The Wedding Where...
Join me, Amanda, owner of Officiating by Amanda, as I share stories of weddings I've officiated and lessons I've learned, advice for the dating, engaged or married, reactions to wedding ceremonies in movies and TV shows, special guests from the wedding industry sharing their stories, behind the scenes interviews with some of my couples, and the answers to your questions. With 10 years under my belt, I've got many, many tales to tell!
The Wedding Where...
Vows Mini Series - Long Traditional Vows
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Have you ever wondered about all the different ways to say "I do"? In this episode of the Vow mini-series on The Wedding Where, I'm exploring one of my favorite traditional vow formats—a comprehensive four-question approach that packs multiple commitments into one powerful moment.
As a wedding officiant, I've seen firsthand how this particular vow structure resonates with couples who want something traditional but meaningful. The beauty of this format lies in its completeness: it combines promises of partnership ("taking each other as spouse and best friend"), commitment through life's ups and downs ("with all joys and sorrows, happiness and hardships"), mutual support ("cherishing and respecting... honoring dreams and goals"), and faithful love—all culminating in that simple yet profound "I do."
What makes this episode especially insightful is the behind-the-scenes perspective on how these vows work in real ceremonies. Sometimes couples surprise me by wanting to affirm each question individually rather than waiting until the end, reaffirming their commitment multiple times. Other times, I've had to pivot when a groom expected to just say "I do" but was faced with "repeat after me" vows we had planned. The flexibility of this format allows for personalization too—whether adding fandom references for die-hard fans or acknowledging the witnesses present to create a sense of community support.
Perhaps most powerful is the reminder that marriage isn't just about two people in isolation. As I share in this episode, "You might be two people falling in love, but you aren't the only two people in the world and you're not doing it a thousand percent and solely alone." Your vows are witnessed by the very community that will help sustain your marriage through challenges. Listen now to explore if this traditional-yet-comprehensive vow format might be perfect for your ceremony, and stay tuned for more vow options in the coming weeks!
Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it! Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com. Any links referenced are on linktree.
Welcome to the Vow mini-series on the WeddingWare, with Officiating by Amanda. We are doing a little six-week, just a little deep dive into vows and some of the different vow options you might want for your wedding ceremony. If you're new and joining us in, my name is Amanda. I'm a wedding officiant and I started this podcast in January to tell some stories, share some insights, advice, just laugh and preserve the memories. And after our first 25 episodes, with some added in bonuses, I'm taking a little midsummer hiatus and I going over some vows this week, covering another one of the traditional just say yes, just say I do vows.
Speaker 0:This one is a little bit longer and when couples choose it, I let them know I'm going to be talking for quite a bit. It's actually four different questions jumbled together and these are the words you're waiting for at the very end so that they know when to answer. I've also had a few couples say no, I want to answer. I do for each and every single one of them, just to reaffirm my commitment, which is really awesome. This one typically is one that I find myself doing when a couple says they want repeat after me vows and I write it out and then when I get there on day of the groom was thinking all he had to do was say I do so. I've reworked a lot of this on the fly.
Speaker 0:Name of spouse one. Do you take name of spouse two to be your husband or wife and best friend? Will you commit your life to them, him or her, with all joys and sorrows, happiness and hardships, with all joys and sorrows, happiness and hardships, and through any experience that lies ahead? Will you cherish and respect him or her, comfort and encourage him or her while being his or her friend, and do all that lies in your power to honor his or her dreams and goals and do all you can to help fulfill them? Do you vow to be faithful to him or her and give of your whole heart with these promises based in love? With the answer being, very simply, I do.
Speaker 0:Sometimes I've modified this with little clauses that fit their fandoms, throwing the word always in there If they are doing a larger ceremony with a lot of guests. I sometimes will say giving of your whole heart with these promises based in love. In front of these witnesses, I'm really acknowledging that they're not just saying I do in a vacuum. There are a lot of people around who are witnessing and going to hold them to it, going to work to help them support the marriage. Be there for tough times. It's very important to acknowledge that you might be two people falling in love, but you aren't the only two people in the world and you're not doing it a thousand percent and solely alone. There are friends, family and resources. Stay tuned and come back next week for some more vows. Until then, this has been Amanda.
