Wedding Vows

I had wanted to do a post bout my HK trip, but the photo editing is taking longer than I expected. Anyway, was reading a couple of wedding vows the other day, i think they were written by this particular guy who's going to be holding the ceremony, don't know if he's a JP though. But, that's not the point, point is, he sent a couple of standard vows that a lot of the couples used and believe you me, its an utter mess.

Yes, it's in decent English, not broken.. but a wedding vow is one that you're going to, erm, hopefully, in most cases, take once in your lifetime, so the last thing you should do is to read something that has no soul and is not at all sincere.

I can't remember them word for word.. I know the shortest was something to the effect of..

"With constant faith and everlasting love (or something along those lines) ... ... With this ring, i marry you."

My instant reaction.. "you can't be kidding me! someone actually used this!?!"

The second vow was quite bad, you can imagine, my mind's physically blocking this memory!

and the third.. well.. it's quite, how do you put it.. raw? unpolished? there but not there? again, I can't really remember the whole damn thing, it's pretty long, but it was something like..

" In sickness, I will nurse you back to health,
In health, i will nurture you.
In sadness, I will ... (i can't remember)
In happiness, I will ... ( i can't remember too, just fill it in with a word that sounds odd and that should be it)
In poverty, our love not grow poor
In wealth, our love will.. (grow?)
(i can't remember the other two lines)
With this ring, I marry you."


What I seriously don't like about them?
The last part.. "with this ring, I marry you." can't they have something like "With this ring, I wed thee." or maybe something mushy-er, "with this ring, I bind my mind, soul and body to our love for eternity." ok.. if you're having the eeekkkss, trust me, i am too.

there was a conversation that was i think most brides and grooms might have, it's usually about the length of the vow..

Bride: "I like the last one, it's longer, so if you want, maybe we can do one line each?"
Groom:" vows should be short and sweet, shorter the better, the first one la! or maybe, Just the last part, 'with this ring I wed thee."
Me: "You don't have to do the same vows, and if she likes, I think you can do something like a Poem that's short and sweet."

At the point when i said poem, I tell you, he was so about to murder me, but I was just being honest! Anyway, she asked me what i would say.. I thought for quite a while, looked at her and went, "I'm not exactly in any lovey dovey stage of my life to think of something sweet to promise someone i'd be there for the rest of my life. Sorry!" I was just being honest..

So I took the last vow the guy sent.. and changed it to this.. (if you're wondering why the sad part comes first, i think it signifies like the bad times before the good, I'd still love you?)

"In sickness, your pain I'll bear,
In health, your joy I'll share.
In sadness, your tears I'd catch
..."

Can't exactly remember the tacky lines. Anyway, I was telling my mom how bad the samples were and we came up with something quite funny, entitled, I will Love you.

I Will Love You

I will Love you..
till you're old and grey,
even when all your teeth decay.
Whether you're walking with a stick
or with an island on your head,
I will love you.

I will Love you,
till our memory fails
and even when you're ill.
Whether you need to be cleaned or fed,
I promise, I won't complain a tad.

I will Love you,
my heart will hold true
and never turn blue.
I Will Love You,
This I promise You."


Ok, Not your typical "vow", but it's true right?! how bout this one..

"I cannot promise I'd be the perfect wife,
the one that cleans, cooks and does everything nice.

I cannot promise that I'd never have a temper,
or give you a shoulder cold as winter.

I cannot promise you a life that's all rosy and pretty,
cause I can't guarantee that I won't be petty.

But What I can promise you, is my love,
My being and my devotion.

What I can promise, is to be the wife
who would stay up by your side when you're ill,
and hold you till you've lost that chill.

I promise, that no matter how tough life is,
I'd be right beside you, fighting it with you.

All these and more, I promise you.
And with this ring,
I bind all my promises and all my love to you, for eternity."


very mushy. but to be honest, I think something short and sweet would be nice, I suggested this to the groom..

"I will Love you all my life,
And with this ring, I wed you to be my lovely wife"

So much for vows.. Well, all i believe is that a vow would only be one that holds true with actions and with effort, a vow bound by love, said from the heart, is a very beautiful vow, no matter how long or how short.

Long Live Love!