Online - October 25, 2005

Vow to Be Different

Fall 2005 Wedding Guide

You used to be a thoughtful, calm, and rational person.

Then you got engaged.

All of a sudden, you find yourself forgetting your fiancé’s birthday and losing sleep over shades of blue. Perhaps it’s time to brush up on some pre-wedding vows. Like the pledge that you won’t allow the planning to outshine the importance of your day. Here’s some help.

Vow No. 1 — Invitations
I, (name), will set a date soon. Then I’ll check out the exquisite handwritten script invitations by Bernard Maisner Calligraphy & Fine Stationery or whimsical letterpress products by Sarah Drake Design. After the invites are sent, I’ll hire a professional service like Wedding Response to handle replies and set up a website at Engage Page to keep guests in the loop.

Vow No. 2 — Flowers
On (month/date/year), the day of my wedding, I, (name), will stop to smell the roses. I will design my own floral arrangements using Grower’s Box for fresh-cut flowers at wholesale rates.

Vow No. 3 — Cake
I, (name), understand that a wedding cake is all about the topper. To make it even more appealing, I’ll forgo the sprinkles for cake jewelry by Very Different Cakes.

Vow No. 4 — Gown
In the presence of family and friends, I, (name), understand the importance of feeling comfortable. Instead of going the bridal salon route, I will opt for my dream couture dress in white, silver, or gold shades. With stuff like Zac Posen’s romantic gold dress, I’ll definitely look and feel like myself. To top it all off, I’ll wear a pretty hair comb or headband.

Vow No. 5 — Music
I, (name), trust you, Brian Alex, to write a custom love song that won’t make our guests vomit.

Vow No. 6 — Bridesmaids
I, (name), promise you, my closest friends, that I won’t make you wear anything I’d hate. I’ll even make it fun with satin bustle skirts by Holiday — in the color of my choice. To show how much I care, I’ll give you an Iomoi E-Stationery membership. As for the real gifts, I’ll get monogrammed satin robes and white pima cotton pajamas. I’ll give the other maids (read: sisters-in-law) something they can wear to the wedding, like a pink freshwater pearl necklace.

Vow No. 7 — Groomsmen
With this Tumi garment bag, I, (name), will show you, my fiancé’s friends, that I am a nice person.

Vow No. 8 — Photographs
I, (name), acknowledge that the bride isn’t the only one in the pictures. To get guests to strike a pose, I will rent a photo booth from PhotoWorks Interactive and give guests a Photocuff bracelet. Since they’ll definitely want to return the favor, I’ll have a Kolo album, scissors, glue, and pens for each guest to leave me a photo with a sweet note.

Vow No. 9 — Favors
I, (name), understand that weddings aren’t always as much fun for the guests as for the bride and groom. I promise to reward you, my patient guests, with personalized candle favor tins as party favors.

Vow No. 10 — The Groom
I, (name), pledge to thee, (groom’s name), that I won’t make you say any vows; I’ll have you wear them. With these matching cuff bracelets, you can punch my name onto your wrist.