Brides Often Ask
What are wedding vows?
They are a lifetime pledge to commit your heart and your life fully to your partner. You can use traditional vows or compose your own and speak from the heart.
Who says vows first – man or woman?
Traditionally, the groom will say his vows first. But the bride can go first or both can say the vows in unison. The order is not as important as the spoken vow itself. However, it is important to decide whom will go first before the ceremony, to avoid any awkwardness.
How Long Should Wedding Vows Be?
That is a very good question. Of course, you want to be able to express your love for your partner and you could probably go on for hours. However, it is wise to keep your vows to around two minutes max.
The wedding ceremony itself will probably run around thirty minutes including the blessing, the ring ceremony, etc. So both you and your partner should take about 2 minutes each for your vows to keep with the pace of the ceremony. Remember, you will have the rest of your lives together to express your love.
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Wedding Vows Outline
When composing your wedding vows, the first thing to remember is that you should speak from the heart. However, trying to put this on paper might be challenging for some. Following is a guide for wedding vow structure to you overcome your fears and doubts. Keep in mind that this is a guide and you can alter it to make it more personal.
- Take a look back at your relationship
You can start with words that capture the beautiful memories of your relationship.
Example: “I know this is true because the moment you walked up to me on the beach that day, you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen!”
- Share sentimental qualities
Express the good qualities you always see in your partner.
Example: “There are too many qualities to mention. You are extremely thoughtful,with you, every day is special. You keep me on my toes with your happy-go-lucky attitude.”
- “I love you because…”
Express the reasons why you love your partner.
Example: “I love you because you make me laugh even when I’m sad. You don’t dare leave me even when I’m mad.”
- Make a few promises
In conclusion, recite your promises to your partner.
Example: “I, Brian, take you, Caitlin, to be my wife. “To love forever, as long as I have breath. To be yours as long as we shall live.”
Tips For Writing Wedding Vows
When writing your own wedding vows, you must structure them in a way that flows seamlessly. See the ultimate wedding vow tips below.
- Begin by stating what your partner means to you
Name what they represent in your life. They could be a lover, friend, confidant, and all. - State what it is you love most about them
Why did you decide to spend forever with your partner? What’s that trait(s) that turns you on and assures you that you’ve chosen right? - Tell a story
Bring this love to life by illustrating it in a story. A memorable personal and intimate story you can’t forget. - Make promises and personalize them
Promise your spouse that you’ll always be with them. Be specific about the things you hope to do with your spouse. Learn the art of personalizing wedding vows by throwing in some humor or romance. - Reassure and show eagerness to the future
Promise your partner once again that you’ll be there no matter what life brings. Remind them that you are ready to walk into the future with them. Tell them that you have a lot of wins to experience together. - Wrap up with one last promise about never parting till death.
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How To Start Wedding Vows
If you are still unsure how to start wedding vows, remember that you are speaking to the person with whom you are spending the rest of your life. Sure, your friends and family will hear you exchange your vows. But they are really only for you and your fiancé. Start off by telling them how much they mean to you. If you are both enjoy humor, you can start off with a joke, or include a funny story of you as a couple. Keep it personal and to the point.
Example:
Sara, we have known each other since we were toddlers. Our parents used to joke about us getting married, but we both thought they were crazy. Then one day, in our teens, I fell in love with you. And I knew at that moment that they were right.
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Words Ending In Vow
Still, unsure of what you want to say in your vows to make them stand out? You could always include words ending in a vow. “I make this my solemn vow” “Today I pledge my love to you in this sacred vow.” This will help give you some inspiration to use as a starting point.
Example:
Connor, I today I pledge my love eternal. I will love you every second of every day. My every thought shall be of you and our life together. I will love you until the day I die. Let this be my solemn vow!
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Ways To Personalize Wedding Vows
Personalizing wedding vows is perhaps one of the best ways to make your vows memorable. You don’t just want to ramble on endlessly or sound as though you are reciting a rehearsed speech. Again, the key to writing your own wedding vows is to speak from your heart.
Following are some ways you can personalize your wedding vows. Don’t be afraid to be happy if you are a hopeless romantic. But we have also included some examples of non-sappy wedding vows quotes for him.
- Use humor: Start off with a funny story from your relationship, maybe about how you met. Again, you don’t want to embarrass your partner so if you are not sure whether they want you to share a certain story, you should ask them first.
- Use song lyrics: Do the two of you have a certain song that symbolizes your relationship? You can quote a line or two from that song in your vows and explain the significance of the lyrics.
- Use movie (or television) quotes: Are you both a fan of romantic movies? Do you have a favorite movie quote that sums up your relationship or is meaningful to you as a couple? Incorporate this into your vows. If you can’t think of a movie, you can quote a line from your favorite television show as a couple.
