My AI Co-pilot: Google Bard Helped Me Write My Heartfelt Wedding Vow
Harnessing AI for authentic and personal storytelling: A three-step process
On a gorgeous summer day, Mount Rainier was wearing a stunning cloud ring, casting a perfect shade over the calm waters of Eunice Lake. My boyfriend and I had just finished our hike and were hanging out by the lake. He reached into his bag, pulled out a ring, and proposed.
This happened a year after we first met. We had traveled together, moved in together, and met each other’s families. We were both ready to take the next step in our relationship.
We started planning our official moment right away. We thought about having a big wedding in India, where my boyfriend is from, because of all the amazing festivities. But we knew that would take a lot of planning, so we decided to get the legal stuff done in the States first. We were thinking of having a small dinner would be enough, but our friends encouraged us to have a real party, a celebration that would forever mark this special date in our lives. They also volunteered to help us with the planning and preparations.
We were very grateful for their support and wanted to show our love to everyone who had showed up to be with us. So we decided to personalize the ceremony by exchanging heartfelt vows that we wrote ourselves.
Our own love story was different because it was “technology-assisted.” We met on the dating app Bumble. In a world where work schedules and social circles often keep us in our own bubbles, Bumble’s algorithm took a chance on two people who might never have met otherwise. As a Chinese girl and an Indian guy, our backgrounds and personal trajectories were very different, so it wasn’t likely that we would meet through any mutual friends or acquaintances. But the app made it happen.
With technology being our matchmaker, I wondered if I could also use technology to write a vow that would capture the authenticity of our connection and the depth of our feelings. That’s when I started my series of conversations with Bard, Google’s AI Chatbot, about creating my wedding vow.
Beginning with straightforward “chores” and transitioning to more complex paraphrasing and editing, Bard is my loyal creative companion. The final piece will be presented in the end. Now I’ll show you how the three-step process happened:
Step 1: Search and Research
First I tasked the AI with some common “research” questions. Bard searched the Internet to tell me what is the structure for a wedding vow, and find wedding text from authors I love to to quote:
Bard deftly navigated the digital realm, effortlessly retrieving pertinent information, leading me to delve deeper into our collaboration.
Step 2: Expand and elaborate
There are a few general concepts I wish to incorporate into my vows, and Bard has been instrumental in helping me expand these ideas into cohesive paragraphs.
I told Bard that my boyfriend’s eyes are the reason why I first fell for him, so it helped me write a mini poem about how captivating his eyes are.
One of the things I feel strongly about is how two immigrants like us, despite coming from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, have found a way to connect on a deep level, embracing both our similarities and differences. I asked Bard to help me elaborate on this thought and transform it into a coherent paragraph:
Marriage, to me, represents the beautiful transition from one’s family of origin to a new, self-chosen family. This concept holds immense value for me, and I asked Bard to help me incorporate it into my vows, hoping to express the profound significance of this union.
Adhering to the traditional vow structure, I also sought Bard’s assistance in transforming the four key promises — trust, open communication, patience, and understanding — into specific, actionable commitments. I believe that by expanding these promises into concrete actions, I can effectively demonstrate my dedication to living up to them.
In this pivotal step, Bard proved instrumental in helping me overcome the “Writer’s block”. It has remarkable ability to transform concise phrases into articulate and well-structured expressions. I am immensely impressed by Bard’s contributions to my vow.
Step 3: Critique and Edit
With its final touch of magic, Bard helped me complete the draft of my vows. As an English-as-a-second-language writer, I am always eager to learn how to prevent and correct grammar mistakes. Bard’s assistance proved invaluable in this regard. It not only identified and rectified grammatical errors but also transformed my plain and repetitive word choices into more vibrant alternatives. This process was truly enlightening and inspiring.
Here you can see the final piece that Bard and I co-created:
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Hello Handsome,
I know you may get a little embarrassed when I call you this in front of our families and friends, just like you did when we first met. But, I must admit, I found your initial shyness to be endearing, and I still do to this day. And the moment I saw your captivating deep eyes, I was drawn to you, instantly. You are my real-life Indian Prince Charming, and your beautiful eyes are just one of the many things I adore about you.
Our love story began unexpectedly, brought together by the serendipity of Bumble and Amazon Phonetools. But our relationship is not a mere coincidence; it is a creation, something we are building together.
We come from different cultures and different backgrounds, but our dreams and our aspirations align. Who could have known that two immigrants like us would find each other, and choose each other, as family? We both learned to speak a new language with each other. Hindi nahi aati, 也不是中文. It’s the language of love, a language that has transformed our initial connection into an unbreakable bond.
With you, I started to realize that love is not just admiration, not just a fleeting emotion. Love is a conscious choice we make each day, an everyday act of dedication.
I promise to communicate with you openly and honestly, even if we disagree. It’s funny — I studied communications ten years ago in college, but I didn’t actually know how to communicate until I met you. I promise to nurture a strong and enduring relationship, to break down walls, and to resolve conflicts with you. I promise to try to listen to you, with an open mind and open heart.
I also promise to be patient with us. You’ve taught me to embrace our differences, not as obstacles, but as bridges that connect us. I know a loving relationship takes effort and care — there will be challenges along the way, and I’m committed to facing those challenges hand-in-hand with you.
You possess an intellect, loyalty, and unwavering support that I cherish. You’re my anchor, keeping me grounded and secure amidst life’s storms. I promise to always trust you.
I am so grateful to start this new chapter with you, continuing the love we love, and the life we love. I love you so very much.
I vow to remain your steadfast companion, to forge our own unique traditions and customs, and to cherish every moment we share, forever and always.
