The wedding vows are really the most important part of the ceremony and are what binds the couple together.
Part of creating your wedding ceremony is choosing your wedding vows. There are two main choices for wedding vows – traditional or modern. The choice is entirely up to you. Both types provide you with a legal wedding.
Traditional Wedding Vows
Traditional wedding vows are those that are familiar to most people.
I, (Bride/Groom), take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do us part.
Another traditional wedding vow choice:
I, (Bride/Groom), take you, (Bride/Groom), to be my beloved (wife/husband), to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be by your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you forever. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.
Traditional non-religious option:
(Bride/Groom), I take you to be my lawfully wedded (husband/wife). In front of these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.
Modern Wedding Vows
Modern wedding vows offer a slight spin on the traditional vows.
I, (Bride/Groom), take you, (Bride/Groom), to be my friend, my lover, the (mother/father) of my children and my (husband/wife). I will be true to you in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care for and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all the days of my life.
A few tips for choosing your wedding vows:
- Keep the vows simple
- Make sure they are heartfelt
- Don’t over-memorize them or you’ll sound like a robot
- Check with your officiant to find out if there are any specific restrictions on your vows
- Write your own vows if you prefer but it is best to share them before the wedding to ensure that they are suitable to each of you.