Toms

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16 03 2018

How to Write Wedding Vows with Samples

Wedding vows are extremely personal. They’re the special words that will unite you and they represent your commitment to one another, so take your time finding the perfect wording for your ceremony — or even write your own.

This assortment of vows will help you get started on finding the perfect vows for you, whether your ceremony is traditional or not, religious or secular. Take these vows as a source of inspiration, but feel free to personalize your wedding vows as much as you’d like with your own embellishments, loving words, and humor.

Traditional Wedding Vows

Traditional doesn’t necessarily mean “boring.” Consider these traditional wedding vows a jumping off point. For classic couples, these vows are certainly beautiful enough to stand on their own, but if you’re a creative couple who wants to write your own vows, these will serve as fantastic inspiration:

“I, [name], take you [name], to be my [husband/wife], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

“I [name], take you [name], to be my [husband/wife], my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.”

“I, [name], choose you [name] to be my [husband/wife], to respect you in your successes and in your failures, to care for you in sickness and in health, to nurture you, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life.”

“I, [name], take you, [name], to be my friend, my lover, the [mother/father] of my children and my [husband/wife]. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity. “

“I, [name], take you, [name], to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the [man/woman] you will become, and falling in love a little more each day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.”

“[Name], I take you to be my lawfully wedded [husband/wife]. Before these witnesses, I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all of your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with all of my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.”

“I, [name], take you, [name], to be my beloved [husband/wife], to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.”

If you’re worried what your are guests thinking about your traditional wedding vows, don’t be. If these are the right words for you and your partner, then they’re absolutely the words you should use. When vows are true, there’s nothing boring about them. Plus, if you’re set on sticking to these classic vows, there are many other ways in which you can personalize your ceremony.

Personalized Wedding Vows

Personalizing your wedding vows is a great way to reflect upon your relationship. These are great examples, although you could certainly get more personal. In fact, they might inspire you to write your own.

“I, [name], affirm my love to you, [name], as I invite you to share my life. You are the most beautiful, smart, and generous person I have ever known, and I promise always to respect you.

With kindness, unselfishness, and trust, I will work by your side to create a wonderful life together. I take you, [name], to be my lawful [husband/wife], to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live.”

“[Name], I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard,
when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you and to always hold you in the highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.”

“[Name], do you take [name] to be your lawful wedded wife/husband?”[Each responds, “I do.”] “Do you promise to love and cherish her/him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her/him, for so long as you both shall live?” [Each responds, “I do.”] “Do you together promise in the presence of your friends and family that you will at all times and in all circumstances, conduct yourselves toward one another as becomes husband and wife?” [Together they respond, “We do.”] “Do you together promise you will love, cherish and respect one another throughout the years?” [Together they respond, “We do.”]

“[Name], I promise to love and care for you and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love.
I will always be honest with you, kind, patient, and forgiving. But most of all, I promise to be a true and loyal friend to you. I love you.”

“I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife], to share the good times and hard times side by side. I humbly give you my hand and my heart as I pledge my faith and love to you. Just as this ring I give you today is a circle without end, my love for you is eternal. Just as it is made of incorruptible substance, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I thee wed.”

“[Name], do you pledge to love [name] and throughout your years together to be honest, faithful, and kind to her/him? Do you pledge to give to her/him the same happiness she/he gives to you, and to respect her/him for who she/he is, not who you want her to be?” [Each responds, “I do.”]

“[Name], with all my love, I take you to be my [husband/wife]. I will love you through good and the bad, through joy and the sorrow. I will try to be understanding, and to trust in you completely. Together we will face all of life’s experiences and share one another’s dreams and goals. I promise I will be your equal partner in a loving, honest relationship, for as long as we both shall live.”

“[Name], I promise to love you, to be your best friend, to respect and support you, to be patient with you, to work together with you to achieve our goals, to accept you unconditionally, and to share life with you throughout the years.”

“[Name], I take you to be my [husband/wife] from this time onward, to join with you and to share all that is to come, to be your faithful [husband/wife], to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond; a commitment made in love, kept in faith, and eternally made new.”

I, [name], pledge my undying love to you, [name], as I invite you to share my life. I promise to be kind, unselfish, respectful, and trustworthy so that together, our dreams of a beautiful future can come true. To this end I call upon all present to witness that I take you [name] to be my [husband/wife], to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live.”

