Dreaming of gorgeous wedding flowers but worried about the cost? Whether you’re planning a luxe coastal celebration in Noosa or a romantic hinterland wedding in Maleny, floral styling doesn’t have to break the bank. In this guide, we’re sharing 21 clever ways to save on your wedding flower budget – all tailored for Sunshine Coast and Brisbane couples. From choosing in-season blooms to working smarter with your florist, these tips will help you stretch your budget without sacrificing style.

Smart Wedding Flower Budget Tips

1. Set a clear floral budget
Start with a number. Most couples spend 8–15% of their total wedding budget on florals, but you can adjust this based on your priorities.

2. Prioritise high-impact moments
Focus on the “hero” pieces — like your bouquet, ceremony arbour, or one reception statement installation. These will be most photographed and most noticed.

3. Repurpose florals across the day
Use your ceremony flowers again at the reception — especially arbours, plinths, aisle arrangements, and welcome sign blooms.

4. Choose in-season, local flowers
They’re not only fresher — they’re more cost-effective, especially from Sunshine Coast or Brisbane growers.

5. Go lush with foliage
Greenery-heavy designs still look luxe but are much gentler on the budget.

6. Pick flowers with big visual impact
Blooms like hydrangeas, king proteas, and dahlias fill more space with fewer stems.

7. Stick to fewer flower types
A streamlined palette allows your florist to buy in bulk and reduce waste.

8. Opt for simple table arrangements
Think single stems in bud vases, clusters of jars, or small posies rather than large centrepieces on every table.

9. Reuse bridal party bouquets
Have vases waiting at the reception to place them in for double-duty styling.

10. Skip or simplify extras
Boutonnieres, corsages, flower girl petals — keep only what matters to you.

🔗 Not sure what’s typically included in wedding florals? Our wedding florist FAQs have you covered.

Location-Specific Tips for the Sunshine Coast & Brisbane

11. Choose a florist familiar with your venue
They’ll know the logistical requirements and what floral elements work best with the space — especially important for hinterland venues with trickier access.

12. Embrace natural beauty
Venues in Flaxton, Yandina or Montville often come with stunning natural backdrops — meaning you need less floral styling overall.

13. Check if your venue allows repurposing
Some locations (especially in Noosa or heritage sites) may have bump-in/out time limits — knowing this early helps plan smarter.

🔗 Find your ideal Noosa wedding venue here

🔗 Hinterland wedding venue more your vibe? We’ve got you covered here

🔗 The rest of the Sunshine Coast offers some stunning, unexpected venues from Coast to Country. Check them out!

Strategy Tips You Might Not Have Considered

14. Ask for a seasonal colour palette
Let your florist choose the best value blooms in your colours — it gives them flexibility to work within budget.

15. Consider dried or preserved elements
A few preserved blooms can add structure and be reused or kept as a keepsake.

16. Ditch the flower toss
Skip the extra bouquet and preserve your hero blooms for later drying or display.

17. Reduce the bridal party size
Fewer bouquets = less spend.

18. Skip guest table flowers altogether
Go with candles, fruit, or DIY styling and focus your florals elsewhere.

19. Shorten the guest list
Less people, fewer tables, less styling required overall.

20. Choose florals that don’t need constant water
This saves setup stress and transport costs if the venue is remote or outdoor.

21. Be honest with your florist
A great florist will work with your number and recommend ways to stay within it while still creating something magical.

🔗 Need help choosing your wedding colour palette? These 5 tips will help. 

Bonus: Grab Your Free Wedding Flower Budget & Checklist

Want help sorting your must-haves from your maybes? Download our free printable Wedding Flower Budget & Checklist, designed for Sunshine Coast and Brisbane weddings.

Download it here

Need a Florist You Can Trust?

We’ve done the legwork for you. Browse our hand-picked directory of wedding florists on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane who know how to bring beauty and budget together.

