The Ultimate Wedding Vow Guide - Vow Templates & Examples
Your wedding vows are the most meaningful part of your wedding day.
They trump everything else. They're the reason you're spending all that time, money and energy planning this wedding. They're the reason your guests have traveled from far and wide to share in that moment.
Too many people make the same mistake when planning their wedding: they get so absorbed in the reception – the colors, the table settings, the centerpieces, the lighting etc, that the wedding ceremony becomes somewhat of an afterthought.
Twenty years down the road, do you think you'll care what your cake looked like?
Whether it was a 3 course meal or buffet? Do you think you'll think back to your seating arrangement with tears in your eyes, or cherish the memory of your center pieces?
I'd say that's a pretty safe no.
But what you WILL cherish are the memories of standing up in front of your friends and love ones, committing to a lifetime with the person you've chosen to marry, and sharing those all important wedding vows with one another. That's why we've created this comprehensive guide to writing your own wedding vows.
We're HUGE advocates of personal wedding vows.
YES they can be scary, YES they can be tough to write, YES they might feel intimate and you might be a little nervous about sharing those feelings in public. But thats exactly why we think they're so important! Personal wedding vows are made so much more meaningful because they're from the heart. You're standing up in front of all the important people in your life and publicly declaring your love and commitment to your fiance for the rest of your life, in your own words, straight from the heart. Its an absolutely beautiful experience that you'll remember for a lifetime.
So are you ready to get started?! We're going to cover writing your own wedding vows from all angles, looking at the challenges, best approaches, and giving you some great wedding vow templates to get started and make your own.
There is a TON of information here and different approaches to wedding vows. But here's a secret: you can do whatever you want! They are your wedding vows, after all! They should reflect who you are, who your partner is, and the relationship that you share.
Here's a quick and easy guide to writing personal wedding vows:
Write two or three sentences about each of these elements. Combined together, they make beautiful vows:
Begin by talking about something you love about your partner, or something they have contributed to their lives. This is a great spot to include an anecdote or story that brings this moment to life. For example, in my own wedding, my husband talked about the day that we met, and how that was the day that his whole life changed.
Next, include some promises. Ones that you will look to guide your marriage. These can be serious: "I promise to stand by your side, and bring out the best in you, in all adventures." Or a little sillier: "I promise to laugh at your jokes (most of the time)." In fact, I think the best vows are a beautiful balance of seriousness and humor.
And now, let's end it with a look to the future. What do you look forward to sharing in your marriage? What are your goals, your aspirations, the qualities you want to embody as a couple?
Wedding Vow Method #2 – Mad Libs Wedding Vow Template
This awesome template from offbeatbride.com is a great way to get some rough vows in place. Once you've completed the template, read through and make your final adjustments. Definitely the easiest and most straight forward way to writing your own vows we've seen!
[YOUR FIANCE'S NAME], on our first date we [ACTIVITY WE PERFORMED ON OUR FIRST DATE] and I felt [ACCOMPANYING EMOTION].
Over the next few months, we [RELEVANT ACTIVITY(S) FROM OUR EARLY DATING LIFE] and I realized [WHATEVER YOU REALIZED AFTER DATING ME FOR A WHILE].
And then everything got awesome.
You are my [SERIOUS THING] and [SILLY THING], my number-one [VERY SILLY THING] and future [THING THAT IS EITHER SILLY OR SERIOUS], the [SAY MANY MORE THINGS HERE ABOUT WHAT I AM TO YOU, MOST OF WHICH CAN BE SILLY, BUT SOME OF WHICH CAN BE SERIOUS TOO].
And I vow, going into our lives together as man and wife, to be [WILD CARD — THROW WHATEVER YOU WANT IN HERE, OR LEAVE THIS LINE OUT ENTIRELY].
I vow to love you as you deserve to be loved: with admiration, adoration, passion, pragmatism and respect, and to treat you like the [WOMAN] that you are, even when you're [PERFORMING UNWOMANLY ACTIVITY].
I vow to support your interests and nourish your passions: from [YOUR FIANCE'S INTEREST OR PASSION #1], to [YOUR FIANCE'S INTEREST OR PASSION #2], to [YOUR FIANCE'S INTEREST OR PASSION #3], up to and including [TRULY OUTRAGEOUS INTEREST OR PASSION OF YOUR FIANCE] and [OTHER TRULY OUTRAGEOUS INTEREST OR PASSION OF YOUR FIANCE].
I vow to remain loyal to you physically, emotionally and spiritually.
I vow to take you seriously when you need to be taken seriously, and to laugh with you the rest of the time: because [REASON IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO SPEND MORE TIME BEING SILLY THAN SERIOUS].
