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Wedding vows represent the promises you and your partner make during your ceremony. While traditional vows include phrases like “for better or worse, in sickness and health,” writing personal vows lets you express your unique feelings.
Creating Personal Vows
Writing your own vows adds meaning to your ceremony and shows the special connection between you and your partner. Start this process 4-6 weeks before your wedding day, giving yourself time to write, practice, and refine your words.
Begin by thinking about your story together – the special times, the hard times, and what you want for your future. Look at old letters, meaningful poems, or shared memories to spark ideas. Consider the traits you value in your partner and the specific promises you want to make.
Writing Your Vows
A good structure includes:
- A warm opening that fits your relationship
- Words about what you love about your partner
- Your promises for your shared life
- A sincere ending that shows your commitment
Stay true to your own voice when writing. Keep your vows brief but meaningful – a few heartfelt paragraphs often work best. Use specific examples and personal details rather than general statements.
Preparation and Practice
Share your draft with trusted friends or family for feedback. Practice saying your vows out loud to feel comfortable with the words and timing. You might want to read from notes or memorize them – choose what feels natural to you.
On your wedding day, focus on your partner as you speak. This moment is about sharing your genuine feelings and starting your married life together.
Tips for Success
- Write in your natural speaking style
- Include specific memories or qualities you admire
- Make clear, realistic promises
- Keep your vows around 2-3 minutes long
- Practice enough to feel confident but still genuine
This special moment will create lasting memories for both you and your partner as you begin your married life together.
Wedding Vows for Her Examples
Here are some sample wedding vows for the bride:
“My dearest [Groom’s Name], on this day, in front of our loved ones, I choose you to be my partner. I promise to love you faithfully through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy, and to try to be the best partner I can. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy, and I will try to be the best partner I can. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
“[Groom’s Name], today I choose you to be my partner. I promise to walk by your side, to love you and have faith in your love for me; to be honest with you always, and to respect you; to laugh with you in good times, and struggle with you in bad; and to comfort you and join with you in grief, both now and forevermore, from this day forward.”
“[Groom’s Name], I choose you to be my husband. To live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side and sleep in your arms; to be joyful in good times, and struggle with you in bad; and to comfort and join you in whatever comes. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy, and I will try to be the best partner I can. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
“On this day, [Groom’s Name], I choose you to be my partner. I accept you as you are, and I offer myself in return. I will care for you and have compassion for you; I will respect, trust, and honor you; I will laugh with you in good times and struggle with you in bad; and I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
Wedding Vows for Him Examples
Here are some sample wedding vows for the groom:
“[Bride’s Name], from this day forward, I choose you to be my partner. To live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side and sleep in your arms; to be joyful in good times, and struggle with you in bad; and to comfort you and join you in grief, both now and forevermore. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy, and I will try to be the best partner I can. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
“[Bride’s Name], I choose you to be my wife, to live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side and sleep in your arms; to be joyful in good times, and struggle with you in bad; and to comfort you and join you in grief, both now and forevermore. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy. I promise to love you faithfully through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy, and to try to be the best partner I can. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
“[Bride’s Name], you are my best friend, my partner, and my one true love. I choose you to be my wife, to live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side and sleep in your arms; to be joyful in good times, and struggle with you in bad; and to comfort you and join you in grief, both now and forevermore. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy, and I will try to be the best partner I can. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
“[Bride’s Name], today I choose you to be my partner. I promise to love you faithfully through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy, and to try to be the best partner I can. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
Romantic Wedding Vows Examples
Here are some examples of romantic and heartfelt wedding vows:
“My darling [Partner’s Name], today I choose you to be my partner. I am excited to spend the rest of my life by your side, to laugh with you in good times and to struggle with you in bad. I promise to love you faithfully through the best and worst, through the difficult and easy, and to try to be the best partner I can. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
“[Partner’s Name], you are the love of my life, my best friend, and the one with whom I want to spend the rest of my days. I promise to love you deeply, to laugh with you through good times and bad, and to be your partner in crime for all of our adventures. I will hold your hand and support you through both challenge and triumph, always striving to be the person you deserve. I will love you and cherish you, today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life.”
