Sample Marriage Vows
#1
“We are gathered together in the presence of this company to unite (GROOM) and (BRIDE) in the spiritual union of marriage. This contract is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously, with a deep realization of it’s obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home. ”
“Do you (GROOM) take (BRIDE) to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to her through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?”
Do you (BRIDE) take (GROOM) to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to him through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?”
(GROOM) and (BRIDE) will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.
GROOM PLACES THE RING ON HER FINGER AND REPEATS
THESE WORDS**)
“With this ring, I thee wed, as a token of my love, faith, and loyalty.”
(BRIDE PLACES THE RING ON HIS FINGER AND REPEATS
THESE WORDS**)
“I give you this ring as a token of my love, faith and loyalty to you.”
“Since you two have consented together in the presence of this company, I by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of South Carolina, pronounce you husband and wife.”
“You may kiss the Bride.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. (JOHN DOE).”
#2
#4
Mark Twain once said that, “a marriage makes two fractional lives a whole. It gives to two lives a work, doubling the strength of each to perform it. It gives to two questioning natures, a reason for living. It brings a new gladness to the sunshine, a new fragrance to the flowers, new beauty to the earth,… a new mystery to life.”
Today, we are gathered here together to unite (GROOM) and (BRIDE) in the spiritual union of marriage.
This union should not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously, with a deep realization of it’s obligations and responsibilities. Remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home. ”
“Do you (GROOM) take (BRIDE) to be your lawful wedded wife, promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to her through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?”
Do you (BRIDE) take (GROOM) to be your lawful wedded husband, promise to love, honor, cherish, and be faithful to him through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?”
(GROOM) and (BRIDE) will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.
GROOM PLACES THE RING ON HER FINGER AND REPEATS
THESE WORDS**)
“With this ring, I thee wed, as a token of my love, faith, and loyalty.”
(BRIDE PLACES THE RING ON HIS FINGER AND REPEATS
THESE WORDS**)
“I give you this ring as a token of my love, faith and loyalty to you.”
“Since you two have consented together in the presence of this company, I by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of South Carolina, pronounce you husband and wife.”
“You may kiss the Bride.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. (JOHN DOE).”
#5
Welcome family, friends, and loved ones.
We are gathered here together to celebrate the special love of ___________ & __________, and unite them in marriage. All of us need and desire to love and to be loved, and the highest form of love between two people is within a committed relationship. _____ and _____, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of both your souls, souls which have already been united as one in your hearts. Your marriage will allow you to share your lives together, standing together to face life and the world, hand-in-hand. It will expand you as individuals, define you as a couple, and deepen your love for one another. Let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again.
Since time immemorial, people have performed ceremonies to mark a transition, a change of status. Today we gather for the happiest of ceremonies – the change of status from two single individuals, to a married couple. Let us celebrate one of life’s greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauty of your love, as you join together in vows of marriage.
(Groom) ___________________, do you take ________________ to be your Wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?
(“I do”)
(Bride_____________________ , do you take __________________ to be your Husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?
(“I do”)
We will now exchange rings as a symbol of your love and commitment. (Pause) These rings have no beginning and no end. They set forth the eternal nature of real love. They will represent the love and trust that you promise to each other this day.
(Groom), I _____________, take you, ________________ to be my Wife, and pledge my love to your forever.
(Bride), I _________________ , take you _______________, to be my husband, and pledge my love to you forever.
_____ and _____ may you have many joys, and be the light of each other’s days.
May all that you are, always be in love; and may all that is love, always be in you.
May you always see and encourage the best in each other.
May the challenges that life brings your way make your marriage grow stronger.
May you always be each other’s best friend and greatest love..
And in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, by the authority vested in me by the State of South Carolina I now declare you to be Husband and Wife. Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce for the first time, Mr. and Ms. _____________.
#6
Welcome family, friends, and loved ones.
We are gathered here together to celebrate the special love of ___________ & __________, and unite them in marriage. All of us need and desire to love and to be loved, and the highest form of love between two people is within a committed relationship. _____ and _____, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of both your souls, souls which have already been united as one in your hearts. Your marriage will allow you to share your lives together, standing together to face life and the world, hand-in-hand. It will expand you as individuals, define you as a couple, and deepen your love for one another. Let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again.