I vow to take care of you when you are [STATE THAT WOULD REQUIRE CARETAKING #1], [STATE THAT WOULD REQUIRE CARETAKING #2], or [STATE THAT WOULD REQUIRE CARETAKING #3], or just when you forget to take care of yourself. [SAY SOMETHING KIND OF FUNNY ABOUT ME NEEDING YOU TO TAKE CARE OF ME HERE. TORN ACL JOKES ARE ACCEPTABLE.]
I vow to create a household and raise children with you as partners and as equals, and [SOMETHING KIND OF FUNNY ABOUT OUR FUTURE FAMILY].
I vow to [VERB] every [NOUN] you [VERB], [VERB] every [NOUN] you [VERB], and [VERB] every [NOUN] you [VERB] — even the ones that are [ADJECTIVE].
I vow to remain your [WHATEVER YOU WANT TO REMAIN TO ME], creating [GOOD NOUN] from [OPPOSITE, BAD NOUN], [VERB-ending-in-ING] [PLURAL NOUN] and [VERB-ending-in-ING] [PLURAL NOUN] that will make our lives [ADJECTIVE] or at least [OTHER ADJECTIVE].
And I vow to remain by your side as we grow old, to [OLD FOLKS ACTIVITY #1], [OLD FOLKS ACTIVITY #2], and [OLD FOLKS ACTIVITY #3].
[YOUR FIANCE], you are not only [ADJECTIVE OR NOUN DESCRIBING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT ME] but also [EVEN MORE AWESOME ADJECTIVE OR NOUN DESCRIBING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT ME], and that is not something to be taken lightly. I love you [OPTIONAL QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF LOVE], and I can't wait to [THING YOU CAN'T WAIT TO DO WITH ME, KEEP IT CLEAN BECAUSE YOU WILL BE SAYING THIS IN FRONT OF OUR FAMILIES].
Wedding Vow Templates
If you're still stuck trying to think of exactly what to say, here are some different wedding vow examples for you to draw some inspiration from. If you find one you really like, just take it and rework its meaning into your own words. If possible add some personal stories or connections in there too.
Romantic Wedding Vows
I (Name) affirm my love to you, (Name) as I invite you to share my life. You are the most beautiful, smart, and generous person I have ever known, and I promise always to respect you and love you. With kindness, unselfishness and trust, I will work by your side to create a wonderful life together. I take you (Name) to be my lawful (wife/husband), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live.
~~~~~~
(Name), from the moment I first saw you, I knew you were the one with whom I wanted to share my life. Your beauty, heart, and mind inspire me to be the best person I can be. I promise to love you for eternity, respecting you, honoring you, being faithful to you, and sharing my life with you. This is my solemn vow.
~~~~~~
(Name), today I take you for my (wife/husband). I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind, and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.
~~~~~~
(Name), today I take you to be my (husband/wife). Together we will create a home, becoming a part of one another. I vow to help create a life that we can cherish, inspiring your love for me and mine for you. I vow to be honest, caring and truthful, to love you as you are and not as I want you to be, and to grow old by your side as your love and best friend.
Funny Wedding vows
Groom: I, (Name), choose you, (Name), to be my wife. In front of our friends and family gathered here I promise to love and cherish you throughout the good times and bad times. I promise to try to remember to put put my dirty clothes in the hamper and to replace the toilet paper roll when it's empty. I promise to remember this day with love and roses. I will love you always.
Bride: I, (Name), choose you, (Name), to by my husband. In front of our friends and family, I promise to love and cherish you through every obstacle that may come into our path. I promise to learn how to check the oil in my car and how to roll up a garden hose. I will comfort you when your team loses and drink beer with you when they win. I will love you always.
Do you take [name] to be your husband,
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 until death or zombies do you part?
Me: I do
~~~~~~
HER: I promise to leave my apple cores and dirty butter knifes 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 your 'I love you' Bank every day
I vow to never use a recipe when fixing dinner
I vow to be the best parts of me that fit perfectly with the best parts of you
Although I will be imperfect, I pledge to be sensitive and respectful of your unique talents, abilities and quirks
I pledge to lend you strength for all of your dreams
Through our union we can accomplish more than I could alone
I believe in you
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 really laugh out loud
I vow to always try one bite of any meal you create
I vow to be the best parts of me that fit perfectly with the best parts of you
Although I will be imperfect, I pledge to be sensitive and respectful of your unique talents, abilities and quirks
I pledge to lend you strength for all of your dreams
Through our union we can accomplish more than I could alone
I believe in you
~~~~~~
Groom
I _____, before these nutter's assembled; take this strumpet, to be my wife, my friend, my lover,
my hot water bottle, my companion in life, my enabler in trouble and my poster of bail.
I will care for and protect you, nurture you and support you, and tell you when you are being a
numpty and adore everything about you.
I promise to love you tirelessly through perfect times and the merely fabulous times, regardless
of how often you get distracted by something shiny. I vow above all things to remain unchanged
in this, even if I should; Look a birdee!, be momentarily distracted by something shiny myself.