“I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife]. I promise to respect and support you, to be patient and loving towards you, to work by your side to achieve the things we value and dream of, and to savor our time together. I pledge to you all of these things from the bottom of my heart for the rest of our lives.”

“I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife], to share both good times and bad times, side by side. I give you my hand, and my heart, and hope that my love will always be a safe haven for you. Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal. Just as it is made of a permanent metal, my commitment to you is forever. With this ring, I thee wed.” (This is an example of a wedding vow during the ring ceremony. Read more about ring ceremony vows.)

“[Name], today I take you for my [husband/wife]. Now we will feel no rain, for each of us will be a shelter for the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of us will be a companion to the other. There is only one life before us, and our seasons will be good and long. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you, no matter what lies before us, for as long as we both shall live.”

Religious Wedding Vows

For religious brides, grooms, and families, a church ceremony is something truly sacred. Incorporate your faith into your vows for a special ceremony you’ll never forget.

If you’d like to personalize your religious wedding vows, check with your officiant before you get started. Every faith has its own wedding traditions and practices, so ask your officiant what his or her preferences are.

“I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [(optional: lawfully wedded) husband/wife], my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”

“[Name], I love you. I want to be your [husband/wife] so that we might serve Christ together. Through all of the uncertainties and trials of life, I promise to be faithful to you and love you, so that together we may grow in the likeness of Christ and that our home may be a praise to Him.”

“In the presence of God and these our friends I take thee to be my [husband/wife], promising with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful [husband/wife] so long as we both shall live.”

“I, [name], take you [name], to be my [husband/wife], my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this special, holy day, I [affirm/reaffirm/give] to you in the presence of God and [all those in attendance/these witnesses] my [pledge/sacred promise] to stay by your side as your [(optional: faithful) husband/wife] in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”

“[Name], I take you to be my [husband/wife] from this point forward, to join with you and to share all that is to come, to be your faithful [husband/wife], to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond. This will be a commitment made in love, kept in faith, and eternally made new.” –submitted by reader Sarabeth Andrews

“I, [name], take thee, [name], to be my wedded [husband/wife], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ’til death do us part, according to God’s ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my troth.”

“In the name of God, I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife] to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.”

“In the name of God, I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.”

Original post: https://www.thespruce.com/sample-wedding-vows-3489433

04 08 2021

Contract Template (in Latvian)

Toms FYI fyi, kāzu video līgums, noderīgi

Open contract template (.pdf file)

27 02 2018

Useful Tips

Toms FYI fyi

As a photographer, I have a certain privilege of experiencing more wedding celebrations per each year than some people over a much longer period of their lifetimes. This is my usual work day, so it’s pretty safe to say, I’ve been there, done that, again and again, and again. Most often, these events are filled with joy and happiness, but sometimes some small unpleasant surprises still may pop-up here and there. That’s why I have compiled a number of suggestions from my own and my colleague’s experiences. These suggestions are designed to make your wedding day more enjoyable, and you can avoid the mistakes others have made before you. 🙂

1. During the wedding morning preparations make sure guests and other family members who are NOT getting ready with you, do not come and visit you to say hello in the morning before the wedding. Many brides get ready in hotel rooms for this very reason. Too many people stopping by, tends to stress the bridal party and can cause delays in your preparations;

2. If you or your bridesmaids have children, make sure they have someone else looking after them the morning of. This can be dad, grandparents or a close friend. Bridesmaids can’t do everything and neither can mothers, so on the wedding day, they are allowed to put down their mum hat, to put on their bridesmaid hat. They can always put their mum hat back on after all the formalities have concluded;

3. Before starting a morning preparation, I would suggest paying some extra attention to the layout and arrangement of the room. I would recommend making your hair and make-up in the biggest room possible with the most natural light available. If the preparation takes place in your home, try to clear the room from all the unnecessary clutter that would interfere with the movement of all involved and the whole aesthetics of the room;

4. Try to create some simplified wedding day plans or schedules that highlight – times, locations and activities – and share them with your best-man or maid of honor prior the wedding day. You will definitely feel more comfortable on your wedding day if you don’t have to answer all the questions, just let others do that for you;

5. Have someone in charge of dealing with suppliers on the day. Usually, a best man or a maid of honor who knows what you like and what has been organized. So if anything goes wrong, or something has to be re-arranged, they can deal with it, without stressing the bride out;