Find your wedding florist now

VENDORS

Venue PRIVATE PROPERTY, NOOSA HINTERLAND |Photography SHAE ESTELLA PHOTO | Videography MEARS PRODUCTIONS | Flowers WILLOW BUD | Coordination WILD HEART WEDDINGS | Styling SIMPLY STYLE CO. |Catering VANTEEN CATERING | Hair SASS & NIKI | Make Up SALLY TOWNSEND | Stationary LITTLE J DESIGNS | Entertainment THE FAMOS | Cake ZOE CLARK CAKES | Dress KAREN WILLIS HOLMES | Model VIOLA

The post 21 Clever Ways to Save on Wedding Flowers (Without Sacrificing Style) appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Undeniably, Noosa is home to some of the world’s most stunning beaches. It’s absolutely no wonder so many want to be married here and why our local wedding vendors never get tired of seeing these areas all dressed up for wedding ceremonies. 

Below I’ve shared some of the most popular locations couples choose for their Noosa weddings. Scroll to the bottom to learn exactly how to book to secure one of these beach ceremony locations exclusively for your Noosa wedding day. 

Maison La Plage

If you have planned a large wedding with more than 100 guests, this is the beach ceremony location for you as it has the largest capacity of the Noosa beach spots. It’s very popular with couples getting married in Noosa, as the pandanus trees create an iconic coastal vibe. On a sunny day, the aqua waves sparkle in the background. 

All the Angles | Maison La Plage Ceremonies

Emma + Trent’s Wedding with Ceremony at Maison La Plage

Samuel + Leah’s Noosa Wedding Ceremony at Maison La Plage

When Sophie + Chris Got Married at Maison La Plage Noosa

Little Cove 

This is a super popular choice for elopements and micro weddings. You can be married right on the sane at Little Cove. Accessing this one can be a little tricky, especially if you have any guests with mobility issues, so bear that in mind when booking this spot for your ceremony. Its natural beauty is unmatched with sandy shores and beach rocks. There is a gorgeous variety of opportunities for wedding party photos in this location. 

All the Angles | Little Cove Ceremonies

The Magazine Shoot Where We Staged a Group Wedding at Little Cove

Image by Alan Hughes Photography

Hidden Grove

Another great spot where you can have a larger guest list for your Noosa beach wedding ceremony. “Hidden” may not be the most appropriate name for this grove, as it’s situated very centrally in Noosa! This is a great thing if you’re holding your wedding reception at one of the many gorgeous Noosa wedding venues along Hastings Street, or on the Noosa River. 

All the Angles | Hidden Grove Ceremonies

That Time Hannah and Tom Said I Do at Hidden Grove

Lauren + Edward’s Wedding Ceremony at Hidden Grove

Casuarina Gardens 

For an intimate wedding with 60 guests or fewer, this wedding ceremony spot in Noosa is positively dreamy. Walk down an aisle of lawn surrounded by lush greenery and say your vows with the ocean peeking through the branches as your backdrop. 

All the Angles | Casuarina Gardens Ceremonies

The One Where Caitlin Married Dale at Casuarina Gardens

Laurinda + Joseph’s Colourful Casuarina Gardens Ceremony

The Perfect Day for a Wedding Ceremony at Casuarina Gardens

Sunshine Beach

Just 10 minutes drive from Hastings Street you’ll find Sunshine Beach. A charming, tucked-away beach suburb of the Noosa region. If you want to have an uninterrupted view of a quintessential Australian  beach, this is definitely the ceremony spot for you.

The Ocean Lawn is part of the Sunshine Beach Surf Club, so to hold your ceremony here you will need to book the space through the Surf Club. 

All the Angles | Sunshine Beach Ceremonies 

A Scottish Wedding at Sunshine Beach

Beautifully Styled Sunshine Beach Wedding Ceremony

How to Book a Beach Ceremony Location in Noosa

As soon as you know your wedding date, if you want to get married in Noosa, you need to act fast. Once the dates are gone they’re gone, so be sure to check the availability of your fave Noosa beach ceremony location ASAP. 