I hereby promise to use plenty of lube before trying to poke things in your bellybutton. No
promises about your ears though.
In the presence of our these nutte… err our beloved family and friends, who found us despite
the several venue changes, I offer you my solemn vow to be your godlike partner and lover; in
sickness and in health, despite your hippie frou frou crap. and duck squeezing and tree hugging
ways.
In good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow, I give you my heart, my love, my soul.
I love you, now and fore…Birdie!…ever
Bride
I ______, take you babyfaced one to be my husband, my friend, my lover, my tormentor, my
companion in life and my instigator in trouble.
I will love you unconditionally, support you in your goals, honor and respect you, without TOO
much sass (except on fridays).
I promise to love you faithfully through perfect times and the merely fabulous times, regardless
of how often you are ADD boi.
I hereby promise to resist the urge to beat your ass when you are difficult to get out of bed.
In the presence of our family and friends who insisted on bloody tagging along, I offer you my
solemn vow to be your Brat in sickness and in health, despite your nancy boi whining.
In good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow,I give you my trust, my love and my
soul.
Non -Traditional Wedding Vows
- Because of you, I laugh, I smile, I dare to dream again.
- I look forward with great joy to spending the rest of my
- life with you, caring for you, nurturing you, being there for you in all life
- has for us, and I vow to be true and faithful for as long
- as we both shall live.
- (Name), I take you to be my wife/husband from this time onward,
- to join with you and to share all that is to come, to be your faithful husband/wife,
- to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond;
- a commitment made in love, kept in faith, and eternally made new.
- I love you. You are my best friend.
- Today I give myself to you in marriage.
- I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you,
- and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle.
- I promise to love you in good times and in bad,
- when life seems easy and when it seems hard,
- when our love is simple, and when it is an effort.
- I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard
- These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.
Funny Wedding Vows!
Credit to Inspired Bride: http://www.inspiredbride.net/hilarious-wedding-vows/
GROOM VOWS
I Michael, take you, Jessica to be my lawfully wedded (wife) and chief tennis doubles partner, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, for when we win and the very, very rare occasion when we lose. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you, to return your serves and do my best not to foot fault. This I vow to you.
This must be why the term “love” is used in tennis!
I Chris, take you Debbie, to be my beloved wife. I promise to love you and be your faithful partner, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, when the Jets are winning, and when they are losing, in sickness, and in health, and in Jets-induced sickness. I will be true and loyal, and cherish you for all the days of our lives.
Hopefully he didn’t end his vows with the Jets chant..J-E-T-S!!!!
I, Matthew, take you, Emily, to be my awful wedded wife, to have and to scold, from this day fast forwarded for better but not worse, for richer, and poorer, forget sickness only in health, to loathe and to cherish, till suspicious death do we part.
Sounds like this new bride better sleep with one eye open!
I, Tyler, promise to love you, Sarah, even though you have an obsession with Britney Spears and other girly pop music. I promise I will learn to love all of your favorite pop stars like Britney Spears and Madonna, and will not criticize your choice in music from hear on out.
Do you think the incorrect use of “hear” rather than “here” was intended to be a pun related to music?
I, Phillip, promise to count every penny that comes into our grasp, and account for it using two-column ledgers and everything your accountant has done previously. I promise to love you, Amelia, unconditionally, in sickness and in health, till death do us part, even when you feel the need to accessorize with $400 shoes.
Nothing says true love quite like, “I will keep you out of an audit”.
I promise to love you even when you refuse to let me watch the football, to cherish you even when you blow one week’s salary on yet another handbag, and to understand you even when you are at mad at me because of something that happened in a dream.
Consider the quote, “You never know. Maybe when we’re dreaming…we’re more lucid than when we are awake.” – Katherine Angela Yeboah”
With this ring I thee wed…to have, to hold, to love, Through turkey season, deer and duck, and even squirrel and dove. I will be to you a rock of strength on which you can depend, And will bless you with my presence when the hunting seasons end. Turkey beards and antlers I will keep in their due place, And will only leave on hunting trips with a smile upon my face. I will vow no excess bragging when my catch is rather small, And my thoughts will always be of you though the woods may often call… And so it is with deep devotion I say those words, ” I DO” For no greater loves in my life you’ll find… …than my hunting, dear, and YOU!!!!
Just because the woods call, doesn’t mean you have to answer! Get voicemail; you’re a newlywed.
I, Mark, do take you, April, as my bride even though you and I know you ain’t right. I reckon as long as you bring me my Bud Light things will be fine. I promise I will try to eat your cooking as long as you don’t make me look at it first,
Mark may be wearing April’s cooking before too long.
