This Is Us Hunk Is a Hubby and We Can’t Get Over His Vows
Guys, one of our favorite Big Three just got married this past Saturday, and he and his new wife, soap star Chrishell Stause, are the definition of #newlywedgoals. While we don’t know too much about the wedding, PEOPLE has the exclusive and we’ll have to wait until Friday to pick the full story up on newsstands, its dotcom let us in on a few details of the day like her Monique Lhuillier gown, the marital landmark in Malibu, and the part we loved most: apparently the two exchanged handwritten vows. Swoon.
It all went down on Saturday evening at Calamigos Ranch in SoCal, and was quite the intimate and emotional affair. We’re not sure if the event qualified as a microwedding, but the new Hartleys shared the occasion with on-screen family and friends from This Is Us, including Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia, Chrissy Metz, Chris Sullivan and Susan Watkins.
That’s really all we have for now, soooo back to the adorable vows. Not every couple decides to write their own, but it’s so sweet and from the heart, and we can’t help but smile thinking about it. Justin and his bride have us straight-up inspired, so we decided to round up a few other reasons why we love this tradition…
YOU CAN GET REAL WITH YOUR FEELS
If you’re like Justin and Chrishell and barely have time to breathe, let alone sit and talk out all of your emotions and feelings towards each other, being able to articulate your thoughts in written vows is a great thing. You have the rest of your married lives to express your love to one another, but being able to put pen to paper and scribble down some sacred, personalized sentiments to your S.O. is everything a wedding was meant for.
YOU CAN GO AS SAPPY AS YOU WANT WITHOUT JUDGMENT
Listen, it’s your wedding and no one can fault you for getting a little extra gooey. Even if you get side eyes from you crew for getting lovey dovey on the reg or posting too many #mcm/#wcw for their liking, they need to STFU when you’re telling your guy or girl ‘I Do’ on your big day. You have a captive audience, for once, and no matter how vulnerable you want to be, you have #briderights for the day. Long story short - feel free to get as passionate as possible.
YOU CAN COMMIT TO EACH OTHER IN YOUR OWN ‘LOVE LANGUAGE’
Sure, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, works, but over the course of your relationship with your soon-to-be husband or wife, you inevitably come up with your own love language. The pet names for each other, the inside jokes that only you two are in on, you have something unique going on. And it’s okay if no one else understands it! So, when you’re making your forever promises to love and honor each other all the days of your life, why not put it in your own words?
YOU CAN CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES
Often, tension can arise in the planning of the wedding if the couple comes from different religious backgrounds and needs to honor certain rites at the ceremony. If you’ve made the decision to have someone else, a friend or family member, officiate the wedding, then you can have more freedom with your vows to each other. Your guests can concentrate on the words you’re whispering to each other and witness your love in real-time; they won’t get caught up in the ceremony formalities.
YOU CAN HELP MAKE THE PHOTOGRAPHY MAGICAL
Again, NOT saying that traditional vows are boring - like many before me, I went with traditional vows for my wedding - but I think when there’s an element of surprise, not knowing what your bae will say, then the emotions that come flooding out are soooo organic and unrehearsed. The first tear that rolls down his face, the little wink she gives after hearing him pour his heart out, the looks on their parents’ faces when they whip out where’d-that-come-from perfect prose, these are the money shots.
Ultimately, you’re exchanging vows with your v. special someone, and they’ll be beautiful no matter what. But handwritten vows, there’s just a little somethin’ somethin’ extra with these. And extra in the best. way. ever.
P.S. If you’re thinking of unleashing your inner poet, pencil it in for date night with your number one.