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English Wedding Vows

Wedding vows in English: Innumerable versions to choose from, depending on the religion.

This page shows Christian vows for the two major denominations, Protestant and Roman Catholic, which are pretty similar and from which other churches (Methodists, Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc.) have based their versions.

These vows replace some of the archaic language, such as "And thereto I plight thee my troth" and "given of thone to thother". Also removed is "Wilt thou obey him, and serve him" which was deemed appropriate in earlier centuries. (See 16th century vows.)

The following is the official Church of England wording and for legal reasons cannot be re-written or changed in any way. However, you may add your additional pledges or comments, as long as they are said before or after the official vows ceremony and make no attempt to alter the meaning of the official vows in any way.

If you prefer the old English "wilt thou", "betwixt", etc., then a service from the Book of Common Prayer (1662) is also legally permitted. However, be aware that the use of non-familiar words may distract thoughts and feelings on the solemnity of the occasion.

1. Protestant Church wedding declarations and vows:

Declarations

Minister:
(To the congregation) I am required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now.
Minister:
(To the couple) The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts; therefore if either of you knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.
Minister:
(Groom's name), will you take (Bride's name) to be your wife?
Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her,
and, forsaking all others,
be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Groom:
I will.
Minister:
(Bride's name), will you take (Groom's name) to be your husband?
Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him,
and, forsaking all others,
be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Bride:
I will.
Minister:
(To the congregation) Will you, the families and friends of (Groom's name) and (Bride's name),
support and uphold them in their marriage
now and in the years to come?
The congregation:
We will.

From this point, the minister will invite people to pray as the Collect is said, followed by readings from the Bible and a suitable marriage-related sermon.

The couple then face each other and the groom holds the bride's right hand in his hands for the exchange of Vows.

Minister:
(Groom's name) and (Bride's name), I now invite you to join hands and make your vows in the presence of God and his people.
Groom:
I, (Groom's name) 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,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part;
according to God’s holy law.
In the presence of God I make this vow.

The couple loose hands, and the bride holds the groom's right hand in her hands.

Bride:
I, (Bride's name) 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,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part;
according to God’s holy law.
In the presence of God I make this vow.

Other Protestant denominations

As mentioned above, other denominations have similar wording.

For example, the Methodist Church:

I, (Groom's/Bride's name) take you, (Bride's/Groom's name), to be my wedded wife/husband,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
from this day forward,
until we are parted by death;
and this is my solemn vow.

...and the Lutheran Church:

I, (Groom's/Bride's name) take you, (Bride's/Groom's name), to be my wedded wife/husband/spouse/life partner,
to have and to hold
from this day forward,
for better for worse,
for richer for poorer,
in sickness and health,
to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow.

2. Roman Catholic Church wedding consent and vows:

Note the Catholic Church usually uses the word "consent" rather than "vows"; the two words have quite different meanings.

Vows are the promises made by the couple to each other, expressing their love which they will uphold throughout their marriage.

Consent is the agreement of both the bride and groom to enter into the marital union. As with business contract, they the agreement is legally binding under Church and civil law. The consent adds a level of obligation. Keeping their marriage according to the law will be an added benefit for them.

Consent

Priest:
Groom's name) and (Bride's name), have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?
Bride and Groom:
I have.
Priest:
Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love, cherish and honour each other for as long as you both shall live?
Bride and Groom:
I am.
Priest:
Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?
Bride and Groom:
I am.
Priest:
Do you, (Groom's name), take this woman, (Bride's name), for your lawful wife according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church?
Groom:
I do.
Priest:
Do you, (Bride's name), take this man, (Groom's name), for your lawful husband according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church?
Bride:
I do.

Vows. The couple join their right hands.

Groom:
I, (Groom's name), take you, (Bride's name), to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.
Bride:
I, (Bride's name), take you, (Groom's name), to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

The declaration of consent made by both parties is formally ratified by the priest:

Priest:
I unite you in wedlock in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
(The priest may instead use the Latin: Ego conjungo vos in matrimonium in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.)

Alternative vows

Alternative 1

Groom:
I, (Groom's name), take you, (Bride's name), for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.
Bride:
I, (Bride's name), take you, (Groom's name), for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

Alternative 2

Priest:
(Groom's name), do you take (Bride's name) to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honour her all the days of your life?
Groom:
I do.
Priest:
(Bride's name), do you take (Groom's name) to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and to honour him all the days of your life?
Bride:
I do.

Alternative 3

Priest:
(Groom's name), do you take (Bride's name) for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?
Groom:
I do.
Priest:
(Bride's name), do you take (Groom's name) for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?
Bride:
I do.
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