“My [Partner’s Name], on this day, I choose you to be my partner. I am overjoyed to spend the rest of my life with you, to walk by your side and to be a source of comfort, strength and love. I promise to love you faithfully, to celebrate your successes and to mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will strive to be patient, understanding and open-hearted, to support you in all that you do, and to create a life with you that is filled with laughter, trust and adventure. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that may be ahead of us.”
“[Partner’s Name], you are the light of my life, the beat of my heart, and the missing piece of my soul. Today, I choose you to be my partner, my lover, and my very best friend. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support your dreams, and to be your safe haven in a stormy world. I will cherish our bond, honor our partnership, and do my best to make you feel loved, respected, and appreciated every single day, for the rest of our lives.”
Funny Wedding Vows Examples
Here are some examples of funny and lighthearted wedding vows:
“[Partner’s Name], from this day forward, I choose you to be my partner. To live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side and sit on the couch with you binge-watching Netflix; to be joyful in good times, like when we finally agree on where to go for dinner, and struggling with you in bad times, like when we try to put together IKEA furniture. I promise to love you and have faith in your love for me, even when we’re hangry and you forget to put the toilet seat down. I will celebrate your mad skills at karaoke and mourn your fails at attempting to do the laundry. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all the many, many inside jokes we have yet to create.”
“[Partner’s Name], on this day, in front of our family and friends, I choose you to be my partner in crime. I promise to be your partner in life’s greatest adventures, from our travels around the world to our quest to find the best tacos in the city. I vow to laugh with you through the good times and the bad – whether we’re successfully planning the perfect date night or trying, and failing, to put together IKEA furniture. I will love you through your Dad jokes and your endless movie quotes, and I promise to always be your hype person, no matter how well, or how terribly, you perform at karaoke. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through thick and thin, and please always remember to put the toilet seat down.”
“[Partner’s Name], on this day, I choose you to be my partner in life and my partner in crime. I promise to love you through our Netflix binges and our epic movie quote battles, to have your back when we’re trying to put together IKEA furniture, and to be your hype person whether you’re rocking karaoke or completely failing at it. I vow to celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and to be there for you when things get tough, even if it’s just because you forgot to put the milk back in the fridge. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through the best of times and the most ridiculous of times, for all the years to come.”
“[Partner’s Name], on this day, I choose you to be my lifelong partner in love and laughter. I promise to be your partner in adventure, from our travels around the world to our quest to find the best tacos in the city. I vow to laugh with you through the good times and the bad – whether we’re successfully planning the perfect date night or trying, and utterly failing, to put together IKEA furniture. I will love you through your Dad jokes and your endless movie quotes, and I promise to always be your hype person, no matter how well, or how terribly, you perform at karaoke. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through thick and thin, and please always remember to put the toilet seat down.”
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FAQs
What is the formula for writing vows?
A simple formula:
Opening: Address your partner and express your love.
Middle: Share a story or what you love about them.
Promises: Make 3-5 specific commitments.
Closing: End with a heartfelt statement.
What are the three promises of marriage?
While promises can vary, the core three often include:
Love: To love and cherish your partner unconditionally.
Support: To stand by them in good times and bad.
Commitment: To remain faithful and devoted for life.
How do I format my wedding vows?
Format your vows in a way that feels natural:
Start with a greeting (“My dearest [Name]”).
Share a personal story or sentiment.
List your promises.
End with a closing statement (“I love you forever”).
Should We Memorize Our Vows or Read Them?
It’s entirely up to you:
Memorizing: Adds a personal touch but can be nerve-wracking.
Reading: Ensures you don’t forget anything and keeps you calm.
Many couples choose to read their vows to avoid pressure.
Can We Use Quotes or Poems in Our Vows?
Yes! Quotes or poems can add depth and meaning to your vows. Just make sure they resonate with your relationship and complement your personal words.
What are the basic “I do” wedding vows?
Traditional “I do” vows often include phrases like:
“I, [Name], take you, [Partner’s Name], to be my lawfully wedded [husband/wife/spouse].”
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
