The heart of the ceremony
Wedding Vows: Meaning, Examples & Wording
The wedding vows are the central and most important part of the wedding ceremony from a personal, relational and legal perspective. Like an oath, a wedding vow is a solemn promise.
Wedding vows include statements of promise and intentionality. Vows are not conditional, so statements such as āfor richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worseā are promises that have intentionality and specificity built into them.
By the vows that you speak, you are creating a family, a belonging, and a place in life that is greater than yourself.
I remember when my wife and I wrote our own vows, which was the thing to do 50 years ago. Our officiant insisted on reviewing what we were planning to say in place of the traditional wording. He wanted to be sure we included words that had all of the components of a lifelong, unconditional commitment. So we were careful to include words that described what we each intended to commit ourselves to in order to build a lifelong relationship built on, yes, love, but also determination, and the strength of holding to the promises that we were making.
One of the wedding vow examples below contains the vows that my wife and I spoke to each other fifty years ago. I guess it worked!
When you take a vow, you hold yourself accountable. You do not place blame, fault, or responsibility on someone else. Vows include promises and statements that give assurance that you will do something, that the other person can depend on it, and on YOU.
Vows are sacred, as they say something about your personal sense of integrity, worth and trust. They are the expression of your whole being, which includes your mind, body and spirit. The vows express that this commitment gives you new meaning in life.
The quick version
- Vows are a solemn promise, and the most important part of the ceremony personally, relationally, and legally.
- Strong vows are specific, serious, and personal enough to sound authentic when spoken aloud.
- Vows sound best in your own sincere voice, so do not worry about being poetic.
- You can choose traditional vows, personal vows, or a combination of both.
- Focus on promises rather than feelings, since feelings change over a lifetime.
In this guide
What wedding vows really mean
Wedding vows are more than romantic words exchanged during a ceremony. They are the promises two people make about how they intend to live within their marriage.
Although the wording may be traditional or completely personal, most meaningful wedding vows express several fundamental ideas: commitment, faithfulness, mutual support, honesty, and the intention to remain together through the changes and challenges of life.
As an officiant, I have found that the most memorable vows are not necessarily the most poetic. They are the ones that sound believable when spoken by the two people standing before each other. A simple promise sincerely made can carry more meaning than beautifully written words that donāt sound like the couple.
A simple promise sincerely made can carry more meaning than beautifully written words that donāt sound like the couple.
Traditional vs. personal wedding vows
It is still common to write your own wedding vows. If you do, keep in mind what this foundational and most important part of the ceremony is meant to do.
Couples generally have three choices.
Traditional vows use established wording, often associated with a religious or cultural tradition. Their strength comes partly from knowing that generations of couples have made similar promises.
Personal vows allow each partner to express commitment in their own words. They can include elements of the coupleās story, qualities they cherish in one another, and promises that reflect the marriage they hope to create.
A combination of both can work beautifully. A couple might make traditional promises together and then add a few personal words to one another.
There is no requirement that personal vows be long. What matters is that the promises are understood, sincere, and appropriate to the commitment being made.
There is no requirement that personal vows be long.
What makes a wedding vow meaningful?
Whether the wording is traditional or contemporary, strong wedding vows usually share several qualities. They are specific enough to mean something, serious enough to reflect the commitment being made, and personal enough to sound authentic when spoken aloud.
They also focus primarily on promises rather than simply feelings. Feelings naturally change over a lifetime. A vow expresses what you intend to do: how you intend to love, support, respect, encourage, and remain committed to the person you are marrying.
Feelings naturally change over a lifetime. A vow expresses what you intend to do.
Ready to create vows of your own? Our guide to writing wedding vows that matter walks you through the promises, personal stories, and commitments that can make your vows uniquely yours.
Examples of wedding vows
The following wedding vow examples range from traditional promises to personal, faith-based, poetic, and blended-family vows. Use them for inspiration rather than feeling that you need to repeat them word for word. Choose the ideas and promises that reflect your relationship, then adapt the wording so your vows sound like you.
Wedding Vows Example 1: Traditional āFor Better or Worseā vows
Tap to read
(The groom will repeat after the minister)
I, (Groom), take you, (Bride) to be my wife,
to have and to hold, from this day forward,
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
in sickness or in health, in sorrow or in joy,
to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live.
(The bride will repeat after the minister)
I, (Bride), take you, (Groom) to be my husband,
to have and to hold, from this day forward,
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
in sickness or in health, in sorrow or in joy,
to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live.
Wedding Vows Example 2: Promises of love and commitment
Tap to read
(To be repeated after the minister)
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 or in health.
I promise to be with you in all that is to come,
to love and to respect, to care and to console.
I promise to be faithful to you and honest with you.
I will share my thoughts and my life with you.
I pledge myself and all I have, and all I am to you in love.
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 or in health.
I promise to be with you in all that is to come,
to love and to respect, to care and to console.
I promise to be faithful to you and honest with you.
I will share my thoughts and my life with you.
I pledge myself and all I have, and all I am to you in love.
Wedding Vows Example 3: Vows of assurance and lifelong partnership
Tap to read
(The groom will repeat after the minister)
I, (Groom), bring to you, (Bride),
my love, my life, and all that I possess.
I commit myself to you, from this day forward.
