Sample Vows | Readings | Wedding License

These are a selection of some of my favorite vows.  Remember that vows are only part of your ceremony, we also give you choices like this for the opening statement, ring exchange, pronouncement, etc.

An absolute requirement in any wedding ceremony are the vows the officiate exchanged by the couple, in front of witnesses,  signifying they take one another as husband and wife.  The exchange of vows represents the moment of covenant.  The words which express the act of commitment are often considered to be the most significant in the ceremony.  They are those which express:  "I choose you, I accept your having chosen me.  I commit myself to you."  The vows may also include mutual hopes for and commitment to happiness together and an understanding that the commitment will be secure as it is tested through periods of sadness, times of difficult and seasons of disappointment.  It is always a covenant "for better or for worse."

After carefully studying the wordings of the vows in the ceremonies offered here, and selecting one from among them, it may be that you will wish to translate the

spirit of these expressions into a language that more nearly reflects your own understanding.  You may also have additional thoughts to share with  each other.  In any departure from the traditional vows, please make certain that the spirit of commitment to a lifetime of faithfulness is clearly maintained.

1.  TRADITIONAL

Minister: No other human ties are more tender, no other vows are more sacred that those you are about to assume.  You are entering into the holy estate of matrimony, which is the deepest mystery of experience, and which is the sacrament of divine love.  GROOM please repeat after me:

I GROOM take you, BRIDE to be my wedded wife,, 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, till death do us part, and to you I pledge my faithfulness.

I BRIDE take you, GROOM to be my wedded 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, till death do us part, and to you I pledge my faithfulness.

2.  CONTEMPORARY

I GROOM take you BRIDE from this day forward as my wife, partner and best friend.  I promise to take you to my heart, as you are, and as you will become.  I promise to walk by your side and support your dreams, and be more in love with you tomorrow than I am today.   

I BRIDE take you GROOM from this day forward as my husband, partner and best friend.  I promise to take you to my heart, as you are, and as you will become.  I promise to walk by your side and support your dreams, and be more in love with you tomorrow than I am today. 

3. CONTEMPORARY

From this day on I choose you, my beloved BRIDE, to be my wife

To live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side, and sleep in your arms,

To bring out the best in you always  and to be the most that I can.

From this day on I choose you, my beloved GROOM, to be my husband

To live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side, and sleep in your arms,

To bring out the best in you always  and to be the most that I can.

4.  AMERICAN LUTHERAN

 I GROOM take you, BRIDE to be my  wife from this day forward, to join with you and share all that is to come, and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us.

 I BRIDE take you, GROOM to be my husband from this day forward, to join with you and share all that is to come, and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us. 

5.  CONTEMPORARY

I GROOM take you, BRIDE as my adored and cherished wife.  I promise to be a loving and faithful husband.  May our sunshine be shared, our rains be gentle and our sweet love eternal.  I pledge myself to you from this day forward and for all eternity.

I BRIDE take you, GROOM as my adored and cherished husband.  I promise to be a loving and faithful wife.  May our sunshine be shared, our rains be gentle and our sweet love eternal.  I pledge myself to you from this day forward and for all eternity.

6.  CONTEMPORARY

I GROOM will love you BRIDE
In good times and in bad.
enjoy you, console you, delight you,
astound you when I can,
give thanks for you always, and cherish you dearly,
until the end of our days.

I BRIDE will love you GROOM
In good times and in bad.
enjoy you, console you, delight you,
astound you when I can,
give thanks for you always, and cherish you dearly,
until the end of our days.

7.  ROMAN CATHOLIC

Since it is  your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and this Company.

GROOM repeat after me:

I GROOM take you BRIDE, to be my wife.  I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health.  I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

BRIDE repeat after me:

I BRIDE take you GROOM to be my husband.  I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health.  I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

You have declared your consent before this company.  May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings.  What God has joined, men must not divide. AMEN                

8.  CONTEMPORARY

GROOM PLEASE REPEAT:  BRIDE, you are my companion in life and my one true love. I will love you today, tomorrow, and forever.

I will trust and honor you,
I will laugh and cry with you. With unfailing love,
I will stand by you through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy.
As I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep. 

BRIDE PLEASE REPEAT: GROOM, you are my companion in life and my one true love. I
will love you today, tomorrow, and forever.
I will trust and honor you,
I will laugh and cry with you. With unfailing love,
I will stand by you through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy.
As I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep.  

9.  CONTEMPORARY

Before our family and friends, on this wonderful day of gladness and good fortune, I GROOM take you BRIDE as my wife, in friendship and in love, in strength and in weakness, to share the good times and difficult times, in achievement and in failure, to celebrate life with you forevermore.

Before our family and friends, on this wonderful day of gladness and good fortune, I BRIDE take you GROOM as my husband, in friendship and in love, in strength and in weakness, to share the good times and difficult times, in achievement and in failure, to celebrate life with you forevermore.