More Vows
VOW NO: 4
Minister: (Groom�s Name), will you have this woman to be thy lawful wedded wife/partner/spouse, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?
Response: I, (Groom�s Name), take thee/you, (Bride�s Name), 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, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee/you my troth.
Minister: (Bride�s Name), will you have this man to be thy lawful wedded husband/partner/spouse, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?
Response: I, (Bride�s Name), take thee/you, (Groom�s Name), 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, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee/you my troth.
—The Book of Common Prayer
VOW NO: 5
Minister: Do you, (Groom�s Name), take this woman, (Bride�s Name), to be your wedded wife; and do you, in the presence of God and before these witnesses, promise and covenant to be to her a loving, faithful, and dutiful husband unto thee, until God shall separate you by death?”
Response: I do.
Minister: Do you, (Bride�s Name), take this man, (Groom�s Name), to be your wedded husband; and do you, in the presence of God and before these witnesses, promise and covenant to be to him a loving, faithful, and dutiful wife unto thee, until God shall separate you by death?”
Response: I do.
—Church of Scotland
VOW NO: 6
Minister: (Groom�s Name), will you have (Bride�s Name), to be your wedded wife/spouse/partner, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives? Will you listen to her deepest thoughts, be tender hearted and kind/wise in your daily care of her, and stand faithfully at her side in sickness and in health? Choosing her above all others, will you undertake to care for her well-being of mind and body and spirit, as long as you both shall live?
Response: I will.
Minister: (Bride�s Name), will you have (Groom�s Name), to be your wedded husband/spouse/partner, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives? Will you listen to his deepest thoughts, be tender hearted and kind/wise in your daily care of him, and stand faithfully at his side in sickness and in health? Choosing him above all others, will you undertake to care for him well-being of mind and body and spirit, as long as you both shall live?
Response: I will.
—Adapted from a Baptist ceremony
VOW NO: 7
I betroth you to me forever;
I betroth you to me with steadfast love and compassion,
I betroth you to me in faithfulness.
—Hosea 2:21-22, sometimes said in Jewish ceremonies
VOW NO: 8
In the name of God,
I, (Groom�s Name), take you, (Bride�s Name), to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day onward, 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.
In the name of God,
I, (Bride�s Name), take you, (Groom�s Name), to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day onward, 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.
—Methodist ceremony
VOW NO: 9
As the sign from my heart
that I desire to live with you
from this day forward as my wife and that you may remember
forever that I have chosen you above all others.
As the sign from my heart
that I desire to live with you
from this day forward as my husband, and that you may remember
forever that I have chosen you above all others.
VOW NO: 10
(Groom�s Name) will you have (Bride�s Name) to be your wife, will
you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in
health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
The groom replies: “I will.”
Minister to the bride:
(Bride�s Name) will you have (Groom�s Name) to be your husband,
will you love him, comfort him. honor and keep him in sickness and
in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
The bride replies: “I will.”
Celebrant to the Groom: “Repeat after me:”
I take you (Bride�s Name) to be my wife, To have and to hold from
this day forward, For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
To love and to cherish as long as we both shall live.
Celebrant to the bride: “Repeat after me:”
I take you (Groom�s Name) to be my husband, To have and to hold
from this day forward, For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
To love and to cherish as long as we both shall live.
VOW NO: 11
I call upon these people here present to witness that I,
(Groom�s Name) take you (Bride�s Name) as my legally married wife.
I call upon these people here present to witness that I,
(Bride�s Name) take you (Groom�s Name) to be my legally
married husband.
VOW NO: 12
I call upon these people here present to witness that I (Groom�s Name)
take you (Bride�s Name), as my lawfully wedded wife, to share with you
a relationship of love and of tenderness and laughter. I will stand by you
through all our tomorrows, respecting you as a person, your individuality,
your needs, your changes, and enjoy your love throughout our lives.
I call upon these people here present to witness that I (Bride�s Name) take
you (Groom�s Name), as my lawfully wedded husband, to share with you
a relationship of love and of tenderness and laughter. I will stand by you
through all our tomorrows, respecting you as a person, your individuality,
your needs, your changes, and enjoy your love throughout our lives.
VOW NO: 13
Before those dear to us gathered here today I take you (Bride�s Name) for
my legally wedded wife. I vow to love, cherish and support you with my
life through all our tomorrows.
Before those dear to us gathered here today I take you (Groom�s Name)
for my legally wedded husband. I vow to love, cherish and support you
with my life through all our tomorrows.
VOW NO: 14 (Medieval)
Sir wilt thou halve this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together in
the state of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, respect her, honor and keep
her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thyself only
unto her as long as ye both shall live?
Lady wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together in
the state of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, respect him, honor and keep
him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thyself only
unto him as long as ye both shall live?
