You want metaphors that last through time because you want your marriage to last through time. Therefore:

3.    The image should be enduring.

Even flowers have cycles. So build an image that includes the cycles, the fragility and the strength that lie behind the blossom.

So if you’re going to talk about a rose, don’t just talk about the blossom. Remember what Linda Ronstadt’s song said: “Love is a rose, you’d better not pick it, it only grows when it’s on the vine. Handful of thorns and you know you’ve missed it, lose your love when you say the word mine.”

Tip: If you’re going to use some­thing like a rose, use the bush, rather than the cut flower. Cele­brate the way the flower blos­soms and then turns inside during winter. You can find stuff to work with here that will make your wedding cere­mony sparkle and your marriage sizzle.

For metaphors to work well, they need to have refer­ence to our lives. Once we’ve set them up, the more reminders we have of them, the stronger the connec­tions they’ll make for us.

2.    The image should be perti­nent to where you are.

If you’re starting out your life on the prairie, don’t choose the ocean as your metaphor. The prairie offers plenty of wide expanses for exploring! Do you live in a city, where life is vibrant, pulsing and exciting. Or in a forest where life is stately and slow?

Tip: think about those things that are essen­tial in your rela­tion­ship. Then look for a metaphor that speaks to that char­ac­ter­istic. Then, once you’ve found a way to use it in your wedding cere­mony, start bringing it into your daily life. If your life is expan­sive as the prairie is expan­sive, start taking a daily walk in the prairie. Now you’re not only spending time together, you’re walking that metaphor into your heart and marriage.