17 Quotes About Love to Inspire Your Wedding Vows

Writing wedding vows is tough, and sometimes it's unclear how to start: sappy poetry, quotes about love, and relationship anecdotes might all come to mind. When you sit down to write the vows, you may know that you love your spouse-to-be, and you likely have more than a few reasons why, but the right words are hard to come by.

Self-described offbeat wedding officiant Maree Johnston has helped many couples write their vows, so she has a few ideas of where to start. "Vows are promises of honesty and fidelity, of course, but don't have to stop there," Johnston says. "It's the little things that make all the difference in a happy marriage. So the question is: What simple act can you commit to doing or not doing that will make your love's life better or easier?"

Some couples who write their own vows discuss them beforehand. The final words are still written individually, but it can be helpful to decide on overall length, mention of inside jokes or anecdotes, and how much religious content should be included. This way, both of you are on the same page as you work on your vows separately.

Johnston also suggests that vows don't have to be all serious: "Most of my couples are quirky and offbeat, so I encourage them to let their personalities and humor show in the vows they create." This is where who you both really are can shine. If the two of you have a favorite movie, song, or TV show that invokes fond memories of your time together, slip in a line that will make them laugh—and maybe one that will bring a happy tear to their eyes.

If you're looking for a mix of sappy and silly vows, consider one (or a few) of these famous quotes about love to add to your vows.