WIN 1000 DOLLARS FOR MOST MEMORABLE WEDDING VOWS ARTVOWS.COM, GALLERY OF MARRIAGE VOW FINE ART, MOUNTS CONTEST FOR BEST VOWS; OFFERS VOW WRITING TIPS
One of a Kind Marriage Vows Contest Features Ten Weekly Winners of Customized Art Vows and One Grand Prize Winner of One Thousand Dollars to be Announced on July 27
The world watched the magical moment in last week's Royal Wedding when Kate and William shared the special prayer that they had written themselves which captured their love for each other and aspirations for their life together. As wedding season approaches, Art Vows (www.artvows.com,) the new first of its kind online gallery offering personally significant fine art pieces commemorating a couple's wedding vows as well as anniversaries, vow renewals, and commitment ceremonies, wants to inspire couples to create their own magical moment with vows, a poem or a prayer that will put in words the emotion of that special moment and are worthy of displaying for a lifetime.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, now America's marriage vows could be worth one thousand dollars! As a way to inspire bridal couples looking for the perfect expressions of their mutual love, Art Vows, which was featured in a recent story on this new wedding trend in the New York Times www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/us/12religion.html is partnering with respected vow writing experts to find America's best original marriage vows. Beginning this week, Art Vows' One of a Kind Marriage Vows Contest will award a customized Art Vow fine art piece to the best wedding vows submitted each week for ten weeks, from perspective bridal couples, newlyweds or old married couples (to be announced each Wednesday), judged by Angie Sommers and Alicia Ostarello, founders of www.vowmuse.com, an online consultancy that provides help to couples in writing weddings vows and speeches.
Beginning July 6, the ten weekly winning vows will be posted on www.artvows.com and for three weeks, the public will be invited to vote on their favorite among the 10 finalists. On July 27, Art Vows will announce the couple with the vows that most wow the experts and the public and will award them $1000 and bragging rights for America's best marriage vows. For contest rules, go to http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/115795 or for more information go to www.artvows.com or call 1-855-ARTVOWS.
What are the judges looking for in outstanding wedding vows? The winners must display creativity, originality and appropriateness to the theme of one of a kind marriage vows. If there is one thing the judges emphasize, it is that there is not one specific formula to fit every set of vows. Everyone is unique and their vows should be as well. Angie and Alicia offer a few rules of thumb for entrants to consider when writing vows. Below is a list of eight items they value in a good set of wedding vows:
Outline: Consider writing an outline as one of the first steps in writing your vows, which will help you to formulate your ideas, organize your thoughts and lay out your goals for your vows so that they come across as well thought out.
Vows or a Speech: There will often be a speech-style element that describes how the couple met or what one person loves about the other. But there should typically also be an element of actual “vows” where you indicate what you promise to keep true between you, whether or not you actually use the word “vow."
Remember Your Audience: Weddings are usually family-oriented. There will be mothers and grandmothers and children. Friends and family of all ages will be watching on as you recite your vows; be sure to keep your words appropriate for all ages and relationships.
Be Specific: Generic lovey-dovey statements are fine, but what really shines in a personalized set of vows are the specifics. Do you love the way he ruffles his eyebrows when he eats sour apples? Does it always make you smile when she does a silly dance to the theme of American Idol? Say so. It will be adorable.
Humor Works: It’s true that you’re not a stand-up comedian when you’re at the altar. But working in a few pointed bits of humor is a great way to make your vows memorable and lighthearted while keeping the audience engaged.
From the Heart: Your vows are really a testament to your sweetheart and an indication of what you hold dear in your relationship. A set of vows that does not explore this is likely lacking in sincerity.
Be Yourself: It’s true, you aren’t Leo DiCaprio. But that is all right, she is marrying you, not him. If you’re a quiet person, you don’t need to try to be boisterous in your vows just because you think it will go over well. Stick to your guns and you’ll be just fine.
Short and Sweet: Last but most certainly not least, quantity does not equal quality. Not for hardly anything, and not for vows. People will love to hear your vows, but only for so long. Say what you’re going to say and wrap it up.
About Art Vows:
Launched on Valentine’s Day, February 14 of this year, Art Vows is the first of its kind online gallery offering personally significant fine art pieces commemorating a couple's wedding vows. Founded by Michael Shapiro, who also founded www.Ketubah.com, the world's number one provider of heirloom quality fine art Ketubahs, Art Vows transforms wedding vows, a reading or a favorite piece of poetry into a limited edition fine art print. Offering 100 styles that can reflect a couple's personal tastes, Art Vows are printed using archival inks on high-quality paper or canvas that will last a lifetime. Hand numbered in limited editions of 365 representing, as Shapiro says, "every day of every year in the couple's future together." Art Vows come "ready to use" at the wedding, either stretched (if ordered on canvas) or professionally matted (if ordered on paper). After the wedding or special event, they are suitable for framing to be prominently displayed in the home for years to come.
Contact: Randi Cone
Coterie Media
646-435-0029
randi@coteriemedia.com
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