You can do this through the Noosa Shire Council website. Yes, there is a fee and it will be non-refundable. Some areas are able to be booked for 2 hours, while others you can have for up to 3 hours. 

Should you risk not booking and just show up on the day? Absolutely not. If you didn’t go ahead and book it, chances are someone will have – and they will have the power to kick you out of their designated ceremony hour. Definitely don’t risk it! Make the booking and pay the fee, it’s a small price to pay to get a stunning spot in a world-famous Noosa beach spot for your wedding. 

Frequently asked questions about planning a wedding ceremony in Noosa

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Before you start extracting precious childhood memories from your mind in an effort to make more room for the little things you need to organise and remember, (No? Just me who does that?), start designating.

There are a few important things you simply will not be able to do yourself on your Sunshine Coast wedding day, so it’s time to hand over the reigns on this one and let someone else take stock of what you need done. Here are a few jobs you may not have made arrangements for. Your job this week is to choose the people to take care of these and make sure you inform them with clear instructions. Pro tip: Don’t designate all of this to just one person. We don’t need to burn anyone out!

Feed You

Your wedding day morning will be so busy, it’s easy to forget to eat. With champagne flowing and nerves creeping in, you definitely don’t want to head off down the aisle on an empty stomach.

Choose something you know always goes down well, and ask someone who will be with you on the wedding day morning to be in charge of ordering or preparing the meal. Make sure they realise this task includes physically putting a plate of food in your hand to make sure you eat something!

If you don’t have someone that springs to mind to take this one on, or you’d like something a bit extra special for your wedding morning, you can order a Bridal Breakfast from Luxe Soirées to prepare, deliver and set up in beautiful style for you and your entourage.

Carry Your Touch-up Supplies

You’re going to be flat out carrying your bouquet and holding your husband’s or wife’s hand, you
won’t have a spare hand for a clutch. Ask a trusted friend to carry all your supplies for you. These
include, but are not limited to touch up lipstick and powder, tissues, paracetamol/similar, bandaids/
plasters, and even a small emergency sewing kit.

It’s a good idea to choose someone who will be able to be close to you throughout the day and
night. Your trusted bridesmaid or maid of honour is ideal. Your mother might be a good alternative,
however bear in mind that she might be difficult to pin down, as family and friends will be just as
keen to congratulate her on her beautiful daughter’s marriage.

Bring Your Overnight Bag

Following your reception, you and your new wifey or hubby will want to sneak off to your own private paradise, even if it’s just for the night before your honeymoon. You will need to have somebody either bring along your overnight bag and stash it somewhere safe till it’s time to go, or deliver it to your wedding night accommodation prior to the day’s celebration.

This goes for your new spouse’s bag, too, so be sure to have his gear organised, as well. In fact – this is a task he could be in charge of delegating to one of his/her bridal party members.

Look After the Loot

Whether it be a table full of presents or your wishing well, you will need to have somebody  take care of all of your gifts. Nominate someone to take these to their car to take home for you, and not too late in the night. It’s best to pick a time that’s after the official stuff, but before the party really gets going to get the goods out of the way.

Set Up Your Decorations

Let me preface this one by saying, it is my strong advice to leave this one to a professional, like your venue coordinator or hired stylist. However, of course sometimes budget doesn’t allow and DIY it is. The “yourself” in DIY in this instance, should be translated to mean “someone other than you.” I cannot stress this enough: nominate somebody to do it for you, don’t be doing it yourself on your wedding day!

It’s important that you pick someone who can follow your directions to the letter, and be sure you go over the set up with them just how you want it several times. You don’t want to walk into your own wedding reception and feel like running about to each table setting and switching things around! You may even wish to supply them with a photo of how and where you want each item to be placed, so there’s no confusion.

A word to the wise – don’t pick somebody who is in your bridal party. They will need to be with you for emotional support, and to have their pampering done as well. You don’t want your busy hair and makeup artists to be waiting around for your bridesmaid to return, or miss them out altogether because they are still at the venue putting out place cards.

