Okinawan wedding vows - a niche set of vows, seldom used
Note that these vows are seldom used; most Western-style wedding ceremonies in Okinawa use standard Japanese wedding vows.
But if you're having a wedding in Okinawa (a fantastic choice!) and want it to be more "Okinawan", then here are the vows to use. They keep standard Japanese grammar but include Okinawan vocabulary and intonation. It's quite casual and local, but still reverent.
The vows are shown in kanji, phonetic phonetic transcription and English translation.
Vows from the groom to the bride:
元気な時ん、病気な時ん、
裕福な時ん、厳しい時んも、
愛して、尊敬して、励まし合って、
命尽きるまで、
真心込めて支えていくこと、
誓うさー。
Wan wa, anta o tsuma to shi,
genkina toki n, byōkina toki n,
yūfukuna toki n, kibishī toki n mo,
aishite, sonkei shite, hagemashi atte,
inochi tsukiru made,
magokoro komete sasaete iku koto,
chikau-sa.
in good health, in sickness,
in good times, in hard times,
to love, respect and encourage each other,
until the end of my life,
to support you wholeheartedly.
I promise.
Vows from the bride to the groom - the same as above, except "you as my husband" instead of "you as my wife":
元気な時ん、病気な時ん。。。
Wan wa, anta o otto to shi,
genkina toki n, byōkina toki n...
in good health, in sickness....
“ワン” = “私” (I)
“あんた” = “あなた” (you)
“〜さー” = Okinawan sentence ending for emphasis or warmth
