Vow Writing Retreat
Write authentic vows with joy + easeSitting down to write your wedding vows is nerve wracking.
If you aim for perfect, you’re setting a trap for yourself.
What’s better than “perfect?” Powerful.
Powerful vows are:
Genuine
Devotional
True-to-you.
(Not:
Elaborate
Performative
Comprehensive)
This workshop will give you everything you need to write powerful vows, including…
♦ Vow format options.
♦ Context about what vows really are (and aren’t).
♦ Step-by-step exercises and writing prompts.
♦ Many examples of powerful vows.
♦ The right head and heart space to write from.
Ready for it?
You’ll be relieved once you decide (or confirm) the right vow format for you.
You’ll feel grounded + excited after you find the words that express what this moment in your life really means.
You’ll be transformed after speaking those words to your partner on your wedding day.
So let’s get to it!
I’m Maureen Cotton, a spiritual wedding coach. I’m trained as an interfaith chaplain, a wedding officiant, and was a wedding photographer for 15 years. I have seen hundreds of wedding vows (and the joy + stress they create).
These experiences offer me a special vantage point to serve as your vow writing guide. It’s a journey to discover your deepest held values + memories, and discern what will allow you to be present during such a highly anticipated moment. More about me. >>
Retreat format
Part 1: Vow workshop. We’ll cover…
♦ Why there’s so much (undue) pressure around wedding vows.
♦ Vow formats and how to decide the best option for you two.
♦ The one and only question you really need to write powerful vows (for those choosing to write and recite a personal piece in the ceremony).
♦ Exercises with writing prompts, guiding questions, and formulas.
♦ Take a close look at vow examples and the most powerful parts of them.
Part 2: Guided meditation and study hall
♦ A guided meditation to help you feel into key moments of your relationship and look/feel into the future.
♦ Now that you’re in a reflective mindset, it’s time for an open study hall. Write, reflect, or talk with your partner as desired (and feel free to email me any question that comes up during this time).
♦ Some couples will be in the perfect headspace for writing and editing your vows. Others will find this time is best spent in conversation about an important topic that has come up. You decide how to use this special, reflective time.
Bonuses:
♦ Video: The Elements of Wedding Ceremony. This overview will help you see your vows in context, and inspire you to personalize every element of the ceremony!
♦ PDF Guide: 3 Reasons to Stop Worrying About Your Vows Now + 3 Vow Formats (including one you probably have never seen).
Get excited about having authentic vows!
Savor reconnecting with your partner and the true purpose of your wedding.
Psssttt… I know you’re here to write your vows, but, to do that authentically you have to reconnect with the true purpose of your wedding. So on this mini journey you’ll also:
♦ Get to soak in the beauty of your partnership + Love Story.
♦ Articulate the shared values that will fuel your married life.
♦ Take a much needed break from the wedding planning hamster wheel (one participant even called it “restful!”)
“The retreat really helped us to find a place to start writing from. The writing prompts and examples from past couples were especially helpful.”
~ Brittany C., 2022
“This experience helped me and my fiancé feel present with one another and grounded in what has been a more generally stressful time for us.”
~ Shealyn L., 2022
“Wedding planning is so tiring, it was lovely that this felt a bit restful.”
~ Becca C., 2022
FAQs
Your Title Goes Here
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Is this an on demand / self study course?
Yes. The retreat is made of a recording from a live class. It’s 1 hour and 45 munutes, including some “study hall” time in the second hour.
Additionally, it includes thorough notes with writing prompts, vow examples for inspiration, a PDF that details 3 vow formats, and a bonus video outlining the elements of a wedding ceremony.
Will you review our vows?
Yes, if you like! On the purchase page you’ll see the options to add on personal feedback from me. Simply follow the instructions for submitting your vows and I’ll send you comprehensive feedback in a video message. You can purchase feedback for one or both sets of vows.
Do I take this course on my own or with my partner?
Participants have success and joy either way. If you and your partner can carve out the time together it’s very special quality time. However, that’s not realistic for all couples and getting to reflect on your own is just as powerful. You’ll be so excited to reconnect with your partner afterwards!
What kind of couples is this best for?
Any couple that wants to speak truthfully and be fully present on their wedding day. You may be secular, spiritual-but-not-religious, interfaith, or non-dogmatic people of faith. You might be LGBTQ (I’m gay married—high five! 🏳️🌈), interracial, or multicultural. You may be marrying your highschool sweetheart or someone from across the globe.
People who are drawn to this personalized and reflective process have this in common: You are a couple who communicates mindfully. Each of you cares about being a good partner—now and in your new role as a spouse.
Wow, $95 seems like a deal.
It is!
Not all couples have the time or money to invest in my 1:1 offerings such as the Ceremony Design Session (for when a friend is your officiant) and The Soulful Wedding Roadmap (modern premarital guidance), so this is a low cost way to help you reconnect with the purpose of your marriage and wedding.
All couples who work with me 1:1 get complimentary access to the Vow Writing Retreat!