Pick Up Your Cake and Flowers

Again, don’t choose a person already in your bridal party to do this. This is a great job for brothers, fathers, uncles and cousins, who would revel at the chance to make themselves useful.

Be sure they know whose name the order was placed under, and give them a detailed list of what is to be collected so they can check it off as they go. Supply this trusted person with a phone number of the supplier as well, so if anything goes amiss, they can contact them first to see if they can sort it out themselves before calling you directly to stress you out.

Images by Mallory Sparkles Photography

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Imagine answering 50 calls, responding to 100 texts, and hearing 150 Instagram notifications coming through… not so relaxing on the morning of your nuptials, right? Relinquish your phone to a trusted person, who will remain nearby throughout the day and is free to screen your calls and only bother you with the super important ones. Anything else, including well wishes, can wait till tomorrow! 

Pro tip: Don’t put the wedding morning playlist on your phone, as it will be ping ping pinging through all your fave tunes with well wishes! 

Step Two: Eat eats & drink drinks

Start the day with something nice and substantial in your tummy, and something you know agrees with you. If you tend to bloat with gluten, this is not the day to throw caution to the wind and order pancakes. Stick with what you know makes you feel good and try to up the protein and limit the sugar. Protein and complex carbs will sustain you, while sugar comes with a high… but remember what comes up, must come down. And hydrate! 

Step Three: Pamper yesterday

The time you have to get your makeup done, your hair, eat, relax… trying to fit in things like painting your toenails and tanning (yes, I know it’s obvious, but I’ve seen it…) is not ideal. Get your spray tan, manicures and pedicures a day or two before your wedding, so they are fresh. 

Step Four: Practice the tricky bits

If there are parts of the wedding that you are anxious about, practice them before the day. If you are worried about your speech, practice in front of a friend you feel comfortable with as many times as you can. If you are concerned about walking in heels, put them on as frequently as possible in the lead up to the big day. If you are worried you are going to mess up your first kiss or first dance, well this will be stacks of fun to practice in advance with your fiancé! This preparation will prevent you from building up the nerves all morning. 

Step Five: Delegate, delegate, delegate! 

I would be surprised if you hadn’t heard this before, but handing over on-the-day jobs to trusted family and friends is so important. Make sure the people you choose are not your bridesmaids, though. You need them there in the room with you. 

Step Six: Be Selective 

Limit the number of people in the room to your inner circle. This is the one time I would recommend you get your clique and don’t allow yourselves to be infiltrated. I give you permission to snob it up like a little snobby snob. Because this: drop ins will halt the process of your getting ready when you’re strapped for time, or you won’t be in a position to stop the proceedings and you will end up feeling guilty for not giving them the attention they deserve. Let everyone know you’re looking forward to seeing them at the celebration and making a big entrance – that’s usually enough to deter drop ins. Threats I don’t recommend, but you do what you gotta do, no judgement.

Step Seven: Keep a Simple Schedule

Your hair and makeup artist will most likely work together to ensure they each have someone in their chair being beautified, and they get the job done smoothly. Unless they ask for it, you won’t need to provide a strict running schedule. The one thing you should do early on is ask your photographer what time they will need you to be done with hair and makeup and ready for some pre-dress photos.

Note: they will plan to arrive a little earlier to take some shots of your dress, rings, flowers and the getting-ready process. Don’t mistake this time and rip yourself off from having a little extra getting ready time! So if your photographer says, “I’ll be there at 12:30” – be sure to clarify if that’s when you need to be completely ready, or if you have an extra 30-60 minutes to play with, because you just might need it! 

Images by Klee Photography from Lauren and Joe’s Sunshine Beach wedding 

The post 7 Steps to a Relaxed Wedding Day Morning appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

It’s becoming more and more common for couples to move away from the traditional wedding vows and opt to write their own personal vows. However, it can be more complicated to write your own vows than you think. Many people know how they feel about their partner, but actually putting it into words is a tough task.

