Modern Marriage Vows

(see also: Updating "Obey" in marriage vows)

Many couples write their own vows, which is much encouraged.  In addition, you may wish to exchange formal vows, perhaps before the personal ones which you have written to each other. 

Here are some examples of vows which show the reciprocal nature of a marriage commitment; mutual trust, respect, support - and an understanding that this is partnership which will weather the difficult times as well as the joyous events in your lives. 

I [Name] take you,[Name],
to be no other than yourself
loving what I know of you
trusting what I do not yet know
with respect for your integrity
and faith in your love for me
through all our years
and in all that life may bring us.

 __________

Camerado, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money; 
I give you myself before preaching and law:
Will you give me yourself?
Will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?"

 __________

On this day, (month, day, year), I, (name), join myself to you (name), before this company.
May our days be long, and may they be seasoned with love, understanding and respect.
(and/or)

Where there has been cold,
you have brought warmth;
where my life was dark,
you have brought light.
(Name), I pledge before this assembled company
to be your (husband/wife) from this day forward.
Let us make of our two lives, one life,
and let us always honor and respect each other.   
                  ___________

I NAME, pledge to you, NAME
To share my life with you,
To never lose faith in you,
To accept you for who you are,
To grow with you.
I pledge to be with you
In body and in spirit,
In laughter and in tears.
And I will depend upon you
To do the same.
I dedicate to you alone
The best of myself.
With great honor
And boundless joy
I stand here now
To welcome and accept you
As my husband/wife
    ___________

Irish Traditional Vow

You cannot possess me for I belong to myself
But while we both wish it,
I give you that which is mine to give.

You cannot command me for I am a free person.
But I shall serve you in those ways you require
And the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.
I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night.
and the eyes into which I smile in the morning.
I pledge to you the first bite from my meat.
And the first drink from my cup.

I pledge to you my living, and my dying, equally in your care.
And tell no strangers our grievances.
This is my wedding vow to you
This is a marriage of equals.

_________________________________ 

.Copyright, Mary Beaty
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.