I (Groom�s Name) take thee (Bride�s Name), 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 us do
part, and thereto I plight thee my troth.
I (Bride�s Name) take thee (Groom�s Name), 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 us do
part, and thereto I plight thee my troth.
VOW NO: 15
Groom: Today we cross an invisible line.
Bride: We leave behind our yesterdays and start our lives anew.
Groom: The past is over. We will concern ourselves only with the future.
Bride: It is a new day, a new commitment, a new life.
Groom: The vows we take today will change us forever.
Bride: I take them gladly.
Groom: I take them gladly, too.
Bride: (Groom�s Name), I promise to love you, to protect you, and to be
faithful to you for all the days of my life. I will soothe your hurts and
share your delights. I will do all in my power to make you as happy as I
am today.
Groom: (Bride�s Name), I promise to love you and honor you and to
always be honest with you. I will be faithful to you for all the days of my
life. I will believe only the best about you and look always for your good
qualities.
I will do all in my power to make you as happy as I am today.
Bride: Today is the beginning of the rest of my life. I choose to spend
today, and all of my tomorrows, with you.
Groom: Today is the beginning of the rest of my life. I choose to spend it,
and all of my tomorrows, with you.
Groom: I love you, (Bride�s Name).
Bride: I love you, (Groom�s Name).
Groom: I want you for my wife, that we may share our lives with each
other.
Bride: I want you for my husband, that our love may be sanctified by
this ceremony.
Groom: I promise to put you first in my life, knowing that our love is my
most precious possession.
Bride: I promise to put you first in my life, believing that all other
achievements pale beside a happy marriage.
Groom: I will share with you my joys, my sorrows, my hopes and my
dreams.
Bride: I will bring to you my accomplishments and my failures.
Groom: I will be faithful to you always.
Bride: And I will be faithful to you.
Groom: From this day forward, I will walk beside you.
When we are apart, my thoughts will be with you.
Bride: From this day forward, we stand together.
Whatever happens to either of us will be confronted by both.
Groom: I gladly make these promises. I am proud to be your husband.
Bride: I gladly make these promises. I am proud to be your wife.
Groom: Our vows are ended; our marriage has begun.
Bride: Let us go with joy into our new life together.
Groom: This is a day of rejoicing.
Bride: We rejoice in the goodness of love.
Groom: Because I love you, I promise to respect your wishes and
opinions.
Bride: Because I love you, I promise to put our marriage above all else.
Groom: I will share with you my material goods, my thoughts, and my
feelings.
Bride: I will share with you my material goods, my thoughts, and my
feelings.
Groom: I promise to do all that I can to keep our relationship special to
both of us.
Bride: I will cherish our time together. I will try to keep our home
peaceful and harmonious.
Groom: I will encourage you to grow and to become all that you are
capable of becoming.
Bride: I will urge you to meet whatever challenges you may face.
Groom: I promise to be faithful to you in thought, word, and act.
Bride: I promise to be faithful to you in thought, word, and act.
This is a day of rejoicing.
Groom: We rejoice in the goodness of love.
VOW NO: 16
Officiant: Marriage is not a legal document. No pastor or priest or justice
of the peace can create a marriage because a marriage, truly, is nothing
except the promises made and kept by two individuals. Today (Groom�s
Name) and (Bride�s Name) stand before us to publicly declare their love
and to share with us their marriage promises. (Groom�s Name), what
promises do you make?
Groom: I promise to love (Bride�s Name) with all my heart and mind and
strength. I promise to be faithful to her in thought, word and act for all the
days of my life. I promise to consider her welfare and happiness before I
make any decisions and I promise to offer her comfort, encouragement
and companionship.
Officiant: ( Bride�s Name), what promises do you make?
Bride: I promise to love (Groom�s Name) with all my heart and mind and
strength. I promise to be faithful to him in thought, word and act for all
the days of my life. I promise to consider his welfare and happiness
before I make any decisions and I promise to offer him comfort,
encouragement and companionship.
Officiant: Do you both, before these witnesses, pledge to do all in your
power to make this a happy and enduring union?
Together the Bride and Groom say: We do.
VOW NO: 17 (Rose vow)
NOTE: The Groom will need to have a rose and the Bride will need a
vase with water in it. Before the ceremony, the vase and rose should be
placed in an easily accessible spot generally behind a lectern, for example.
The best man, the Maid of Honor, or the Minister should get the rose and
the vase just prior to this part of the service.
Minister: This is a day steeped in tradition, a time when we are surrounded
by symbols: something old, something new, something borrowed,
something blue.
Today, (Bride�s Name) and (Groom�s Name) begin a new tradition, a
custom which now becomes uniquely their own.