Let us pray. Thank you, God, for the beautiful bond of love that exists between (Groom) ___ & (Bride) ___. Thank you for this wedding ceremony with family, friends and loved ones. We are grateful for your presence with us here today and for your divine blessing on this holy event, the marriage day of (Groom) & (Bride). Amen
I, Groom____, take you, Bride____, 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.
I, Bride____, take you, Groom____, 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.
(Groom)___________ & (Bride) __________, will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.
The ring is the symbol of the commitment which binds these two together. There are two rings because there are two people, each to make a contribution to the life of the other, and to their new life together. Let us pray: Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may abide together in your peace.”
Groom____”I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.”
Bride____”I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.”
Let us Pray. Gracious God, our hearts are filled with great happiness on this, the wedding day of _____ and _______. They come before you, pledging their lives and their hearts to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and help them to be sweethearts, helpmates, friend and guide, and together, may they meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. May their home truly be a place of love and harmony where your Spirit is ever present. Bless their wedding day, we pray, and walk beside them, through all their life together. Amen.
Groom____ & Bride____, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, by the authority vested in me by the State of South Carolina I now declare you to be Husband and Wife. Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.
#7
We gather here today to join _____ and ___ in matrimony. We celebrate the coming together in love of these two women/men. May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say ‘I love you’ and take no notice of small faults. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.
Will you, _____ have ___ to be your wife/husband? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?”
Will you, _____ have ___ to be your wife/husband? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?”
We will now exchange rings as a symbol of your love and commitment. (Pause) These rings have no beginning and no end. They set forth the eternal nature of real love. They will represent the love and trust that you promise to each other this day.
_______”I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.”
_______”I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.”
____ & ____ may today be a day that you’ll always remember, the day when your two hearts become one…
____ & ____, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, by the authority vested in me by the State of South Carolina, I now declare you to be married. Congratulations, you may seal your marriage with a kiss!
#8
We are gathered here in the presence of God to unite —– and —– in marriage.
Marriage involves mutual commitment and responsibility. You as a couple will share together in the responsibilities and commitments of building a home. You will share also in the joys and sorrows of life. But when companions share a sorrow; the sorrow is cut in half, and when you share a joy; the joy is doubled.
The Bible teaches that marriage is to be a permanent relationship of one man and one woman freely and totally committed to each other for life. Our Lord declared that a man shall leave his father and his mother and unite with his wife in the building of a home. The home is built on love which is best portrayed in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians which says:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It is always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers. Love never fails. And now these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
According to this passage of scripture, love is action rather then emotion. Act in the fullness of love and you will love one another. Show each other kindness, be patient with one another, don’t hold a grudge and seek the best for each other. Then and only then will you truly love one another.
GIVING OF THE BRIDE
Who gives the bride to be married?
Person Giving Away Bride: I do or we do, etc.
VOWS
I —–, take you —– to love, honor and cherish, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, as long as we both shall live.
I —–, take you —– to love, honor and cherish, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, as long as we both shall live.
GIVING AND RECEIVING OF RINGS
The ring is the symbol of the commitment which binds these two together. There are two rings because there are two people, each to make a contribution to the life of the other, and to their new life together. Let us pray: Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may abide together in your peace.”
_______”I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.”
_______”I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.”
Let us Pray. Gracious God, our hearts are filled with great happiness on this, the wedding day of _____ and _______. They come before you, pledging their lives and their hearts to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and help them to be sweethearts, helpmates, friend and guide, and together, may they meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. May their home truly be a place of love and harmony where your Spirit is ever present. Bless their wedding day, we pray, and walk beside them, through all their life together. Amen.
Groom____ & Bride____, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, by the authority vested in me by the State of South Carolina I now declare you to be Husband and Wife. Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.
Ladies and Gentleman, may I present to you Mr. and Mrs. __________.
#9
Hello everyone and welcome. Thank you for joining us on this day of gladness and good fortune. BRIDE and GROOM are coming together to publicly proclaim their undying love through the celebration of their marriage.
