by Scott Johnson

Well, it would appear the smoke is gone for now and we can finally make our way outdoors again. We hope all of those affected and fighting the wildfires are safe and secure. Is it really that surprising that there would be more disasters this year, after 6 months of being in a pandemic? Probably not, but if anything this year has taught us to be prepared for anything. We return today with a look back at some of the more normal times, with words of love and loads of emotion. That’s right, it is part 3 of our Favorite Vows of 2019 countdown, and our second to last entry in the series overall! So get cozy, enjoy the rainy, clean air and let’s get to it!

Gayle-Manson Wedding

Laura and Jeff had a wonderfully beautiful day at Novelty Hill - Januik Winery last June. At the start of a new season was also the start of their new chapter in life. Jeff, making things quite interesting from the beginning, tells the story of one of their biggest moments together that revealed to him all of the best qualities about Laura. In the process of adopting their dog, the two were beaming with excitement and getting everything ready for their little husky. It all hit the pinnacle when they got to bring home their little pup for the weekend, and as he said, “it was history.” He then dove into a list of all of her qualities, reducing himself (and the rest of us) to tears.

Laura had quite the performance to outdo, but she did so splendidly with vows that kicked off with her recounting their relationship. It had been almost 6 years to the date since they had first met and talked, and boy were they ever eager to get hitched, “we bonded over our broken collarbones, and both left the meeting feeling giddy with excitement for the upcoming summer.” It’s some really sweet stuff, which goes to show that your story and what led you to this point is more than enough for your vows.

Conway Wedding

We already can’t wait to go to Craven Farm this Halloween season to fetch our pumpkins, but the Conways' certainly will be itching to get back (if they already haven’t) for their anniversary. Diane and Shea’s blissful day up in Snohomish were not without some truly special vows that had us giggling and wiping our eyes. Shea went first, and we knew we were in for a treat as he immediately started with the subject of destiny, and his search for it (or her, really). He then listed a bevy of wonderful things about his now-wife. We were already a little misty just after the first few lines, and you can’t doubt that Diane wasn’t, too! By the end, we were swooning and perhaps wanting to get hitched to Shea as well, especially with that reference to a famous line from The Office.

Already feeling the emotions, Diane followed up with an impassioned declaration that, “You came into my life and everything changed. I remembered telling my sisters and friends after I met you that you were different from the others. You make loving you so easy.” Gosh, can we get married to both of them? Don’t be afraid to bring poetry if you have the ability, or just get inspired by the great love speeches from film and history to guide you on your way.

Zeigler Wedding

Up next is our great day with the Zeiglers. Still in Snohomish, this time at the Maroni Meadows, Haley and John could hardly sit still until the ceremony. Getting an extra dosage of loving words, the bride and groom read aloud the letters they wrote for each other, which gave us a nice little preview for the main event. We were not prepared for all the feels! Haley started with a set of promises and lists of everything she loves about John. From the cute, to the silly and to the profoundly loving, she ran the full spectrum of feelings through her words and knocked it out of the park.

John started, coming from the heart, “you make me smile even in my darkest of times and more than anything you give me love that I never thought possible, and never thought I deserved.” This is right where the emotion starts to get dialed up, so be sure to check out the rest of his vows. As has been said before, lists are perfect and easy to get through if public speaking isn’t your forte!

Sherry Wedding

Last up for this edition is the Sherry Wedding from near the end of Spring. Out in Ravensdale, we met with Cheyenne and Tim for a foresty wedding day out in nature. Cheyenne was the first to go, coming with the receipts (an exact count of their days together, which is 1,300). Without pulling any punches, she goes, “You have become my best friend, confidant and partner in life. You’re my constant person, the man I lean on when I need anything. You build my confidence and love for myself, and I can never thank you enough for that.” The waterworks were soon triggered, getting us misty-eyed.

Tim did not hold back in his response, “I strive to be everything you are to me. I promise to share your dreams and to help encourage you along the way. To comfort and support you in tough times and always be ready for our next adventure.” Letting the emotion take over is perfectly ok, and don’t worry to laugh at your nervousness if it is present during your vows! It’s high stress after all!

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That’s about it for this week, folks! If you have any questions, concerns or even complaints, leave them below. We are always eager to hear from our readers and would love to know about your own vows! We will return soon with our final Favorites of 2019 Countdown!