Introduction
N. and N., you are about to make promises to one another. Today, these vows are beautiful words representing even more beautiful intentions. But you will find that as you live these vows over the years, investing your time and your love and your commitment to one another, the happy times of your life will be twice as joyous, because there will be someone with whom to share that joy. And when life becomes difficult, it will only be half as bad, because there will be someone by your side to help carry the burden.
#1
N. and N., since it is your intention to marry, join your right hands, and with your promises bind yourselves to each other as husband and wife.
The man says:
I, N., take you, N., to be my wife
and I promise, before God and these witnesses,
to be your loving and faithful husband
in plenty and in want,
in joy and in sorrow,
in sickness and in health,
as long as we both shall live.
The woman says:
I, N., take you, N., to be my husband:
and I promise, before God and these witnesses,
to be your loving and faithful wife:
in plenty and in want,
in joy and in sorrow,
in sickness and in health,
as long as we both shall live.
#2
Groom
I love you for your beauty, your intelligence, your kindness…
and for the way you always know how to make me feel so special.
So on top of all the other vows
that I will make to you on our wedding day,
I also vow to always appreciate how lucky I am
to have someone who makes me feel the way you do
and to continue to try as hard as I can
to make you feel as special as you make me feel,
forever and ever.
Bride
You have been my best friend,
mentor, playmate, confidant,
and my greatest challenge.
But most importantly, you are the love of my life
and you make me happier than I could ever imagine
and more loved than I ever thought possible….
You have made me a better person
as our love for one another is reflected in the way I live my life.
So I am truly blessed to be a part of your life,
which as of today becomes our life together.
#3
Groom
In your eyes, I have found my home.
In your heart, I have found my love.
In your soul, I have found my mate.
With you, I am whole, full, alive.
You make me laugh. You let me cry.
You are my breath, my every heartbeat.
I am yours.
You are mine.
Of this we are certain.
You are lodged in my heart.
The small key is lost.
You must stay there forever.
Bride
You are my inspiration and my soul’s fire.
You are the magic of my days.
You help me laugh, you teach me love.
You provide a safe place for me, unlike I’ve ever known.
You free me to sing my own song.
You are more of an amazement to me, each day I rediscover you.
You are my greatest boon.
I am yours.
You are mine.
Of this we are certain.
You are lodged in my heart.
The small key is lost.
You must stay there forever.
Frau Ava (circa 1160), translated by Willis Barnstone
#4
Groom & Bride, each in turn
I promise to love and care for you
and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love.
I will always be honest with you,
kind, patient, and forgiving.
I promise to keep a sense of humor.
But most of all, I promise to be a true and loyal friend to you.
I love you.
#5
Groom
I promise to encourage your compassion,
Because that is what makes you unique and wonderful.
I promise to nurture your dreams,
Because through them your soul shines.
I promise to help shoulder our challenges,
For there is nothing we cannot face if we stand together.
I promise to be your partner in all things,
Not possessing you, but working with you as a part of the whole.
Lastly, I promise to you perfect love and perfect trust,
For one lifetime with you could never be enough.
This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things.
Bride
I promise to encourage your individuality,
Because that is what makes you unique and wonderful.
I promise to nurture your dreams,
Because through them your soul shines.
I promise to help shoulder our challenges,
Because through them we’ll emerge stronger.
I promise to be your partner in all things,
Not possessing you, but working with you as a part of the whole.
I promise to share with you the joys of life,
Because with you they will be that much sweeter.
Lastly, I promise to you perfect love and perfect trust,
For one lifetime with you could never be enough.
This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things.
#6
Groom & Bride
You are my lover and my teacher,
You are my model and my accomplice,
And you are my true counterpart.
I will love you, hold you, and honor you,
I will respect you, encourage you, and cherish you,
In health and sickness,
Through sorrow and success,
For all the days of my life.
#7
“______, I promise to be faithful, supportive, and loyal
and to give you my companionship and love
throughout all the changes of our life.
I vow to bring you happiness,
and I will treasure you as my companion.
I will celebrate the joys of life with you.
I promise to support your dreams,
and walk beside you offering courage and strength through all endeavors.
From this day forward,
I will be proud to be your wife/husband
and your best friend.”
#8
“I choose you, ______, to be my wife/husband,
as my friend and love.
On this day I affirm the relationship we have enjoyed,
looking to the future and to keep and strengthen it.
I will be yours in plenty and in want,
in sickness and in health,
in failure and in triumph.
Together, we will dream,
and live as one while respecting one another,
we will stumble but restore each other,
we will share all things.
I will cherish, comfort, and encourage you,
be open with you,
and stay with you as long as I shall live.”
#9
“I, ______, take you ______, for my wedded wife/husband
from this day forward,
to have and to hold
as equal partner in my life,
to whom I give my deepest love and devotion.
I humbly open my heart to you
as a sanctuary of warmth and peace,
where you may come and find
a refuge of love and strength.
I will love you enough to risk being hurt,
trust you when I don’t understand,
weep with you in heartache,
and celebrate life with you in joy.
I will receive you as my equal
throughout all of our days.”
#10
Today, ______, I take you to be my wife/husband.
I make a commitment to you today:
With God’s help I will love and serve,
Honor, and protect you.
I’m choosing today
to spend the rest of my life with you.
I will walk with you when life is good,
and thru every storm.
______, you are a gift to me from God.
I hope others see God’s heart and love,
in the way I care for you.
Today, I pledge my love to you.
#11
_____, I take you to be my wife/husband,
my friend, my love, and my lifelong companion,
to share my life with yours.
To build our dreams together,
while allowing you to grow with your dreams;
to support you through times of trouble,
and rejoice with you in times of happiness;
to treat you with respect, love, and loyalty
through all the trials and triumphs of our lives together;
and to give you all the love I can give
my whole life long.
This commitment is made in love,
kept in faith,
lived in hope,
and eternally made new.”
Traditional Religious Vows
#12
In the name of God, I, ______, take you, ______, to be my wife/husband,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow.
#13
______, I take you as my wife/husband,
I pledge to share my life openly with you,
to speak the truth to you in love;
I promise to honor and tenderly care for you,
to cherish and encourage your own fulfillment as an individual
through all the changes of our lives.
#14
I, ______ take you, ______ to be my wife/husband,
to have and to hold from this day forward;
to be your friend and lover,
companion and helper,
so help me God.”
#15
______, I take you as my husband/wife,
to have and to hold from this day forth,
to love and to cherish
so long as we both shall live.
To this I pledge you my solemn vow before God.
#16
______, in the presence of God, and before our witnesses and friends,
I, ______, with joy and in love,
take you to be my wife/husband,
to be the mother/father of my children,
and the companion of my days.
I promise to fully share my life with you,
through days of happiness or sadness,
abundance or want.
I pledge to you my unfailing love always.
#17
I, ______, take you, ______, to be my wife/husband,
and these things I promise you:
I will be faithful to you and honest with you;
I will respect, trust, help, and care for you;
I will share my life with you;
I will forgive you as we have been forgiven;
and I will try with you better to understand ourselves, the world, and God;
through the best and worst of what is to come,
and as long as we live.”