- Use literature: Are either of you poetry buffs? Quote a few lines from your favorite love poem. Or recite a passage from your favorite novel. Just make sure that is the line that your partner will understand.
If you are still stuck, you can search for vow quotes online, or paraphrase one of the examples we have provided in this article for inspiration.
I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived: I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.
(Noah, The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks)
Wedding Vows Template
Look at this wedding vows template-free as a simple guideline, not as rules set in stone.
1. What marriage means to you
Think about what marriage means to you, the reason you have chosen to be with this person, and put it in words. You can include your favorite line from a song, poem, or book.
2. Reference your relationship
Look back on your relationship and the important moments and milestones that you had together. Perhaps the first time you met, your first kiss or first fight. Or even the moment you knew that your partner was the one. Incorporate this in your vows.
3. Be sentimental
This is where you really get in touch with your feelings. Talk about the great qualities of your partner that bring out the best in you, and how this matches with your qualities. Compliment your partner like never before.
4. “I Love You Because…”
This is a great phrase to start this part of your vows with. Here you can indicate all of the reasons you love your partner. All the reasons you have chosen to spend forever with them.
5. Make the promises
Whether it’s serious, funny, or sentimental. You know the promises you are making to your partner. End your vows by reciting these promises and promising that they will be forever.
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Wedding Vows Examples
Learn how to write your wedding vows by taking inspiration from the diverse categories below. They range from funny to traditional, long-term relationships, vows for him and for her. They’re aimed at giving you a chance to tell your story in the most beautiful way possible. You’ll sum up all you feel in words using any of these vows styles and examples.
Traditional Wedding Vow Template
The timeless nature of traditional wedding vows makes them sturdy templates across races, cultures, and beliefs. See some examples below.
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I, (name), take you, (name), 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
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In the presence of God and these 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.
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I vow you the first cut of my meat, the first sip of my wine, from this day it shall only your name I cry out in the night and into your eyes that I smile each morning; I shall be a shield for your back as you are for mine, not shall a grievous word be spoken about us, for our marriage is sacred between us and no stranger shall hear my grievance. Above and beyond this, I will cherish and honor you through this life and into the next.
Funny Surprise Wedding Vows
For funny surprise wedding vows, take your partner totally unawares. Give a hint of stories you’d likely share and see that it’s okay by them. But think outside the box and add some humor. Make them laugh while telling them they mean the world to you.
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I promise not to hog the remote control or force you to watch chick flicks unless I then agree to watch an action movie in exchange.
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Dear _____, I promise to put the toilet seat down, listen to gossip about the neighbors and not ignore you when the Lakers are playing.
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I promise not to hide when your parents come over. I vow not to steal the covers at night and not to turn the heat up too high
Wedding Vows For A Long-Term Relationship
Writing wedding vows for a long-term relationship can be quite overwhelming. For whatever reasons both of you waited to get married, your love sustained you. Your love brought you this far and it’s one to celebrate. Talks about the highs and lows, the wins, and how much you’re meant to be. Make promises to stay together forever. The same goes for anniversaries. How far you’ve come is a reason to celebrate.
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Today marks 50 years since we first said: “I do.” We built a home together, raised our children and watched them raise theirs. We laughed, we cried, and we survived many hurdles together as a couple. As I look into your eyes, I still see the young man who was quite scared to ask me to the movies. I am so glad I said yes then and I will continue to say yes for the rest of our lives!
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We have been together through thick and thin. We started dating in high school, stayed together while we both attended separate colleges, and then spend a year pursuing our careers. Now, we are finally joining our lives together to live out everything we have planned for years. It was worth the wait because we are going to have the perfect marriage and spend the rest of our days together as husband and wife.
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Wedding Vows For Him
Whether you’re learning how to make wedding vows or you’re getting inspired by a source, personalize it. Pick out something that relays your message while representing the bare essence of your love. Our wedding vows examples are the perfect template. Use as s or modify to suit.
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I vow to make my life forever yours and build my dreams around you.
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Dear _____, I promise to be the man that I see now in your eyes, today, tomorrow, and for always.
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I vow to always protect you from harm, to stand with you against your troubles, and look to you when I need protection
Wedding Vows For Her
It’s your wedding and you want to serenade your partner with a vow that’s unforgettable. Take inspiration from books, literature, movies, or just cook up yours. It’s also fine to get sentimental without sounding cheesy. Bottom line is to make it come straight from the heart. The examples below will inspire you.
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I promise to laugh with you and to laugh at myself.
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You are the love of my life and I am proud to marry you. I promise to support your dreams and to be there for you for all eternity.
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I vow to be a loving and devoted wife, without judgment, without scorn, but always with an open heart and mind
We hope that you have found some inspiration and guidance with our advice on how to write wedding vows. Remember, these are your wedding vows so don’t let anyone else influence you. Speak from the heart and you will be fine!
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