We are all here to learn about loving and being loved, and to watch the miracle of love exchanged enriches every one of us. Therefore, we appreciate the opportunity to witness the shared love of this beautiful couple. Their enthusiasm is contagious, their certainty of their destiny together is inspiring and their great expectations give us all a glimpse of the heights love can reach. Marriage is a very special place. It’s an oasis, a haven, and a sanctuary where we can safely learn about ourselves in the presence of another. Like the harmony with the melody, marriage weaves two lives together, creating a deeper and richer song. We are honored that BRIDE and GROOM are sharing some of their beautiful music with us on this day.
We ask that the vision they have of one another always reflect the electric attraction that first brought them together. And we pray that, as they enter into the lifelong bond that is marriage, they may always see one another in the light of all light; the light of love. Let us celebrate one of life’s greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauty of your love, as you join together in vows of marriage.
(Groom) ___________________, do you take ________________ to be your Wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?
(Bride_____________________ , do you take __________________ to be your Husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?
We will now exchange rings as a symbol of your love and commitment. (Pause) These rings have no beginning and no end. They set forth the eternal nature of real love. They will represent the love and trust that you promise to each other this day.
(Groom), I _____________, take you, ________________ to be my Wife, and pledge my love to your forever.
(Bride), I _________________ , take you _______________, to be my husband, and pledge my love to you forever.
________________________ and _________________________, may today be a day that you’ll always remember, the day when your two hearts become one…And in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, by the authority vested in me by the State of South Carolina I now declare you to be Husband and Wife. Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce for the first time, Mr. and Ms. _____________.
#10
Welcome family, friends, and loved ones. Bride_______ and _______Groom would like to thank all of you here, those here physically, virtually, and spiritually watching from above, for sharing this happiest of days with them.
We are gathered here today to celebrate the special love of ______ and ______, and unite them in marriage.
_______ and ________, may you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness, but to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, say ‘I love you’ often, and take no notice of small faults. May you have happiness and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love and may you find it in loving one another.
Do you _____; take ______ to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to her through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?
Do you _____; take ______to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to him through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?
______ and ______ will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment. (Pause) These rings have no beginning and no end. They set forth the eternal nature of real love. They will represent the love and trust that you promise to each other this day.
(Groom), I _____________, take you, ________________ to be my Wife, and pledge my love to your forever.
(Bride), I _________________ , take you _______________, to be my husband, and pledge my love to you forever.
______ and _____ life is short, so make sure to forgive quickly, kiss deeply, love each other truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that makes you smile and draws you closer.
Remember to treat both yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Never take each other for granted. Be slow to anger, quick to forgive, and leave no trace of resentment.
From this day forward, you will walk hand-in-hand along the path of your marriage – united and strong as husband and wife.
______ AND _____ since you two have consented together in the presence of this company, have promised your love to each other with these vows, I by virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of South Carolina, pronounce you to be husband and wife.
Congratulations, you may kiss the Bride.
Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. ___________.
#11
_____ and ____, it is a pleasure to share today’s very special occasion with you.
Many people believe that entering into marriage is the final step in a romantic relationship. As they see it, a couple meets, gets to know each other, falls in love, decides they want to go through life together, and then take the final step—marriage.
But marriage is not meant to be the final step in a couple’s relationship—it is really just the beginning of a grand adventure, that hopefully, will be long and fruitful for each couple.
You have shared the joys, blessings, and yes, the challenges, of married life for _______ years. And, today you wish to reconfirm your commitment to working together to make your marriage grow and blossom in the years to come. May this ceremony, renewing the vows you took to become husband and wife on your wedding day, remind you that despite the stresses inevitable in every life, your love, respect, trust and understanding of each other will continue to increase your contentment and heighten your joy in living.
Please join hands.
_____, will you continue to have _____ as your wife and continue to live in this marriage? (I WILL)
Do you reaffirm your love for her, and will you love, honor and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? (I DO)
_____, will you continue to have _____ as your husband and continue to live in this marriage? (I WILL)
Do you reaffirm your love for him, and will you love, honor and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? (I DO)
Bible Reading or any variety of readings can be said here if wanted
On your wedding day you exchanged rings as a symbol of the never-ending circle of love. Rings serve as a reminder of your wedding vows to each other, and your commitment to live in unity, love, and happiness. At this time, it is appropriate to reconfirm the meaning of the rings you wear.
