Japanese Wedding Vows - short, sweet, and spoken with sincerity
Here are standard wedding vows that have been used for many years across Japan in Western-style wedding ceremonies — often held in purpose-built chapels with stained glass, pipe organ and a brilliant chamber orchestra - or if you're on a tight budget, some recorded background music ("BGM" in Japanese).
Option 1: Say "I do"
Short, sweet, and no risk of mixing up your adjectives. For couples who like their romance deep but to the point, this version is perfect: just a few syllables and you're married.
Option 2: Repeat after me
It’s beautiful, formal and heartfelt.
Whether you’re going the latter scenic route with the full repeat-after-me version, or opting for the express train to matrimony with a confident “Hai. Chikaimasu.” — make sure you speak clearly and loudly enough for everyone to hear. After all, your guests aren’t just there for the photos and cake — they’re your witnesses, and they want to hear every syllable of your happily-ever-after.
So now, here are the vows in both Japanese, and English so you can follow what you're saying.
Option 1
Entire vows read out, then acknowledged by the groom/bride
Vows from the groom to the bride:
Minister:
Anata wa, kenko na tokimo, soudenai tokimo, kono hito o aishi, kono hito o uyamai, kono hito o nagusame, kono hito o tasukete, sono inochi no kagiri kataku sessou o mamoru koto o chikaimasu ka?
Groom, (groom's name), you this woman marry and become her partner.
Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death, do you promise to fulfil?
Groom:
Yes, I promise.
Vows from the bride to the groom:
Minister:
Anata wa, kenko na tokimo, soudenai tokimo, kono hito o aishi, kono hito o uyamai, kono hito o nagusame, kono hito o tasukete, sono inochi no kagiri kataku sessou o mamoru koto o chikaimasu ka?
Bride, (groom's name), you this man marry and become his partner.
Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death, do you promise to fulfil?
Bride:
Yes, I promise.
Option 2
Each line repeated
Vows from the groom to the bride:
Each phrase or sentence is spoken by the Minister and repeated by the Groom:
idiomatic translation
Fufu to narou to shite imasu
Watakushi wa kenkouna tokimo
Soudenai tokimo
Kono hito o aishi
Kono hito o uyamai
Kono hito o nagusame
Kono hito o tasuke
Watakushi no inochi no kagiri
Kataku sessou o mamoru koto o
Chikai masu.
I marry this woman
No matter what the health situation is
I will love this person
Respect this person
Console this person
Help this person
Until death
Protecting fidelity
I swear.
Vows from the bride to the groom:
Each phrase or sentence is spoken by the Minister and repeated by the Bride. The lines are identical to the above with the exception of the first line:
Fufu to narou to shite imasu......
I marry this man
No matter what the health situation is......
Option 3?
We’ve also got vows for you in Okinawan - perfect if you're tying the knot on one of Japan's tropical islands in the south, beneath a palm tree with your toes in coral sand.