6. Guests with phones, iPads and cameras get right in your photographer’s way. They have no idea how to stay out of our way. They often ruin many of our shots. In your invites, tell everyone you’re having an unplugged ceremony: no technology, please. Write it on a chalkboard which guests can see as they arrive on the day. Imagine you’re in the middle of your wedding ceremony. You’re elated. You decide to take a quick glance towards your guests as you’re sure they’re sharing these happy moments with you, possibly even shedding a tear of their own. What do you see? No faces, at all, as they are all hidden behind phones and cameras! I highly doubt this is the way you want to remember your wedding ceremony;

7. Do not overdo it with the execution of wedding traditions. Calculate your time so that the wedding does not turn into a multiple obstacle marathon runs;

8. Do not save your time at the expense of a photoshoot. Do not rush your photographer and videographer, because ultimately, just remember your photos and video are what you have left at the end of the day;

9. Beautiful photos and video happen when you’re working together with a photographer and our success is based on good communication. You should never feel embarrassed or uncomfortable to express your feelings or your own ideas to the photographer;

10. For wedding films, I suggest you create wedding vows for each other. With vows, there are several ways to record them – they can be revealed at the wedding ceremony in front of every guest, or we can record them by talking to each one of you separately before or even after your big day. Do not be shy to read from the crumpled sheet of paper. This is certainly not a schools homework to learn by heart and deducted on a day when you will have one hundred and one other thought in your mind. Imagine it as a little gift for each other. You will definitely enjoy it when you see the result;

11. If I must drive with my own car, then always count in things like traffic, congestions, busy parking places, and so on. These things can affect the photographer’s prompt arrival at some locations and in that case, there’s always a chance of some misses good shots. Always try to plan prior the wedding day all the routes and reserve additional parking spaces if necessary;

12. Do not violate the allowed speed limits on the roads and follow the rules, it will be safer for yourself and more economical. If the photographer gets punished for speeding while chasing your car, the price for my services will be increased by the amount of a penalty fee and multiplied by the assigned penalty points, which the kind policeman will write in his ticket;

13. Think about the fact that the photographer, just like any other guest, may get hungry. If, however, the photographer’s place at the table is not planned, then please inform me prior the wedding day, so that I can prepare myself some delicious sandwiches to take with me; 🙂

14. Do not be afraid to think outside the box. Do not plan your wedding on the sole basis of only a few friends or relatives experience. Go beyond the stereotypes that you do not see the rationale for yourself. – If weather allows it – celebrate in the open air, take the event in an unusual place – in a barn, a glasshouse, a forest, in an industrial or rural setting. Plan the removal of the bridal veil without having to wait midnight, start your first dance to the sunset, cut the cake straight after the ceremony. Plan your time so that everything that seems most important to you happens while you and your guests are still active and not tired; ?

15. Most importantly, do not forget to enjoy this day! Don’t panic if not all goes perfectly because, at the end of the day, you will have a spouse whom you love and that is really all that matters. Just let this day take a natural flow and loosen up. Trust your wedding organizers and all the others involved, remember that there most likely was a really good reason behind each choice you made when selecting these professionals over the others. So, relax, enjoy and don’t panic about anything, delegate and trust your suppliers. It’s your wedding day, have fun creating great memories. ?

15 03 2020

Frequently asked questions

Toms FYI FAQ, frequently asked questions, fyi

We are really shy of being filmed, and we have never been on a single photo shoot. Can you work with us?

Hey, believe it or not, most of my couples have never been on a single photo shoot before, and that’s normal, not everyone in their regular lives is modeling or being an Instagram influencer. 🙂 You’ll always view your own film in a much different way to how you see others, this time it will not only be about beautiful people in beautiful locations, this time it will be your story, unique and personal to you and your other half and it will bring much joy to you for many years to come. It will be beautiful, I can promise you that, but if it helps, don’t think about the wedding film as a present to yourself. Think of it as a gift for your future generations to enjoy.

When will we receive our wedding films?

I’ll always try to get your film to you within two months, however depending on the time of year this can differ. If I have a clear schedule I’ll often deliver the wedding film much, much faster.

Can we choose the music for our Wedding Film?

I would always prefer that you leave this choice to me based on the feeling I get during the edit. It’s a pretty time consuming process and one that needs to be perfect in order to compliment the look and feel of the final film. But, I’ll always welcome your suggestions if you have any and I do in fact always ask my couples if they have their special songs that has some deeper meaning to their story. Maybe it’s the song that was playing when you first met each other or if it’s the song of your wedding dance – I usually won’t mind using it. 🙂

Do you work alone?

