Wedding vows are one of the most personal and heartfelt moments on your big day. They’re not just words, they’re a reflection of your commitment and love, as well as the new journey you will begin with your spouse. Whether you want traditional or personalized vows, taking the time to create something meaningful is important during wedding planning.
We’ve listed a few vows below that will send you a step in the right direction in creating an unforgettable moment in your wedding, regardless of your religion or culture. Feel free to customize or tweak them to your own liking.
Many people say that traditional vows are boring—but I’d like to convince you otherwise. When spoken from the heart, there’s nothing monotonous about them. If you’re worried about personalization, there are tons of other ways to personalize your wedding, regardless of your vows. Consider these as a starting point. For classic couples, these are beautiful enough to stand on their own, but for the more creative, they offer rich inspiration to build upon.
“[Name], do you take [name] to be your lawful wedded wife/husband?” [Each responds, “I do.”] “Do you promise to love and cherish [her/him], in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her/him, for so long as you both shall live?” [Each responds, “I do.”] “Do you together promise in the presence of your friends and family that you will at all times and in all circumstances, conduct yourselves toward one another as you become husband and wife?” [Together they respond, “We do.”] “Do you together promise you will love, cherish and respect one another throughout the years?” [Together they respond, “We do.”]
I, [name], take you [name], to be my [husband/wife], 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; until death do us part.
I [name], take you [name], to be my [husband/wife], my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.
I, [name], choose you [name] to be my [husband/wife], to respect you in your successes and in your failures, to care for you in sickness and in health, to nurture you, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life.
I, [name], take you, [name], to be my friend, my lover, the [mother/father] of my children and my [husband/wife]. I will be yours 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 and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity.
I, [name], take you, [name], to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the person you will become, and falling in love a little more each day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.
[Name], I take you to be my lawfully wedded [husband/wife]. Before these witnesses, I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all of your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with all of 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.
I, [name], take you, [name], to be my beloved [husband/wife], to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.
Personalizing your wedding vows is a great way to showcase your love and commitment in your own words. While traditional values have their charm, personalizing them makes them unique to your relationship. Below are some examples—use them as they are or as a starting point to craft vows that truly reflect the love between you and your spouse.
[Name], I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you and to always hold you in the highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.
[Name], 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. But most of all, I promise to be a true and loyal friend to you. I love you.
I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife], to share the good times and hard times side by side. I humbly give you my hand and my heart as I pledge my faith and love to you. Just as this ring I give you today is a circle without end, my love for you is eternal. Just as it is made of incorruptible substance, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I thee wed.
“[Name], do you pledge to love [name] and throughout your years together to be honest, faithful, and kind to her/him? Do you pledge to give to her/him the same happiness she/he gives to you, and to respect her/him for who she/he is, not who you want her to be?” [Each responds, “I do.”]
[Name], with all my love, I take you to be my [husband/wife]. I will love you through the good and the bad, through joy and sorrow. I will try to be understanding and to trust in you completely. Together we will face all of life’s experiences and share one another’s dreams and goals. I promise I will be your equal partner in a loving, honest relationship, for as long as we both shall live.
[Name], I promise to love you, to be your best friend, to respect and support you, to be patient with you, to work together with you to achieve our goals, to accept you unconditionally, and to share life with you throughout the years.
[Name], I take you to be my [husband/wife] from this time onward, to join with you and to share all that is to come, to be your faithful [husband/wife], to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond; a commitment made in love, kept in faith, and eternally made new.
I, [name], pledge my undying love to you, [name], as I invite you to share my life. I promise to be kind, unselfish, respectful, and trustworthy so that together, our dreams of a beautiful future can come true. To this end I call upon all present to witness that I take you [name] to be my [husband/wife], to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live.
I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife]. I promise to respect and support you, to be patient and loving toward you, to work by your side to achieve the things we value and dream of, and to savor our time together. I pledge to you all of these things from the bottom of my heart for the rest of our lives.
I, [name], affirm my love to you, [name], as I invite you to share my life. You are the most beautiful, smart, and generous person I have ever known, and I promise always to respect you. With kindness, unselfishness, and trust, I will work by your side to create a wonderful life together.
I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife], to share both good times and bad times, side by side. I give you my hand, and my heart, and hope that my love will always be a safe haven for you. Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal. Just as it is made of a permanent metal, my commitment to you is forever. With this ring, I thee wed.
[Name], today I take you for my [husband/wife]. Now we will feel no rain, for each of us will be a shelter for the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of us will be a companion to the other. There is only one life before us, and our seasons will be good and long. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you, no matter what lies before us, for as long as we both shall live.
For the more religious couples, a church wedding ceremony is not just tradition—it’s a sacred celebration of divine love and everlasting commitment. Incorporate your faith with your vows for an unforgettable wedding experience. Make sure to check with your officiant and ask what their preferences are before personalizing your wedding vows, as every faith has its own customs and practices.
I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [(optional: lawfully wedded) husband/wife], my constant friend, my faithful partner, and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family, and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.
[Name], I love you. I want to be your [husband/wife] so that we might serve Christ together. Through all of the uncertainties and trials of life, I promise to be faithful to you and love you, so that together we may grow in the likeness of Christ and that our home may be a praise to Him.
In the presence of God and these our friends I take thee to be my [husband/wife], promising with divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful [husband/wife], so long as we both shall live.
I, [name], take you [name], to be my [husband/wife], my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this special, holy day, I [affirm/reaffirm/give] to you in the presence of God and [all those in attendance/these witnesses] my [pledge/sacred promise] to stay by your side as your [(optional: faithful) husband/wife] in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.
[Name], I take you to be my [husband/wife] from this point forward, to join with you and to share all that is to come, to be your faithful [husband/wife], to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond. This will be a commitment made in love, kept in faith, and eternally made new.
I, [name], take thee, [name], to be my wedded [husband/wife], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ’til death do us part, according to God’s ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my troth.
In the name of God, I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.
When you write your wedding vows, consider the treasured moments you have shared with your spouse and jot them down. Use these as inspiration to write your speech. Make sure not to wait until the last minute to write these so you can avoid a lot of stress on your big day.
Wedding vows don’t need to be dramatic and long. Try to aim for around 400 words or 3 minutes. When it comes to wedding vows, you want to keep them short and meaningful.
The groom usually says his vows first.
