Most couples who are getting married give thought to just about every tiny detail of the wedding ceremony and the reception, even to whether or not they'll use traditional wedding vows.  Many today write their own vows or at least add some personal touches of their own, and there is good reason for this.  As with many aspects of weddings and the receptions that follow, what once worked for couples in the past seems a bit old fashioned and even downright ill-fitting to modern couples. 

For example, in the past weddings were traditionally paid for by the bride's family and this may have put quite a financial burden on them.  With many modern couples, both bride and groom have careers that allow them to pay for their own wedding and they often prefer this, so that they know they can make their own choices in every matter.  Most modern couples live apart from their parents by the time they're ready to get married and so are used to being independent and caring for themselves in the first place.  Of course the decision about who will pay for what is a personal one for couples and families, but being allowed this flexibility is becoming more common today.

And so it is with traditional wedding vows.  In the past the vows were very simple with a pledge to "love, honor and cherish, through sickness and health, for richer and for poorer," and so on.  Today's vows typically do not take away from those promises to one another but usually add personal sentiments and thoughts as to what the wedding means to each.  A bride or a groom may make brief mention of how the other has changed their life and what they look forward to in the future as a couple.  They may incorporate their favorite poem or even lyrics from a favorite song.

Another reason that many couples are reworking the wedding vows is that they are seen as sexist and inappropriate to some.  Vows for the bride often included her pledge to "obey" her husband and to "be subject" to him, and many modern women find this thought distasteful.  Omitting those phrases is standard for most couples today, or they're reworded to state that they will both "respect" one another.

This modern way of approaching vows makes the wedding more personal to the bride and groom, just as choosing their own colors or setting for the wedding would as well.  It also shows respect for how families are structured today, with men and women both wanting to be treated as equals rather than one being subservient to the other.  Traditions may tie a couple to their past but adding personal touches to those traditions makes a wedding their own and shows regard to today's couples who live in today's world.  So while traditional wedding vows may seem quaint and even romantic to some, at least consider adding some personal touches to your vows!