AND MY AXE: Nerd up your vows with a little audience participation

January 11 2013 | bijouxandbits
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LAWL! Photo by Lulu Photos

Secretly getting some pals to help you out with your vows can add a laugh to an otherwise butterfly-tummy situation. Jessica and Jacob took this route and added in some of their favorite geek references for good measure. Check out this snippet from the end of their vows:

Him: I vow to always sing you Soft Kitty when you are sick. But only when you are sick.
Her: I promise that if a strange man in a blue Police Box tries to take me away, I will insist that you tag along.
Him: I promise that you will always have my sword.
Her: And you will always have my bow.
(Chorus of nerds:) AND MY AXE!

What other group participation could work in your vows? Let us know what ideas you have in the comments!

Catherine Clark

Catherine Clark is Offbeat Bride's Senior Editor. In her spare time she loiters at her local library, makes art, watches movies en masse, plays video and tabletop games, poorly cooks healthy things, cuddles with her feline fur baby, and blogs at BijouxandBits.com.

@enidjcoleslaw @bijouxandbits @bijouxandbits

      • Hi @Emily!

        Would it be too much to ask if you could post the text of your "Declaration of Support"? I am working on my ceremony program right now, and I'd like to find how you worded this part of yours. Cheers!

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        • It's a long one, and you may want to trim it down. Good planning to you!
          "Emily and Joel have chosen each and every one of you
          To be here with them
          To witness their Wedding Vows
          Because each of you has given something of yourself to their lives.
          You are the ones
          Who have taught Emily and Joel how to love.
          Having planted this seed of love in them,
          You have shown them the blessings
          That come from loving one another.
          As we rejoice in Emily and Joel’s marriage today,
          Let us each consecrate the relationships in our own lives
          And rededicate ourselves to these unions we share.
          Let us each choose the path
          Of loving and caring for one another
          And of making these commitments
          A priority in our lives.
          Each of us knows that a marriage is not created
          By a law or a ceremony;
          Rather it occurs in the hearts of two human beings.
          So, in witnessing this ceremony today,
          We are observing only an outward sign of an inward union
          That already exists between Emily and Joel.
          Today, they have come before us
          To publicly affirm their love;
          To promise to nurture themselves,
          Each other, and this union;
          And to acknowledge its centrality in their lives.
          We are here to see them off on this journey.
          Let us also be there to see them through.
          As family and friends,
          You form the community of support
          That surrounds Emily and Joel
          Each of you, by your presence here today,
          Is being called upon
          To uphold them in honoring and loving each other.
          Always stand beside them, never between them.
          Offer them your love and support,
          Not your judgment.
          Encourage them with your kindness and loving hearts,
          And honor this marriage
          Into which they have come to be joined today.
          Please affirm your support for this marriage
          By responding, “So say we all” to the following question:
          As part of the community
          That surrounds Emily and Joel
          Do you offer your love and support
          To strengthen their marriage
          And bless this family created by their union?
          Audience: So say we all"

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          • Thanks so much @Emily! This will be a lot of help! Now to translate this to our local dialect 🙂 Thanks!

  4. My son will give me away, I think when the official says "Who gives this lady?" my son will reply with "Uh, have you met my mom?" or "One does not simply give my mother away."

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  5. When I read the 'and you will have my bow' part, my immediate next thought was 'AND MY AXE!' I hadn't even read the next line yet.

    I howled with laughter and my husband wanted know what so funny. I read this post out loud to my husband and he said the 'axe' line, just like I had. I guess we're well matched.

    Now we wanna get married again and get all of our friends involved. This is SUCH a great idea.

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  7. Though it wasn't part of the vows, my dad did an audience participation thing for his toast. He started with the "Mawwige. Mawwige is wat bwings us togever, today", but then asked everyone to call out things that they wished for us. We heard everything from babies, to long life, health, wealth, happiness, and a few others. It was really nice to have that kind of communal wishing with his toast.

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    • Princess Bride is the best!!! We are lucky enough that our preacher has a great sense of humor. We asked and he agreed to start the ceremony with the Mawwiage speech only saying it straight. My fiancée and I are so excited to see how many people get the joke.

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  10. One of our favorite performers at the Maryland Renaissance Festival does a bit in between songs where he administers the "pirate oath". As he states, "Raise your right hand and repeat after me" the entire crowd responds "After me!"

    When my two best friends got married, they incorporated this bit into their vows. When their officiant told them to "repeat after me", all of the guests shouted back "After me!"

    5 agree
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