Groom: (Bride Name) I give you this rose. Because it grew from a tiny
seed, becoming stronger and larger until it burst into flower, it symbolizes
the way my love for you has grown. (He gives her the rose.) Each year on
our wedding anniversary, I will give you another rose. In so doing, I�ll
remember this day and renew the vows we’ve made.
Bride: (Groom’s name), I give to you this vase of water. (He takes and
holds it.) Because water is the one element without which we would
perish, it symbolizes the importance of your love in my life. Each year on
our anniversary, I will refill this vase, offering it to you as a symbol of my
ever renewing love. (She puts the rose in the vase and they hold the vase
together.)
Groom: Without water, the rose would die.
Bride: Without the rose, the vase of water would not be beautiful.
Groom: My gift is enhanced by yours, just as my life is enhanced by ours.
Bride: My gift is lovely because of yours, just as my life is better because
of you. ( They hand the rose and vase to the Minister.)
Minister: On each anniversary, as you give and receive the rose and the
water, remember with joy this day when you pledged your love and your
lives to each other. May this be only the first of many cherished traditions
in a home filled with happiness.
VOW NO: 18
Groom: Today is a new beginning. It is the start of a new way of life.
Bride: We don’t know what challenges lie ahead. We know only that we
will face them together.
Groom: Because of you, I am a better person than I once was.
Bride: I promise always to see the good in you.
Groom: I will try to be worthy of your love and trust.
Bride: Because of you, I am a better person than I once was.
Groom: I promise always to see the good in you.
Bride: I will try to be worthy of your love and trust.
Groom: Before God and these witnesses, I vow to be loyal to you in every
way, to comfort you, to cherish you, and always to love you.
Bride: Before God and these witnesses, I vow to be loyal to you in every
way, to comfort you, to cherish you, and always to love you.
Groom: Today is a new beginning.
Bride: Our new life together has begun.
Groom: Love is more than an emotion. It is a way of life.
Bride: Love is more than a feeling. It is a channel through which all
feelings flow.
Groom: When I offer you my love, I offer all that is important in my life.
Bride: When I offer you my love, I let all of my deepest feelings flow
toward you.
Groom: Marriage is more than a ceremony. This service lasts less than an
hour but marriage is a lifetime of living together.
Bride: Marriage is more than a promise.
It is a promise kept; it is words translated into action.
Groom: As we begin living our promises, I pledge to you my love and
loyalty. I will share with you all that is important to me. I will encourage
peace and happiness between us.
Bride: As we begin living our promises, I pledge to you my love and
loyalty. I will share with you all that is important to me. I will encourage
peace and happiness between us.
VOW NO: 19
Bride: I, (Bride�s Name), take you, (Groom�s Name), to be my husband.
I promise to be true to you always, in sickness and in health, in poverty or
wealth, in my thoughts and in my speaking. I will be your dearest friend,
your lover, and the mother of your children. With these vows, I commit
myself to you.
Groom: I, (Groom�s Name), take you, (Bride�s Name), to be my wife. I
promise to be true to you always, in sickness and in health, in poverty or
wealth, in my thoughts and in my speaking. I will be your dearest friend,
your lover, and the father of your children. With these vows, I
commit myself to you.
VOW NO: 20
Minister: Marriage is an act of faith. It requires great trust to pledge ones
self to a lifetime with another person. Today (Groom�s Name) and
(Bride�s Name) demonstrate their faith and trust by pledging their love to
each other.
(Groom�s Name), what promises do you make to (Bride�s Name)?
Groom: (Bride�s Name), I affirm you now as my life partner. I promise to
stay with you in times of celebration and in times of mourning. I promise
to love you, honor you, and be faithful to you. I accept you, without
reservation, as my wife.
Minister: (Bride�s Name), what promises do you make to
(Groom�s Name)?
Bride: (Groom�s Name), I affirm you now as my life partner. I promise to
stay with you in times of celebration and in times of mourning. I promise
to love you, honor you, and be faithful to you. I accept you, without
reservation, as my husband.
Minister: By the promises they’ve made, (Groom�s Name) and (Bride�s
Name) have demonstrated their belief in love, in marriage, and in each
other. They ask now for the blessing of all who have witnessed their
vows. If you believe in their love and approve their marriage, please
applaud.
VOW NO: 21
Groom: I promise to live in such a way that I will never bring dishonor
or heartache into our marriage.
Bride: I promise to keep our home a sanctuary of love, contentment
and compassionate understanding.
Groom: I pledge to you my patience, my honesty, and my faith in the
rightness of our love.
Bride: I pledge to you my patience, my honesty, and my faith in the
rightness of our love.
Groom: To the best of my ability, I will be your friend, your helpmate,
your counselor and your sweetheart.
