Writing Your Wedding Vows: Tips and Examples

Writing your wedding vows can be the most meaningful part of your big day. Yet, many couples wait until the last minute to craft these personal promises. Here are three straightforward ways to help define the type of vows that suit your relationship:

Are you a romantic at heart?

Begin by expressing something you deeply admire about your partner or recall a special moment that reflects your love story. Consider incorporating a poem, haiku, or a meaningful anecdote that captures the essence of your bond.

Do you share a sense of humor?

Injecting humor into your vows can lighten the mood and create lasting memories. Feel free to include jokes or funny stories that reflect your personalities and the unique dynamic of your relationship.

Prefer something more traditional?

Traditional vows carry a timeless romantic sentiment that resonates with many couples. Even if you’re not sticking strictly to tradition, drawing inspiration from classic religious vows can provide a solid foundation for crafting vows that feel authentic and heartfelt.

close shot of vow book with bride and groom

Wedding Vow Templates

Remember, your wedding vows should authentically reflect your relationship and the promises you’re making to each other. Whether you opt for romance, humor, tradition, or a blend of all three, the most important thing is that your vows come from the heart.

Romantic Wedding Vows:

I affirm my love to you, [Partner’s Name], as I invite you to share my life. You are the most beautiful, smart, and generous person I have ever known. With kindness and trust, I promise to respect and cherish you for all our days together.

[Partner’s Name], I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be standing here with you. You’re my best friend, confidant, my biggest supporter, and my favorite person. You are loving, kind, and brilliant, and I am so grateful to have met you. From the moment that you came into my life, I knew you were special. I can still remember that very first moment that I saw you, [describe how you met]. After you came into my life, I felt complete, and knowing how deeply loved and cherished you make me feel, I can’t imagine my life without you.

bride and groom place card

bride and groom exchanging vows

Funny Wedding vows

Her:

  • I promise to leave my apple cores and dirty butter knives on the counter.
  • I promise to overdraft the checking account.
  • I promise to complain about the kitty litter.
  • I vow to encourage us to try new and strange things.
  • I vow to fill our ‘I love you’ bank every day.
  • I vow to never use a recipe when fixing dinner.
  • Although imperfect, I pledge to be sensitive and respectful of your unique talents, abilities, and quirks.
  • Through our union, I believe we can accomplish more than I could alone.

Him:

  • I promise to forget to stack the dishes on the right and leave stagnant water in the sink.
  • I promise to always drive the speed limit, even on the freeway.
  • I promise to cuss loudly at video games.
  • I vow to snuggle you as often as possible.
  • I vow to make you really laugh out loud.
  • I vow to always try one bite of any meal you create.
  • Although imperfect, I pledge to be sensitive and respectful of your unique talents, abilities, and quirks.
  • Through our union, I pledge to lend you strength for all of your dreams.

Funny Wedding Vows! – Credit to Inspired Bride

bride and groom exchanging vows

Traditional Wedding vows

Catholic

“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my lawful wife/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. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”

Episcopal

“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my wife/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, until parted by death. This is my solemn vow.”

Presbyterian

“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my wife/husband, and I promise before God and these witnesses to be your loving and faithful husband/wife in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.”

Protestant

“I, _____, take thee, _____, to be my wedded wife/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 do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith.”

Quaker

“In the presence of God and our friends, I take thee to be my wife/husband, promising with divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband/wife so long as we both shall live.”

Unitarian/Universalist

“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my wife/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 cherish always.”

Interfaith

“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my wife/husband.I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.

Nondenominational

“_____, I now take you to be my wedded wife/husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage. I promise to love and comfort you, honor and keep you, and forsaking all others, I will be yours alone as long as we both shall live.”

Traditional Wedding Vows! – Credit to Martha Stewart

wedding vow book light blue

bride and groom kissing and holding vow books

Wedding vow book flat lay with flowers

Vow Books

Vow books become lasting keepsakes you’ll cherish forever. As a photographer, I’ve seen how these elegant details enhance your wedding photos alongside invitations.

You can find the prettiest vow books for your wedding online such as Etsy I always recommend a local fine art stationer in order to avoid huge shipping fees and also to get them in hand in no time. Taking the time to manually write down your vows in your vow book instead of typing them might seem old-fashioned, but that’s the beauty of tradition. Your wedding vow books will become physical keepsakes that you can store with your wedding photo album, invitations, and other mementos from the day — not to mention that you’ll get a wave of nostalgia whenever you open the books and re-read your vows. So never underestimate the importance of having a pretty set of vow book. Vow books by Ayla Views

Hope you found this blog helpful!

December 1, 2022

Ultimate Guide to Writing Your Wedding Vows

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