Mr & Mrs Celebrant, have put together some helpful tips on how to write your own vows, so you can make sure you say exactly how you feel and make an incredibly romantic and memorable ceremony.

What sort of ceremony is right for you

Firstly decide on the type of ceremony you want. Your celebrant can help you with this, making sure you cover all the right aspects of a marriage ceremony, but also keeping it personal. You may decide you want it to be sentimental with a touch of humour, or über romantic and soppy. Think about your personalities and how you are as a couple for inspiration.

Separate vows?

For vows to really resonate on your big day it’s important you and your partner are singing off the same hymn sheet. Before you put pen to paper, take a little time to work out if you want completely separate vows or you want a set of unified vows where you recite the same words back to each other.

Structure

It’s also important that both sets of vows have a consistent structure. If you start by talking about each other, how you met, when you first realised you were in love and how great you are as a couple. This gives a great basis for the vows and will allow you to develop on those feelings when it comes to pledging your lives to one another.

Think about the future

It’s also good to think about the life you have together and the common goals you want to achieve, as well as what you both want to give each other for the future, besides undying love of course. Think of the promises you want to make as a couple and what will make you both happy in marriage. You can also make it extra special and personal by including experiences you have had together or times you’ve really had to pull together as a couple.

And finally, try to keep your vows short and sweet, not only because it’s less to remember, but sometimes when it comes to love less is more. A succinct and touching account of your love and promises can have more resonance with you and your guests.

The post How to write your own wedding vows appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Children are so excited about any upcoming event, and a wedding to a small child is just about the biggest deal there is! Especially when it involves one or both of their parents. It feels like their day, too, which is just beautiful.

Of coure we all know you could have them in your wedding party and photos, but here are some other simple ways to honour your little people on your wedding day and make them feel included.

1. Let them get ready with you

If you have a boy, send him off with the groom for their day of golf and chilling out with the blokes. He will love the man time, and feeling like he’s one of the boys. And I bet a bit highlight of his day will be having his tie tied and his buotonniere fastened by the groom; whether he’s dad or stepdad-to-be, this is an important bonding moment.

For the little girls, getting in the thick of the pampering is a dream come true, and something she will remember for life! Have her hair done by your professional hair stylist, give her a champagne glass with OJ in it, let her have her nails painted. And even if she only gets some clear lip gloss, let her sit in the makeup artist’s chair and be fussed over! Often the makeup artist will happily do this free of charge.

2. Let them make a speech or presentation

Have a trusted family member or friend work with them to “surprise” you with a speech, a poem, a song, or an artistic creation to present to you at your wedding ceremony or reception. They will be so proud!

Do your kiddies have musical talent? Why not have them perform a song a la Lennon and Maisy on Nashville.

3. Give them their own dance

At the wedding reception, dedicate a special dance to have with your children! They can swap between mum and dad, and make sure it’s a beautiful meaningful song (that’s not too long.) Here are a couple of suggestions:

Songbird – Eva Cassidy

Michael Buble – Everything

Pharrell Williams – Happy

The Beatles – I Will

Elton John – Tiny Dancer

Bob Marley – Three Little Birds

Sheryl Crow – Sweet Child o’ Mine

Shrek Movie – I’m a Believer

Ray Charles – Ain’t That Love

The Temptations – My Girl

James Taylor – You Can Close Your Eyes

James Taylor – How Sweet It Is 

Michael Buble – Daddy’s Little Girl

Nancy Sinatra – It’s For My Dad 

Lennon & Maisy – That’s What’s Up (or the original by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros)

And my favourite, which I sing to my son… Ben Taylor – Nothing I Can Do. The son of legends, James Taylor and Carly Simon, Ben Taylor wrote this song for his mum! Aw!

4. Represent them in your cake topper!

Find a cute figurine, or have an icing cake topper made to their likeness. You can have them on top with the bride and groom, or on a lower cake tier.