Please join your left hands together so that _____’s hand is on top. _____, please repeat after me…………………
_____, I wear this ring you placed on my hand as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.
Now, with _____’s hand on top, _____, please repeat after me:
_____, I wear this ring you placed on my hand as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.
I ask that you each remember to continue to cherish each other as special and unique individuals and that you each respect the thoughts and ideas of one another. And most of all, be able to forgive each other, and not hold grudges against one another. Live each day in love with each other, always being there to give love, comfort, and refuge to each other, in good times and bad.
_____ and _____, today you have renewed the promises and vows you made to each other on your wedding day. You have symbolized the renewal of the marriage union by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and by the wearing of your wedding rings.
It is with pleasure that I conclude the ceremony of renewing the vows of marriage that joined you and binds you as husband and wife. Please celebrate this renewal of vows with a kiss!
#12
We have gathered today in the love of friendship and family to celebrate a renewal of marriage vows between _____ and _____. As their family and close friends, each of you has played a role in bringing them to this day, and in various ways will continue to support and contribute to their marriage. We solemnize this significant event in their lives and enter into this ceremony in an attitude of respect for their steadfast and ongoing commitment to each other.
_____ and _____, although I am officiating here today, it is not truly in my power to sanctify or bless your relationship in any way, because the two of you have already done that in your hearts. Today you proclaim your love anew to the world, and we rejoice with and for you.
In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and by doing so, we receive the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift.
Today you re-commit yourselves to honoring and protecting one another above your separate selves, and to valuing your union above your own interests. In doing this, you secure for yourselves a wealth of love and peace not otherwise attainable.
But as you know so well, with this joy also comes the profound responsibility to protect the bond you share. For it is only with continual care that your love is truly secure in the face of life’s inevitable tests.
Regard each other always with the same deep respect that has kept you through the years, and be ever mindful of the many gifts the other offers you.
Inspire and encourage one another. For it is by strengthening your spouse, that you have strengthened your marriage. Bring out the very best in each other. Be sparing in criticism, and generous in praise for things well done.
In communication, continue, to be honest and open with each other, knowing that the heart that communicates truth without hesitation earns trust and builds a secure home.
And as always, accept your marriage as a work-in-progress that consumes your attention day by day and yet is never completed. Because a lifelong love requires a lifetime of hard work. But it is a joyous labor, whose fruits are the very richest.
Your future stretches out before you, vast and unknown. That future, with its hopes and disappointments, its joys and its sorrows, is hidden from your eyes. But it is a great tribute to your belief in each other that you remain none the less willing to face those uncertainties together. May the pure, simple love with which you join your hearts and hands again here today never fail, but grow deeper and surer with every passing year.
_____ please take _____ hand and repeat after me…
• _____, I believe in this marriage more strongly than ever.
• Today, I renew the promises I made to you ___ years ago,
• A promise of my hand and my heart,
• A promise to you of my love and devotion,
• A promise to provide for and protect you,
• It is with these promises that I recommit my love for you.
• I will continue to love you
• for as long as I shall live
_____, please take _____ hand and repeat after me…
• _____, I believe in this marriage more strongly than ever.
• Today, I renew the promises I made to you ___ years ago,
• A promise of my hand and my heart,
• A promise to you of my love and devotion,
• A promise to provide for and protect you,
• It is with these promises that I recommit my love for you.
• I will continue to love you
• for as long as I shall live
_____ and _____, we all here today celebrate your love and acknowledge your lifelong devotion to each other. Your example reminds us of love’s possibilities.
So, by joining hands right now and looking into each other’s eyes, let it be known that you are joined inseparably in this lifetime and that this bond continues.
Inasmuch as you have sealed this renewal of your marriage vows in the presence of those gathered here, it gives me much pleasure to pronounce that you are now, even more than ever before, Husband and Wife.