Yes, most of the time I prefer to work on my own. This is purely based on my ethos of simplicity and discretion. It’s a wedding day not a film set after all. That being said, if you feel that you would benefit from a second camera person or assistant then I can certainly arrange this for you.

Do you offer Photography?

Yes, you can hire me as a photographer, I also offer a joint wedding film and photography package that includes a team of photographer and a filmmaker. I don’t offer both services in one person, because I don’t believe that anyone who does that can guarantee the best quality they can deliver for their end product.

Are there travel costs?

Not usually in Latvia depending on how far I’m traveling, however we’ll always discuss this if it’s relevant. For destination weddings, I’ll simply add an additional fee for travel time and I’ll need a room for the duration, preferably close to the action. I also ask that flights and transfer costs are covered both ways.

How many weddings do you film each year?

It depends on a year, sometimes counting both photography and videography I can cover 12 weddings, sometimes a little less. This way I can give the proper care and attention needed to every step of the project – editing, the build up and preparations, and of course the day itself.

Do we need to meet beforehand?

For destination weddings – not at all. I always find that a video call or even a good old fashioned telephone call is enough for you to check out my personality and put a face to the name. If you can make it to my country then please do call in for a coffee, I’ll always gladly meet you in person if possible, however if not, there’s no problem in the slightest.

To gain a proper understanding of the wedding and to create the best wedding film I can, I’ll send you a number of questionnaires to complete before hand. These allow me to understand the precise timings and details of the wedding. We’ll always follow this up with a final chat in the weeks leading up to the big day.

Do you need to visit the venue beforehand?

No, as my work is people and story focused, the venue, as beautiful as I know it will be, simply provides me with a back drop to my film.

How do we book?

To completely secure your date, I need two things from you. Firstly completion of a very simple agreement then secondly a deposit payment paid by transfer into my business account or in cash if we meet for a coffee. I’ll invoice you for the balance payment one month before the wedding. If wedding takes place in Latvia you can also pay the balance on the day in cash if it feels more convenient for you.

What cameras do you use?

I’m currently filming my wedding films using Sony Alpha camera system along with a DJI Mavic drone. With that one out of the way, I’d only like to add that all professional camera manufacturers in this day and time are making great cameras and I can’t think of one, that I could honestly call bad. At the end of the day, as important as cameras may seem, those are only tools in my hands. As a funny reference, I can only hope that people don’t actually ask what brand hammers do their builders use for hitting nails. 🙂

If you have some more questions, you’d like me to answer, let me know.

18 02 2020

Prices

Toms Prices PRICES

Film Package #1

Wedding Music Video

700 €

Up to 8 Hours of Filming

Short Highlights Film (approximately 3-5 min. long)

Film Package #2

Wedding Short Film

950 EUR

Up to 12 Hours of Filming

Long Highlights Film (approximately 7-10 minutes long)

It is possible to include voice recordings in this film – in the form of interviews, private vows or letter reading.

Film Package #3

Wedding Film

1200 EUR

Up to 14 Hours of Filming

Short Highlights Film (approximately 3 minutes long)

Full Wedding Film (approximately 15-20 minutes long)

This film includes voice recordings – in the form of interviews, private vows and/or letter reading.

Travel expenses – in territory of Latvia – 0,30Eur/km (both ways) – are not included in the package price.

At the end of the day – each and every wedding is different, and even if you have already looked at the prices listed above, and didn’t find what you were looking for, just let me know. Feel free to contact me about your special day, tell me all about your wishes and your planned budget and I will get back to you with accurate cost and possible suggestions on how to plan the day so that we can fit into your desired budget. I’m sure we can figure something outside these package deals. 😉

Optional Wedding Film Services

Additional 1 hour of filming on a wedding day – 70 EUR/h
Second Shooter – 70 EUR/h (price may vary depending on season or chosen package)
Filming a Love Story clip – 200 EUR/h (up to 2 hours of filming)

Event & Commercial work

Filming 100 EUR/h (min. 2 hours)
+ Editing:
Up to 1:00 minute long video – 100 EUR
Up to 2:00 minute long video – 150 EUR
Up to 3:00 minutes long video – 200 EUR
Up to 4:00 minutes long video – 250 EUR
Up to 5:00 minutes long video – 300 EUR
(For larger scale projects, please feel free to contact me with more details)

Keep in mind that all the prices are indicative and available only in Latvia. For the accurate cost of your project, please get in touch with me by writing me a letter on my page or using any other preferable method of communication.