You can know with assurance,
that, whatever comes our way, be it blessing or crisis,
sickness or health, riches or poverty, joy or sorrow,
I am yours forever.
You will be my wife from this day forward.
Though death will one day separate us,
I am, and will always be, your loving husband.
(The bride will repeat after the minister)
I, (Bride), bring to you, (Groom),
my love, my life, and all that I possess.
I commit myself to you, from this day forward.
You can know with assurance,
that, whatever comes our way, be it blessing or crisis,
sickness or health, riches or poverty, joy or sorrow,
I am yours forever.
You will be my husband from this day forward.
Though death will one day separate us,
I am, and will always be, your loving wife.
Wedding Vows Example 4: Promises for lifeās good times and difficult times
Tap to read
(The groom will repeat after the minister)
(Bride), you have accepted my invitation to be my wife.
In return, I give to you my life and my love.
I will be with you in good times,
and I will be with you in bad times.
I will be with you in wealth,
and I will be with you in poverty.
I will be with you in health,
and I will care for you in sickness.
Together we will meet all that comes our way.
When we must part in death, you will have with you always,
the sum of my love made greater by our union today.
(The bride will repeat after the minister)
(Groom), you have accepted my love and asked to be my husband.
In return, I give to you my life and my love.
I will be with you in good times,
and I will be with you in bad times.
I will be with you in wealth,
and I will be with you in poverty.
I will be with you in health,
and I will care for you in sickness.
Together we will meet all that comes our way.
When we must part in death, you will have with you always,
the sum of my love made greater by our union today.
Wedding Vows Example 5: Partnership, family and growing together
Tap to read
(The groom will repeat after the minister)
I, (Groom), take you, (Bride),
as my lawfully wedded wife, and the mother of my children.
I will be with you, (Bride), from this day forward,
through good times and bad,
through joy and through sorrow, in health and in sickness,
in riches and in times of want.
I will be with you in your strength and in your need.
I will be there to talk with you, to share with you, and to dream with you.
We will lean upon each other. I will not leave you.
Together we will meet life's challenges and grow strong.
(The bride will repeat after the minister)
I, (Bride), take you, (Groom),
as my lawfully wedded husband, and father of my children.
I will be with you, (Groom), from this day forward,
through good times and bad,
through joy and through sorrow, in health and in sickness,
in riches and in times of want.
I will be with you in your strength and in your need.
I will be there to talk with you, to share with you, and to dream with you.
We will lean upon each other. I will not leave you.
Together we will meet life's challenges and grow strong.
Wedding Vows Example 6: Faith-based wedding vows
Tap to read
(The groom will recite by memory)
I, (Groom), in quietness of words spoken
through the voice of my heart, do take you, (Bride),
not only for this day,
but for the time in space God has purposed us on earth.
From this day forward,
may our love continue to grow in accordance with God's love,
until death sets us apart.
(The bride will recite by memory)
I, (Bride), in quietness of words spoken
through the voice of my heart, do take you, (Groom),
not only for this day,
but for the time in space God has purposed us on earth.
From this day forward,
may our love continue to grow in accordance with God's love,
until death sets us apart.
Wedding Vows Example 7: Poetic and romantic wedding vows
Tap to read
(The groom will recite from memory)
In the quietness of this sacred hour,
I, (Groom), do take thee, (Bride), to be my lawfully wedded wife.
I take thee to have and to hold.
I take thee not just for today, but from this day unto eternity,
knowing that my love shall forever grow.
Though our ship may be tempest tossed,
we will conquer the storms hand in hand,
and when passing through golden valleys,
may we walk in the joy of the Lord.
I give thee my life and my love, all that is mine to give.
I will love thee, and cherish thee until death sets us apart.
In taking thy hand in mine, and placing both in God's,
nothing else now matters, unless it is ours to share.
(The bride will recite from memory)
In the quietness of this sacred hour,
I, (Bride), do take thee, (Groom), to be my lawfully wedded husband.
I take thee to have and to hold.
I take thee not just for today, but from this day unto eternity,
knowing that my love shall forever grow.
Though our ship may be tempest tossed,
we will conquer the storms hand in hand,
and when passing through golden valleys,
may we walk in the joy of the Lord.
I give thee my life and my love, all that is mine to give.
I will love thee, and cherish thee until death sets us apart.
In taking thy hand in mine and placing both in God's,
nothing else now matters unless it is ours to share.
Wedding Vows Example 8: Traditional-style family wedding vows
Tap to read
I, (Groom), now take you, (Bride),
as my wife, and mother of my children.
From this day forward, I will be with you,
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy,
to love, to cherish, and to treat with respect,
till death separates us.
I, (Bride), now take you, (Groom),
as my husband and father of my children.
From this day forward, I will be with you,
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy,
to love, to cherish, and to treat with respect,
till death separates us.
Ready to make these ideas your own?
Visit our How to Write Wedding Vows That Matter guide for a step-by-step approach to creating vows that reflect your relationship, promises, and personality. Want to see where the vows fit in the whole ceremony? See the complete wedding ceremony script, and read the Preface to the Vows that comes just before them.
Printable workbook
The Wedding Ceremony Words Workbook
A 45-page guide that turns your story, values, vows and ideas into meaningful ceremony language, with a Ceremony Profile you can share with your officiant.
See it on EtsyAffiliate link: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
From David's Take: What if I laugh (or cry) during my vows?