Bride: To the best of my ability, I will be your friend, your helpmate,
your counselor and your sweetheart.
Groom: I love you and I want to be your husband.
Bride: I love you and I want to be your wife.
VOW NO: 22
Minister: You are different people today than you were five years ago.
Five years from now, you will be different still. Yet, you are about to
make promises which are meant to last a lifetime.
May you grant each other the gift of growth.
Groom: (Bride�s Name), I expect you to change, just as I will change.
My promise to you is that, as I grow, I will share the growth with you.
Bride: I will not expect you always to think and believe exactly as you do
today. I will encourage your growth and you will encourage mine.
I promise to respect your opinions even when they differ from my own.
Groom: I promise to respect your opinions even when they differ from
my own.
Bride: I will be your partner but never your shadow.
Groom: I will be your equal but not your double.
Bride: I will bring to you my ideas and interests, not expecting you always
to have the same enthusiasms.
Groom: Our separate interests will keep our friendship from becoming
stagnant.
Bride: I will strive for a love that is flexible that adapts to your changing
needs.
Groom: I will strive for a love that is flexible that adapts to your changing
needs.
Minister: I offer you the good wishes of myself and these your guests.
As your love grows, may you also grow in the capacity to share it.
May every change bring you increased happiness.
VOW NO: 23
Bride: I believe in love’s ability to accept.
Groom: I believe in love’s capacity to forgive.
Bride: I will accept you as you are. I will forgive you if you fail.
Groom: I will accept you as you are and forgive you if you fail.
Bride: Love demands respect but not obedience.
Groom: Love requires loyalty without subservience. I promise to respect
you as my equal and to be loyal to you in every way.
Bride: I promise to respect you as my equal and to be loyal to you in every
way.
Together: We believe in love.
VOW NO: 24
Groom: Love thrives on honesty. I promise always to be truthful with you.
Bride: Love is nourished by thoughtfulness. I promise that my actions will
reflect my high regard for you.
Groom: I believe that the power of love can change lives.
My life is changed because I love you.
Bride: Love can bring joy, hope and strength.
Our love has brought all of those to me.
Groom: I promise that the home we are founding today will have love at
its core. I will do all that I can to nourish and enrich our love for each
other.
Bride: I promise that the home we are founding today will have love at its
core. I will do all that I can to nourish and enrich our love for each other.
VOW NO: 25
Bride: When I felt empty inside, you poured your love into my hollow
heart and made me whole.
Now, my cup runneth over, my heart overflows with gladness.
Groom: When my frightened soul shed tears of loneliness, you offered me
your love and the shadows disappeared.
For all the gladness of this day, I thank you.
Bride: For all the years ahead, I rejoice.
Groom: I pledge to you now my love for all time and I ask you to be my
wife.
Bride: I accept gladly. I pledge to you now my love for all time
and I ask you to be my husband.
Groom: I accept gladly.
VOW NO: 26
Bride: I love you for looking at me and seeing only the best.
Groom: I love you for listening to me and hearing only the good.
I will strive to become what you think I am.
Bride: In our times together, I promise to see you always through the eyes
of love.
Groom: In our times together, I promise to see you always through the
eyes of love.
VOW NO: 27
Bride: I never meant to love so much.
I meant to keep my emotions under control because I didn’t want to
be vulnerable.
Groom: I never meant to love so much. I intended to be rational and calm.
Bride: I thought I could care, but within boundaries.
Groom: I thought I could love, but with limitations.
Bride: I meant to let you be one part of my life;
instead you have become more important than life itself.
Groom: I meant to keep our love in its own compartment;
instead it has overflowed the boundaries into everything I say and do
and feel.
Bride: I meant to be cautious.
Groom: I meant to stay uncommitted.
Bride: Now, because I do care so much, I am vulnerable.
And I do not mind.
Groom: I joyfully accept the commitments of marriage.
Bride: From this day forward, I promise to love you willingly and
completely, withholding nothing.
Groom: From this day forward, I promise to love you willingly and
completely, withholding nothing.
Bride: I never meant to love so much, but it has happened. And I am glad.
Groom: It has happened. And I am glad.
VOW NO: 28
Groom: I take you, (Bride�s Name), to be my wife.
I join with you to share all that is to come.
Bride: I take you, (Groom�s Name), to be my husband.
I join with you to share all that is to come.
Groom: I will be faithful to you as long as God gives us life together.
Each rising sun will find you by my side.
Bride: I will be faithful to you as long as God gives us life together.
Each rising sun will find you by my side.
Groom: I will treasure our new life above all else.
Bride: I will treasure our new life above all else.
All that I am, and all that I ever hope to be, is yours.
Groom: All that I am, and all that I ever hope to be, is yours.