We Loved Their Vows… But How Do We Write Our Own?

Claudia Mitchell-McLeod • June 27, 2025

How one couple found the words—and the confidence—with a little help from Joy for a Lifetime.


Jasmine and Evan sat hand in hand at the back of the reception hall, still caught up in the moment.


Their friends had just exchanged the most breathtaking vows—funny, heartfelt, deeply personal. There were tears, laughter, even a few gasps from the crowd when the groom whispered,

“You are my once-in-a-lifetime.”


As they drove home, Jasmine turned to Evan and asked,


“What if we could do something like that?”


Jasmine is a pediatric nurse—organized, compassionate, but a little shy when it comes to public speaking. Evan is a high school basketball coach with a playful streak and a heart that loves deeply but quietly.


They were engaged, excited… and overwhelmed.


“We Googled ‘How to write personal vows’…” Jasmine said, laughing.

“We even watched YouTube videos—some were sweet, but we still didn’t know where to start.”


Nothing they wrote sounded quite like them.


That’s when Jasmine remembered a conversation with a friend about Joy for a Lifetime—a wedding officiant service that not only creates unforgettable ceremonies, but helps couples find the right words for the most meaningful part of the day.


When they reached out, I offered them two options:

  • Option 1: Guided Vow Writing
    They’d receive:

- A list of vow-writing prompts (like: “What moment made you realize this was your person?”)

- Gentle structure and pacing tips - Examples of real vows, tone variations, and romantic phrasing

- 1:1 feedback and revisions, if desired
“The moment you looked at me and smiled like I was home… I knew this was where I belonged.”


  • Option 2: Custom Vows—Written for You
    Using a heartfelt questionnaire, I ask questions like:

- “What do you admire most about them?”
- “How has your love grown over time?”
- “What do you want them to remember every time they hear your vows?”


From there, I write a personalized, original set of vows that reflect the heart, tone, and voice of each partner.


Jasmine and Evan chose the guided path—and together, we shaped something that made

Jasmine cry (in the best way), and made Evan pause and say:


“That’s exactly what I meant. I just didn’t know how to say it.”

Their Wedding Day

The sun was setting behind them. Friends and family leaned in as they turned to face one another.


I gently handed each of them their vow book.

Not memorized speeches.

Not performances.

Just quiet promises held in their hands.


And one by one, they began to read.


“I promise to love you not just on your best days, but through every storm, every late-night conversation, every shared dream.”

“I vow to be your home. Your calm. Your favorite person, every single day.”


They had found the words.

Because the words had always been in their hearts.

They just needed a guide to bring them out.


Let me help you find the words you’ll remember forever.

Whether you want to write them yourself—or let me help you say it perfectly—Joy for a Lifetime is here to help you express the love you already live.

Call or text 813-239-4117 to begin.

Because when your promises are written with love and spoken with honesty, they don’t just mark a moment…

they become a memory that lasts a lifetime—

a Joy for a Lifetime.

Planning your ceremony too?

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