I thought this was special. It is recited back and forth between Groom and Bride. Be sure to check out the other vow alternatives on this page.
The couple has selected their own vows to read.
(Bride)
You are not the air that I breathe,
You are the sweet scent that drifts upon it
You are not the sounds that I hear,
You are the music of my life
You are not the food that I need,
You are the nourishment of my soul
(Groom)You are not my will to survive,
You are my reason for living
It is with you that I experience
the wonders of the world
It is with you that I triumph
over the challenges in my path
(Bride)It is your partnership that will lead me
to the fulfillment of my dreams
It is your friendship that guides me
as I grow and learn
It is your patience and wisdom
that calms my restless nature
(Groom)
It is through you that I know my true self
I do not take you for granted,
I cherish you
(Bride)
I do not need you
I choose you
I choose you today in witness
of all the people who love us
I choose you tomorrow
in the privacy of our hearts
(Groom)
I choose you in strength and weakness
I choose you in health and sickness
I choose you in joy and sorrow
Bride, I will choose you, over all others, every day
for all the days of my lifeBride
And Groom, I will choose you, over all others, every day
for all the days of my life
Another Idea
(Groom): I (Grooms Name) affirm my love to you (Brides Name) as I invite you to share my life. I promise always to respect your needs. I will endeavor through kindness, unselfishness and trust to achieve the warm rich life we now look forward to. To this end I call upon all present to witness that I take you (Brides Name) to be my lawful 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 while we both shall live.
(Bride): I (Brides Name) affirm my love to you (Grooms Name) as I invite you to share my life. I promise always to respect your needs. I will endeavor through kindness, unselfishness and trust to achieve the warm rich life we now look forward to. To this end I call upon all present to witness that I take you (Grooms Name) to be my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health while we both shall live.
RING VOWS
Groom: (Brides Name); with this ring I thee wed. Take it and wear it as a symbol of all we shall share.
Bride: (Grooms Name); with this ring I thee wed. Take it and wear it as a symbol of all we shall share.
BAPTIST VOWS:
"Will you, _______, have _____ to be your wife/husband? Will you love her/him, comfort and keep her/him, and forsaking all other remain true to him/her as long as you both shall live?"("I will")
(Repeat)"I, ________, take thee ______, to be my wife/husband, and before God and these witnesses I promise to be a faithful and true wife/husband."
(Rings)"With
this ring I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in
health, in poverty or in wealth, 'til death do us part."
CATHOLIC VOWS:
" _______, will you take _____ here present, for your lawful wife/husband according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Catholic Church?"("I will")
(Repeat)"I, ________, take you ______, for my wife/husband, to have an d to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
(Rings)"With
this ring I thee wed, and pledge thee my troth.."
LUTHERAN VOWS:
"_________, wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wedded wife/husband to live together after God’s ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her/him, comfort her/him, honor and keep her/him as long as ye both shall live?" ("I will")
(Repeat)"I, ________, take thee ______, to be my wife/husband, and pledge thee my troth, so long as ye both shall live?"
(Rings)"Receive
this ring as a token of wedded love and faith."
METHODIST VOWS:
"_________, wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wedded wife/husband to live together after God’s ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her/him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto her/him, so long as ye both shall live?("I will")
(Repeat)"I, ________, take thee ______, 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, till death do us part, and thereto I pledge thee my faith."
(Rings)"In
token and pledge of the vow between us made, with this ring I thee wed; in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
PRESBYTERIAN
VOWS:
"_______, wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wife/husband, and wilt thou pledge thy faith to her/him, in all love and honor, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with her/hi, and cherish her/him, according to the ordinance of God, in the holy bond of marriage?"("I will")
(Repeat)"I, ________, take thee ______, to be my wedded wife/husband, and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be thy loving and faithful wife/husband; in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
(Rings)"This
ring I give thee, in token and pledge, of our constant faith and abiding love."
EPISCOPAL VOWS:
"_______, wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wedded wife/husband to live together after God’s ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her/him? Comfort her/him, honor and keep her/her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto him/her as long as you both shall live?"("I will")
(Repeat)"I, ________, take thee ______, to be my wedding wife/husband, to have an 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."
(Rings)",With
this ring I thee wed; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen."
JEWISH VOWS:
(Groom) Do you ____________,
take _______ to be your wife? ("I do"). Do you promise to love, cherish and
protect her, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek with her a
life hallowed by the faith of Israel? ("I do")
(Bride) Do you ____________,
take _______ to be your husband? ("I do"). Do you promise to love, cherish and
protect him, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek with him a
life hallowed by the faith of Israel? ("I do")
(Groom) __________ , as you
place this ring upon the finger of __________, speak to her these vows:
" With this ring/ be thou
consecrated unto me/ as my wife/ according to the law of God / and the faith of
Israel."
(Bride) __________ , as you
place this ring upon the finger of __________, speak to her these vows:
" With this ring/ be thou
consecrated unto me/ as my wife/ according to the law of God / and the faith of
Israel."
NON-DENOMINATIONAL VOW SELECTIONS:
Traditional:
"Do you, _______, take _______ to be your wife/husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her/him, forsaking all others and holding only unto her/him?"("I do")
(Repeat)"I ________, take thee ________, to be my wife/husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you.."
(Ring)With
this ring, I thee wed; all my love, I do thee give."
Contemporary:
"_______, do you come here freely and without reservation?("I do")
(Repeat)"I _______, take you _______, to be my wife/husband. To share the good times and hard times side by side as husband and wife. I humbly give you my hand and my heart as a sanctuary of warmth and peace, and pledge my faith and love to you."
(Rings) "Just
as this circle is 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."
Festive
Alternative:
(Repeat) "Before our friends and those so special to us here, on this wonderful day of gladness and good fortune, I ______ take you _______ as my wife/husband, in friendship and in love, in strength and weakness, to share the good times and misfortune, in achievement and failure, to celebrate life with you forevermore