Woman Reads Her Husband’s Wedding Vows to Explain Why Marriage Is Hard — She Is Moved to Tears

A TikToker sparked a heartfelt conversation after she attempted to answer the question: "Why is marriage often labeled as hard?" The woman decided to approach the question from a personal lens and shared the beautiful vows her husband wrote.

Starting and building a life with someone can be exciting but comes with its challenges, and oftentimes, the one phrase that is accompanied by marriage is “marriage is hard.” So, one person on TikTok asked why unions are always described as difficult.

Another TikToker, with the username @cullinmcgree, decided to add a few words of advice and attempted to answer this question. Caitlin was excited to delve into the conversation and started by explaining that she and her husband had a conversation about it before getting married, and from that candid talk, she realized that her perspective on love was skewed, mostly based on media and a few toxic relationships she had in the past.

However, she thought the best way to explain the journey of marriage was to quote from her husband’s beautifully written vows, which read:

“I didn't sit back and take inventory of your qualities and say, this one ticks all the boxes, done! I was drawn to you, and profoundly lucky that you were drawn to me. And we started something that we still work on every day, that gets deeper and wrinklier. I hope that doesn't sound unromantic; calling it work. I do not mean work like drudgery, an early morning commute, and stale coffee, and watching the clock. I mean work the way artists talk about paintings, as vital and prioritized; it is the most important work of my life, our partnership and I cherish it. Also, to be clear, I am hopelessly in love with you, that helps. I am on a daily basis completely knocked over by the person in front of me, this kitchen dancing, ABBA humming, tie-dye party-throwing camp counselor that I get to spend my life with. It's just that life is long, and I know that loving well is a thing you do, not a lottery you win.”

As Caitlin read her vows again, she could not help but get emotional. Her husband’s vows detailed the work that goes into loving a partner, and she added that people sometimes think of effort and work as a bad thing, but it does not have to be something negative.

The TikToker emphasized that the work put into a union will evidently be challenging, but that is because life on its own is not an easy hurdle. “The person you marry should make all of life a bit easier," Caitlin added,

The woman got emotional when thinking about how much she loved her husband, and how blessed she felt to have someone who was willing to put in the effort to make her feel loved daily. In the video, she also mentioned that the perspective the younger generation had on marriage had allowed couples to cohabit longer. The issues that people found difficult are the logistics of figuring out and finding the flow of living together, which Caitlin said was just “first-year problems.”

However, in the long run, it's about finding a partner who will not get tired or find the work of maintaining a healthy and loving relationship daunting, but see the process as an added and ongoing expression of love.

After reciting the vows, commenters wanted to know how she and her husband met. She said they met as understudies in a play and started off as friends since he was dating someone at the time. They did not speak for years after their encounter but happened to move to Los Angeles at the same time. Her husband was moving for the person he was dating, and she was moving for a job.

However, things between him and his girlfriend did not work out. He and Caitlin hit it off, and the rest was history. The wife could not have been happier to read all the kind messages from everyone praising her husband’s vows. “I’m literally a wedding officiant. Those are some of the most beautiful vows I’ve heard,” wrote a viewer.

The wordplay had some people sobbing, with some saying the TikToker was the luckiest woman. “Literally how do people come up with vows like this? You’re so lucky and he sounds like he is too ❤️,” wrote a netizen.

Here is a story about a woman who sparked a debate after she said her husband's infidelity saved her marriage.

In 2012, Charity Craig discovered her husband's affair, a moment she likened to a grenade exploding her life into darkness. However, what seemed like the end was only the beginning of a profound transformation.

Over the following eight months, as Charity grappled with the betrayal, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery that revealed unexpected truths.

Charity's experience led her to understand that marriages could not only survive infidelity but also thrive if both partners committed to genuine healing and transformation.

She divulged, "I spent the next eight months desperate to save my marriage, only to discover that I was the one who needed saving." This period of introspection and change brought her life from "grey to Technicolor," leading her to a path of overcoming fears and embracing the life of her dreams.

Empowered by her radical personal transformation, Charity felt compelled to guide other women through their healing process, offering support and wisdom gained from her experiences. She vehemently opposes the societal notion that marriages cannot survive an affair, asserting instead that with proper care and effort, a relationship can emerge stronger and more fulfilling.

Charity, who offers coaching services, now empowers women to find the courage to heal, restore, and transform their marriages after infidelity. Her message is one of profound love and resilience, "Marriages can survive affairs. And I’ll go one step further, with proper care and healing work, it can be a million times better," she said.

Valentine’s Day 2013 symbolized a turning point for the Craigs, marking their first date post-affair. Despite the initial awkwardness, this date underscored their mutual commitment to moving forward. This period of introspection and mutual effort gradually fortified their bond, proving that a marriage can indeed survive and even thrive after infidelity.

The renewed commitment of the Craigs finds validation in the insights of Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem, who underscores the complexity of infidelity beyond surface-level attraction. In a February 2024 interview, he emphasized that infidelity often stems from deeper relational or personal issues rather than mere attraction to another person. This perspective sheds light on the complexity of infidelity, challenging the simplistic blame often placed on the "other woman."

Their narrative is punctuated by reflections from Charity's Instagram followers, revealing a divided audience. In September 2023, Charity shared a video on Instagram, advocating for the possibility of healing within the marriage. This post elicited a variety of responses, from heartfelt support and personal testimonies of similar journeys to skepticism and criticism regarding the feasibility of true forgiveness and healing post-affair.

Critics voiced concerns over glorifying the decision to stay, fearing it might set a troubling precedent, especially for couples with children. Questions about the authenticity of their happiness and the potential for genuine forgiveness underscore the societal stigma and complex emotions surrounding infidelity.

Charity posted a video of her and Matt looking happy and wrote that if one was going through a painful period of infidelity, they were probably being told to leave their partners. However, she chose to do things differently.

“You can stay and heal. If you’ve made the difficult decision to stay, comment SUPPORT,” she captioned her Instagram post. Those who support her stance made their opinions clear in the comments section.

One person penned, “My husband and I are an example of this! I wouldn’t trade this journey for the world knowing what I know now and having the marriage I have now.” Another said this type of situation, “teaches that vows are a promise even when they’re comfortable and you’re hurting.”

Someone else shared her husband cheated on her in September 2022 and had since remained with his mistress. The woman has filed for divorce but would like support because she wants to give him another chance. Several other people expressed their support.

Meanwhile, others are against the idea of remaining married while having been betrayed. “Can we stop making this a trend, please. Especially if you have children. This is seriously awful,” said one individual. Another asked Charity, “If you truly believe it, why do you keep bringing it up?” Someone stated, “That fake happiness.” While another commented, “You can’t heal in the environment that broke you.”

“You never really forgive. Not deep down. I should have left years before I did,” one person revealed on the social media platform. One other Instagram follower wrote, “This page is sad. All of your content makes it seem like you are a better person than those who have chosen divorce. It doesn’t make you better, you’re just less smart.”

Despite the divergent views, the Craigs' story stands as a testament to their enduring love and resilience. From the depths of despair and betrayal, they have navigated their way to a place of comfort, understanding, and mutual respect, now sharing their journey in the hope of offering solace and guidance to others facing similar challenges.

Their marriage, enriched by this ordeal, highlights the transformative power of forgiveness and the potential for redemption within a relationship tested by infidelity.