Scottish Gàidhlig Wedding Vows

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) became a distinct spoken Celtic language around the 13^th century, evolving from Old Irish and flourishing across much of what is now modern Scotland. Back then, if you didn’t speak Gaelic, you were probably a sheep or a Viking.

Although Scotland's population has grown dramatically — from roughly 700,000 in the 13^th century to around 5.5 million today — the number of native or fluent Gaelic speakers has dwindled to about 57,000, mostly living in the Outer Hebrides, where the language still hangs on tighter than a kilt in a Highland wind.

But don’t let the numbers fool you — Gaelic may not be spoken on every street corner, but it remains deeply woven into Scotland’s cultural fabric, showing up in place names, folklore, songs, and that strange, mystical feeling you get when someone offers you haggis and you don’t want to be rude.

In fact, Gaelic isn’t just a language — it’s a vibe. It conjures misty glens, ancient stone circles, and at least one distant relative who plays the fiddle at family gatherings and won’t stop. The Scots remain fiercely proud of their Celtic roots, and nothing says heritage quite like making sacred marriage vows in the tongue of your ancestors — especially if none of your guests speak it, but all of them will cry anyway.

So whether you're planning a wedding in the Highlands, trying to impress your gran, or just love the sound of ancient poetry you don’t fully understand, these traditional Gaelic vows are a perfect way to start your marriage with linguistic flair, spiritual weight, and a dramatic pause before you try to pronounce “gràdh” correctly.

Below are the traditional Scottish Gaelic wedding vows — along with an English translation, so you don’t accidentally promise to mow the lawn for eternity.

Wedding vows in Gàidhlig