27 02 2018

Wedding Videographer Cost Guide

Toms FYI fyi

It’s a great pleasure to welcome you into this far corner of my page.

This lets me know that you are very interested in my work and that you probably have already seen my pricing list and apparently want to know a little bit more on what exactly impacts a wedding videographer’s prices?

To begin with, this is my primary source of income, and it is possible that the following pricing conditions do not apply to other videographers who are doing this at their free time from their primary jobs or are just taking their first steps in the deep waters of wedding videography. 🙂

There are a variety of factors that can impact wedding videography prices, some may be obvious and others less so.

Time. The creative time that we spend together, it can be both – a couple of hours or even several days. In general – the more time videographer is filming, the more you’re likely to pay. Most wedding videography packages include the amount of time that your video pro will spend at your wedding. Unfortunately it’s very common for people to forget that videographer’s work does not end with him placing his cameras down and packing his bags at the end of your event.
Travel. Time and finances spent on the road, fuel, and food. These conditions are always variable, but they are just as important to our work as any other. If your wedding videographer will be traveling a long distance to be present at your wedding, you’ll likely have to pay for his or her gas mileage, airfare, hotel or other travel charges. Also, it’s always worth remembering that the videographer will most often try to arrive before the time of the wedding because it might be necessary to explore the surroundings or to prepare his equipment before the filming;
Sorting & Post-processing. The editing process is actually the most time-consuming part of creating your wedding video. If filming process usually takes a day, then sorting and post-processing most often will take at least a week. Of course, it may always vary with every event or season. Your videographer may also allow you to make a round of edits to your wedding video, but additional edits may cost more.
All the little things are HUGE. Taxes, electricity bill’s, computer software, advertising (Google, Facebook, Wedding agencies, etc.), client gifts, website maintenance and marketing. Meeting with the new couple before the wedding at the most convenient time and place. Meeting the new couple repeatedly (if necessary). Being available for counseling through e-mail, voice calls or on social media. Meeting with the new couple after the wedding when delivering work. These all may seem like trivial things, but when they are all summed together, they make a really large portion of my work, which, of course, also requires it’s own time and resources invested;
Final Product. Your wedding videos will likely be provided to you via some kind of data carrier – DVD, Blu-ray, or as in my case a custom made USB drive. Your video may also be made available via YouTube or Vimeo for easy sharing. If you require additional copies of your wedding DVD, Blu-ray disc, or USB, you will likely incur additional charges.
And finally – technical support. As with any professional, we need our own tools to work — from high-definition cameras to lighting equipment and more. To be able to provide our customers with the best quality, we can not afford to do our job with cheap equipment. As you may already know, professional tools of any kind tend to be really expensive. Some photographers backpack with it’s contents can come very close to the price of a long-desired car you might be looking at for some time. 😎 And then there’s the equipment preventive care we have to invest in regularly. ?

Now that we have covered all the pricing factors, we can return to the most important – The Wedding!
I always find it the most difficult task to determine the prices for these beautiful events. In my opinion, any wedding is unique and unrepeatable in its own right, the moments you’ll experience on this day might be some of the most beautiful moments in your lives. This is why I feel that capturing this day must be treated just as heartily as when you did, when asking the big question, or maybe saying “I Do.” in front of an altar to your very special other half.

I hope that you will agree with me when I say that I can not charge the same amount from a couple who invited 100 guests at their wedding and the same amount from the couple who decided to marry in front of the few closest people to them. The same rule applies to many other cases – some couples will organize their day in one location, while others choose to arrange a trip across half of the country. It is also very common to hear people searching for a videographer who will cover “a full day shooting” – and again, while for some this full day might be 9 hours long, for others it is going to be 12, 16 or even 20 hours long. I think you already understood where I’m going with this… 😉

Each and every wedding is special. Which is why, even if you have already looked at the indicative prices listed on my page, feel free to contact me about your special day, tell me all about your wishes and your planned budget and I will get back to you with accurate cost and possible suggestions on how to plan the day so that we can fit into your desired budget.

25 02 2018