5. Let them ride in your car

There may only be this short window of time throughout the day for you to take a moment to rejoice and reflect privately as a family. Both prior to the ceremony, and on the way to your reception are two great opportunities to have a little heart to heart. Plus they will love the fancy wheels!

Photos by Lindy Photography

Flowers by Willow Bud 

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Lovely brides, I have a little project for you to commence over the weekend. If you have not yet given some attention to your wedding day budget, it’s time to pull your pretty little head out of the sand and face this head on. 

We have made the task a little less daunting by providing you with a printable budget tracker. You can put in the amounts you have already committed to, and fill in the gaps according to what you have to spend. When each expense is in front of you and accounted for – from the makeup artist to the reception venue, you can clearly see where your budget needs to be allocated next. 

Here are some tips to help you work out where you can splurge and where you could save

• Sit down with your fiance, each of you secretly write down the top 3 things you would like to give priority to when it comes to budget for your wedding. Compare notes, and where you have come up the same, give weight to that particular element. Where you differ, it’s time to compromise and come up with figures you are both happy with. 
• Work out what your bottom line budget actually is. Break down your wedding budget into what you already have saved, any contributions that have been committed to you by family, and how much you can feasibly save between now and your wedding day. That final figure should be the topmost amount you spend on your wedding. 
• Ensure you’ve accounted for “life as usual” in your everyday savings. While you may be able to curb your shopping habits and minimalise date nights until your wedding day, things like new car tyres, home repairs, and speeding tickets still pop up from time to time. Account for this, and have a little extra up your sleeve. That way if something unexpected happens, you won’t be stressed about losing wedding money to “life as usual” expenses. 
• Consider small areas you could DIY – just be sure that your DIY projects are actually going to save you money. Research and discover if it’s comparable to appoint a professional before embarking on any DIY projects. 

Image by Matt Rowe Photography

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From announcing your engagement to putting down your deposits to sending out your thank you notes after the big day, our wedding checklist has considered every little detail. So you don’t have to! This can only lead to a carefree Sunshine Coast wedding day. 

When every task is accounted for, all you need to do is check them off as you successfully navigate the planning of your Sunshine Coast wedding. 

All of our planning tools are free for you to download and print. You can make a whole scrapbook of these babies and your wedding planning becomes an absolute breeze. 

Good luck and happy wedding planning, lovely Sunshine Coast brides! 

Image by Life and Love Photography

The post Wedding Planning Checklist appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Today’s guest blogger, Noosa celebrant, Patricia Quinn, has been around enough wedding ceremonies in her time to possess some absolute gems of advice for brides-to-be. When it comes to handy little hints that could save you worry at your wedding ceremony, Patricia has thought of everything for you. 

Sun + Wind

If outdoors, check ceremony venue at a similar time of day for angle of the sun. Look at alternative options in case the weather is windy.

Veils

If you’re wearing a veil over your face, then your escort can lift it back before shaking the groom’s hand and kissing bride, then offering your hand to your groom. 

Bride’s Shoes

Practise walking on them at rehearsal to get used to them.

Bride’s Procession

Shoulders back, big smiles and pause, take your time. Acknowledge guests and your escort – there’s no rush!

Readings

Ask your readers if they would be kind enough to practise their readings a couple of times out loud before the ceremony.  (Most people speak too quickly, so ask them to slow it down.)

Using a Microphone

Always keep the microphone angled close to the mouth, speaking a little louder than normal when outdoors.

Photographs

Try to angle each other’s hands to the camera when placing each other’s rings. The groom should place one hand under the yours and take enough time for a lovely photo. Same with ‘The Kiss’ – if you don’t get it right for the camera and remember, then you can always just do it again!

Rings

If a little tight, nerves and excitement can make them even tighter, so you can lubricate beforehand with a little soap or Vaseline. Don’t force it if it’s not behaving, just wiggle it on properly a bit later. Note: if receiving rings before placement, often the bride’s ring fits on groom’s curled little finger and groom’s ring fits on bride’s curled thumb.

