Thoughts
Writing your vows doesn’t have to be stressful! With these tips, you can have fun writing your vows, feel prepared on your big day, and let your partner know just how special they and your future together are to you.
I actually eloped myself, and I totally understand how profound this process is. In fact, writing my own vows was an incredibly special moment. The day before my elopement, my partner and I chose to go to a small mountain town coffee shop and write our vows together. We sat at a table outside as locals strolled past, sipped on our coffees, and occasionally looked up from our notes to smile at one another. Writing your vows with your partner can be as adventurous or simple and sweet as you’d like it to be.
Want more help with your elopement day? I might be your girl! Among the Pines (that’s me!) is an elopement photographer who can also help plan and execute your dream wedding day. I even have a 100-page elopement guide to share with you!
kinsley + caden
“Brooke was the perfect choice for our wedding day! We had a micro wedding at Sapphire Point in August. I had never been to Sapphire Point and Brooke was so helpful suggesting vendors, picture locations, parking, marriage license info etc. She was so kind and helpful before and during the whole process and was a large part of why the day went so smooth. She does so much more than just show up and take pictures, Brooke will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect! The photos are gorgeous and I keep getting so many compliments! I truly cannot recommend her enough!”
"Brooke was a large part of why our day went so smooth and will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect!"
We chose Brooke to capture our Colorado elopement and she did exactly that and more. She made it easy to plan our day out with locations and timelines so that we could focus on ourselves. We decided last minute to change our afternoon/evening elopement to a 6am sunrise one so beat the heat of the day. Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise. She was kind and understood what we wanted in terms of our elopement and we are so grateful to have her capture the day. Our photos turned out beautiful and truly helped us relive the day. I would recommend Brooke to anyone wanting their special day photographed.
"Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise."
erica + stacy
kirstie + colin
Brooke not only photographed our mountain elopement beautifully, but she put so much thought into the details and knew all of the answers the questions I didn’t even know to ask. She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had. She even helped pick the perfect spot for us and advised us on the logistical details like securing a reservation at the mountain lake where we wanted our ceremony. She is SO easy to work with and very friendly and chill. My husband and I are super awkward in front of a camera but she made it so natural and easy - and the shots came out better than we could have imagined.
"She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had."
amanda + jace
Brooke is many things; talented, calm, flexible, experienced/ knowledgeable, patient, incredibly responsive, organized, resourceful in a pinch, supportive, creative, professional yet a blast to work with, and goes above & beyond w her clients. Our wedding was a spectacular dream and we couldn't be more grateful that she made that single day last forever. Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be. We couldn't recommend her more and we look forward to booking with her for all of our vow renewals, seasonal and family pictures for as long as she'll have us.
"Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be."
linden + brent
Working with Brooke was a dream come true! Before we even met, my husband Brent and I were impressed by her portfolio. After meeting, we were even more convinced that her photography skills and knowledge, and her fun and easygoing personality were exactly what we were looking for in an elopement photographer. Brooke was able to take our vision and facilitate everything so that it worked out beautifully, especially when it came to finding the perfect location (the incredible mountains surrounding Ouray). Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible, and made it clear that her goal was for us to be 100% happy. In the end, her creativity and our happiness totally shine through in every single photo.
"Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible."
lauren + branden
I can't begin to express my gratitude for the intimacy and beauty behind Brooke's photographs. In capturing our wedding day, she went above and beyond to document our story, our families, and the depths of our love in ways that I'll forever be grateful for. Brooke has an eye for not only capturing the adventure and magic of your love, but deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way. She is truly an artist and tells your story in an authentic and creative way for you to look back on for years to come. We are forever grateful to Brooke for spending the time to get to know us, our story, and capturing the memories that we'll relive for years to come.
"Brooke deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way."
heather + jedd
“If you're contemplating which photographer to go with, THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO CHOOSE BROOKE!!!! She is so so so talented and was able to capture our elopement exactly how I pictured and wanted! We eloped in Ridgway, CO this past September and she was so helpful figuring out picture locations, recommendations of timeline for the day, and just made the whole day feel so smooth. She schedules multiple check ins, phone calls, etc., leading up to the big day to ensure everything is as you want it. Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever after just the first time of meeting."
"Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever."
christy + austin
Brooke is the absolute best. She truly went above and beyond for my fiancé and I to be able to get our engagement photos taken with the fall colors. Brooke is so sweet, fun, personable and incredibly talented. We could not be more in love with our engagement photos! Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever.
"Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever."
