so two days ago i wrote about writing my own vows and i mentioned that i would be sharing with you all a great way to help you write your vows.  well, i’m excited to introduce vow muse to all of you readers!

vow muse is made up of two women, Alicia and Angie who are  professional writers in their late 20′s with a love of words and helping people write and speak gracefully and in their own style. they work together, with you, to help make your wedding day words sparkle.  they can assist you with writing your vows, speeches, ceremonies, toasts – anything that has words, they can help!  and, their talent doesn’t stop at weddings; they’re also pros at dating profiles, websites, invitations or anything else wordy you can dream of.

i had a few questions for them, so i’m sharing with you all their answers to hopefully give you a better idea about how they can help you with your wedding.

How did you both get started in this business?
Ever since my friends were old enough to get married, I (Alicia) began receiving requests to help them with their wedding vows, speeches, and ceremonies. I have a Master’s degree in Writing, and seemed like a natural person to turn to for advice. They usually came to me late in the game – with maybe 24 hours until the big day. From these experiences, the idea came to me: perhaps more than just friends would welcome assistance with vows, speeches and ceremonies (and I like public speaking, so officiating was a natural fit, too). I knew Angie was working on freelance writing at the time and was not only a great writer but also incredibly likable and easy to talk to (a must for this job). She was the perfect fit for a business partner, so we teamed up and have been in business ever since.

Can you explain a bit more about what it is you do (what other services you offer)?
Our mission (which we took on with gusto) is to turn each client’s thoughts and feelings into just the right words, and make it sound like they wrote them in their own unique voice. When it comes to weddings and unions, there is a lot of writing needed! We zero in on all the aspects of weddings that require words: the entire ceremony that will be bringing the couple officially together, the vows exchanged between the couple, the toasts given by the Maid of Honor, Best Man and Father of the Bride, text on the wedding website that describes how the couple met, invitation text, and anything else that might need words. Beyond that, we offer help in public speaking (I used to be a teacher, and before that I was incredibly shy so I know just how hard talking to a group of people is; I also know how to overcome it and how to produce the best speaking situation for each person) and wedding website design, too.

How do you make the items you write personal or so they don’t sound like they were written by someone else?
Whichever “Muse” is taking on a project, they always start the same: with questions! Each project we work on begins with a conversation – we talk to our clients for at least half an hour, often more, in order to get a feel for their personality, lingo, and what they want to express in their vows or speech. Part of our job is getting to know our clients quickly, helping them trust us with their emotions and making them feel comfortable honestly telling us their stories. When all this lines up, producing writing for them flows very naturally. Also, part of our process includes time for revisions, and we encourage clients to read everything out loud to make sure it sounds exactly like them. Feedback is highly encouraged, and we tweak the writing until the client is delighted and the words are just perfect.

What is your personal experience with LGBT couples? Have you worked with them in the past? Is there anything unique that you could bring to their commitment ceremonies/weddings?
We’ve totally worked with LGBT couples, and always have an incredibly great time getting to know them and be involved in their big – heck, humongous – day! Actually though, what we bring to LGBT couples is exactly what we bring to other couples — dedication to our job, an ear for listening, and an eye for catching all the perfect things to write about. Like all couples, each LGBT couple is unique and has their own interesting and wonderful story. We think it’s our job to learn about them and then provide the best service possible to make their wedding day sound perfect.

What is your favorite thing about your job?
I actually think Angie and I should answer this separately. Angie, go for first:
My (hi, this is Angie) favorite thing about this job is hearing a client tell us that we helped them pen the perfect words. Nothing is more satisfying than doing your job well and truly affecting someone’s life on one of the most memorable and treasured days of their lives. We really put a lot of thought and effort into what we write (via lots of review, editing, and passing drafts back and forth between each other), and nothing is better than when everything falls perfectly into place. It’s an amazing feeling.
As for me (Alicia), I’d have to say I love it when a client says something brilliant and poignant without meaning to – when they themselves are able to honestly express their feelings and ideas verbally, and I have the great fortune of weaving that into a piece of writing for them. I could do this job without input from the client, but it’s so much more satisfying to have a shining moment directly from them. I love helping (I play soccer, and my favorite part of the game is to assist rather than to score), and I think just the act of getting a client to a place where I can help them is amazing.

So, how does this work?
The process of working with Vow Muse is simple:
It all starts with a conversation.
First, one of the Muses chats with you to get a feel for your personal voice and style while learning about the project you’re working on. Don’t worry if you’re feeling bashful; we chat professionally and can make conversation with a dandelion if the situation calls for it.

Then you’re off the hook for a spell.
We write; you live your life!

Next, it’s revision time!
You check out what’s been written and ensure it conveys the essence of you in a voice that is a mirror image of you. Want changes? No problem! Writing is a collaborative process, and with just a few quick notes from you (as simple or detailed as you want), we revise. Usually we go through one round of revisions, sometimes two.

Speaking Tips
If you’re interested, we offer tips to help you deliver your vows or speech. Don’t worry if you’re totally uncomfortable in front of a crowd. We have tips and tricks to save you from getting your tongue tied in knots.

Done and done.
Yup, that’s it. We always follow up post wedding or event to hear how it went – getting the scoop afterward is one of our favorite parts!

I love that these two women have found something so unique in the wedding business and taken it on to make it their full-time job.  cheers to women entreprenuers!

so check them out and mark one more thing off your wedding to-do list!

(photos via the vow muse website, taken by tom thompson)