Bride’s Bouquet

Hold just below the waist (much more flattering in photos.) Don’t forget to ask your bridesmaid or someone to give it back to you before the recession.

Little Children

If they are guests, try to get someone or something to entertain them. If in the wedding party and they get restless, just let them sit down with their family.

Music

If using an iPod, make sure you have enough downloaded for pre-ceremony (at least half an hour) and signing (about five mins) plus post-ceremony. Rehearse bride’s procession and wedding party recession.

IMPORTANT: music should fade and stop just before ceremony begins. Be careful of devices sitting in full sun for a long time. If possible bring two in case one fails. If your device has a passcode – please don’t forget to share with your music person!

Hanky or Tissues

Bring along just in case of a few tears (of joy)!

Have Fun

Everything doesn’t have to be perfectly staged. Laugh if something goes wrong, what matters is having a great time! 

Photos by Lindy Photography

The post Everything You Haven’t Thought of Yet for Your Wedding Ceremony appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Firstly, don’t think of this as a daunting task, but rather an extremely rare and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tell your beloved why you love him/her, what makes them the most special person in the world to you, and share that with all of your family and friends without them rolling their eyes and telling you to get a room.

Of course there are some technicalities to take into account. Firstly, you need to check with your wedding officiant to find out if there are any key words or phrases you must keep in your vows. Some officiants will have some very particular requirements that are non-negotiable, but many are very flexible.

Next, you can make life easier on yourself by writing down a few things about your partner to get the ball rolling.

1. The one undeniable thing about your partner that makes you love them beyond a shadow of a doubt.
2. What is the absolute best thing about the person you’re marrying?
3. How did you know you wanted to marry them?
4. How did you know when you fell in love with them?
5. What is your best shared memory?
6. What will change when you are married? What will stay the same?
7. How do you picture your lives together in 10, 20 and 50 years?
8. What are your shared dreams?
9. Most importantly – what promises and commitments are you making to your spouse by marrying them? This is the most important, because this is the crux of a vow, by definition!

Keep the Substance 

Once you have a good handle on the kinds of specifics of your relationship you can include, put a couple of them in your vows. One thing you want to be sure not to do is to take away from the true meaning of the vows themselves. Talking about how much you love each other is not technically the purpose of this exercise, but to make real promises to one another as you make your partnership in life official.

A good balance of sentiments and promises, with a focus on the latter, is the ticket. Feel free to throw in a few cute or funny personal details to keep it light and entertaining for your guests, but always remember why you are there – to make a lifelong commitment. 

Do Your Research

It’s time to do some research and figure out just how you can put these vows together to sound as beautiful as they feel in your heart. Your trusty old friend Google will be able to help here. You can find countless examples of wedding vows online. Try typing not just ‘wedding vows’, but a key phrase that is going to get you something as close to your specific requirements as possible. Eg. ‘Personalised Catholic wedding vows’ or ‘informal wedding vows.’

Consult an Expert

You can also consider consulting an expert. Your officiant is going to be the best person to ask first and foremost. You may also wish to enlist a professional wedding speech/vows consultant. They do exist! And they will be able to look at your individual case and help you every step of the way.

Strike a Balance

Putting everything together – the stuff you have to have, the personal stuff you want to include, and the beautiful wording to make it all come together – is the tricky part. Ensure you have left yourself enough time to go over and over your vows, so you will be 100% happy with them. The great thing about words is they are so very easily changed, re-written, deleted, etc. Up until the day of your wedding, you can make as many changed or do as many rewrites as you like, so don’t worry if you don’t get it all done in one hit.

Get on the Same Page

Lastly, go over your wedding vows with your betrothed. Even if you want to keep the actual words a surprise, it is a good idea to give each other an idea of the direction you’ve taken, so your vows will each stack up against the others’. You might even give each other a few ideas!  

Images by Chesterton Smith Photography

Celebrant for Jaimee + Matthew – Shona Anderson

For more helpful how-to articles, visit our Resource Guide. 

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