Examples of traditional marriage vows for a heartfelt ceremony 

 

Sometimes sticking with the classics just feels right! If you’re an old-school romantic at heart and want to use traditional vows in your wedding ceremony, then these vows are for you. 

 

Use them just as they are (they’re classics for a reason, after all) or mix and match your favorite parts from each set, to create custom vows with a timeless quality that will bring tears of joy to the eyes of every uncle, aunt, best friend, and grandparent on your guest list. 

 

Make them your own with small changes, without changing the overall tone: replace ‘thee’ with you if it’s not your style, and modify, add, or avoid religious or spiritual language, depending on your tastes and beliefs. If traditional titles like wife and husband don’t work for you -- try substituting partner, mate, spouse, soulmate, or just use you and your sweetheart’s names. 

 

Let your wedding officiant know any specific changes you’d like to make early in the planning process, and share whether you want the ceremony to have a religious, spiritual, or non religious tone.  

 

 

 

Sweet Wedding Vows for a Traditional Ceremony 

 

 

In sickness and in health...

I, _____, take thee, _____, to be my (wife/husband/partner), to have and to hold from this day forward, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I promise to love and cherish you all the days of my life.

 

 

 

In the presence of God…

 

 _____, in the presence of (God/Deity/Universe), our friends, and our families, I take thee to be my (wife/husband/partner). I promise to remain faithfully yours, forsaking all others, to love and care for you always, so long as we both shall live. 

 

 

Related: Muslim Wedding Vows Inspired by Quran Verses on Love & Marriage

 

 

A holy relationship...

 

_____, I take you to be my wedded (wife/husband/partner), to live together in the blessed and holy relationship of marriage. I promise to love and support you, honor and care for you, and forsaking all others, I promise to be yours alone, for as long as we both shall live.

 

 

 

A pledge…

 

I, _____, offer myself to you in marriage, and pledge to be a loving and faithful (husband/wife/partner) to you, and to honor our love and this commitment with honesty and sincerity for all my days. 

 

 

Related: 12 Examples of Wedding Vows for Him

 

 

Call and response...

 

Officiant: _____, do you take this (woman/man/name) to be your (wife/husband/partner), to live together in holy matrimony? Do you promise to love (her/him/them), comfort (her/him/them), honor and keep (her/him/them) in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, and remain faithful to (her/him/them) and to the love you share, for all the days of your life?

 

Bride/Groom/Partner: I do.

 

 

“We do”…

 

Officiant: _____ and _____ do you promise to love and cherish each other, to comfort and honor each other, and to meet the ups and downs of life together with compassion, joy, and faith? 

 

Bride/Groom/Partner: We do.

 

Related: 'We do' vs 'I do' - A Modern Twist on the Declaration of Intent and Joint Wedding Vows

 

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Need a full wedding ceremony script, not just help with your vows? 

 

We’ve got you covered! Visit our Wedding Ceremony Script Library for sample wedding scripts and templates for all kinds of ceremonies. 

 

 

And remember…

 

American Marriage Ministries offers free online ordination for all friends and family members who want to perform marriage. 

 

 

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You might also like: 

 

• Are there legal wording requirements in a wedding ceremony?

 

• The Vows Exchange Explained (Parts of the Wedding Ceremony)

 

• Including Vows In The Wedding Ceremony (How to Structure Vows Within a Wedding Ceremony)

 

• Mad Libs Inspired Wedding Vows For the Couple Who Loves to (verb) Together

 

 

Browse all Wedding Vows Ideas & Inspiration

 

 

 

Vows are the most meaningful part of a wedding ceremony, but that doesn’t mean you have to stress over them. Loosen up with these fun (and sometimes funny!) Mad Libs inspired wedding vows. Read the full article here. 

 

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