I, Daniel, take you, Meaghan, to be my chosen class, my constant tank, my faithful protector and my guardian from this day forward. In the presence of GMs, our guildies and pugs, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful raid leader in poisons and through over-heals, in good times and in bad, and in boss kills as well as mob wipes. I promise to run back unconditionally, to give you flasks for your runs, to buff and heal you, to mark targets for you and taunt off when you pull, and to lay my hand of protection on you for as long as we both are alive.
A World of Warcraft reference in your wedding vows is a dead geek give-away.
I, Andrew, choose you, Hannah to be my partner in life. In front of our friends and family gathered here I promise to love and cherish you throughout good times and bad times. I promise to try to remember to put down the toilet seat and to replace the toilet roll when it finishes. I promise to remember this day with love and roses and to look after you if you get sick. I will love you always.
It would have been even more lovely if he had added something about not urinating on the floor.
I promise to love you as much as the Chicago Cubs and not hold your black and white striped dress against you. From this day forward, I will listen to all of your complaints about the mall if you say them during the off season, and promise to retire my baseball cap and face paint for public outings. I will love you in sickness and in health, from this day forward, until death parts us, or you become a White Sox fan.
Complaints about the mall? What woman complains about the mall? Just confused.
I promise to love and cherish you as much as I do our dog, Spot. From this day forward, I will lint roll the chairs whenever your parents visit. I will love you in sickness and in health, as long as you take care of the vet visits. I promise to cuddle with you as much as I do Spot and pick you up treats whenever he gets some, too.
A man can love his pet, but should never compare his new wife to one. Geez!
I promise to stay with you for the rest of our live and make sure that it turns out to be a very long life. I promise to love you with all of my heart but not more than my beers. I promise to honor you with all of my actions. I will treasure you like actual treasure, but don’t worry I won’t burry you.I promise to keep you warm, very warm when it’s cold outside. I will stand in the way of the sun when it gets hot. No matter how many books you get, or how many times we move, I promise to always carry them all every time.
Thanks for practicing your vows buddy. But hey, awkward is something guests will remember.
BRIDE VOWS
From this day forward, I promise to declaw my cat Fluffy so that you are not scratched. I will always make sure the litter box is clean and will keep Fluffy out of Spot’s house. I will love you for richer or poorer, so long as Fluffy gets the gourmet cat food.
Sounds like Spot never learned to share.
I promise to love you as much as I love my credit card and not hold your poor fashion sense against you. I will only show you my new clothes during commercial breaks and promise to keep you in the latest Cub fashions. From this day forward, I will make sure your lucky shirt is washed for every game day, and will have plenty of potato chips on hand. I will love you for richer or poorer, as long as our credit limit stays high.
Money, money, money. “Daddy, I want an oompa-loompa…I want as oompa-loompa NOW!”
I, Kayla, choose you, Jacob as my life partner and in front of friends and family I promise to love and cherish you through every obstacle that may be put in our path. I promise to learn how to change a tire and how to refill the screenwash when it runs out. I will comfort you when your team loses and drink beer with you when they win.I will remember this day and will love you always.13
Bride 101: Never, never, never let a man know that you can change a tire….or oil….or take out the trash.
“I, Jennifer, promise to love you, John, even though you have a love for ‘80s hair band music. I promise I will try to love Motley Crue as much as you do, and will even dress up in ‘80s clothing and see a live concert with you- and I won’t even complain the entire time. You’ll be my personal rock star and I will love every moment of it.”
I will pretend to love your mullet and MC Hammer pants even though you look like a flaming idiot.
I, Lauren, promise to love you, Phillip, forever and always from this day forward. I promise to learn how to cook your favorite meals and never criticize your mother. I promise to keep the house relatively clean, except on Lost nights. I will give you full reign of the remote control otherwise. For this is my promise to my one true love and partner for life.
You gotta wonder if she feels lost now that Lost ended? PUN INTENDED!
I, party of the first part, do thee wed, party of the second part, to have and to hold under this contract witnessed before ye parties of the third part. Heretowith, I proclaim myself without further contractual obligations until such time as this marriage contract becomes null and void in a court of law.
Two words – “nuptial agreement”.
I, April, take you, Mark, to be my husband even though you and I both know you ain’t got a lick of sense, but I reckon I’ll survive as long as you remember to bring me my Dr. Peppers. I promise to love you no matter how many of your friends get drunk, pass out in the yard, the truck, wherever, but I’ll try to make sure they get home…
Clearly his drunk friends don’t have a lick of sense either. And, neither does April.
I, Morgan, take you, Daniel to be my lawfully wedded husband and my time travel partner when Marty McFly shows up with in Delorean, which he will. For richer, for poorer, for better or worse, when you go crazy over your project car, and when you put up with my love for Gears Of War. When we argue over the most ridiculous things like what episode of Mythbusters to watch or when I can’t accept defeat during videogames games even though you so cheat, for when we stay awesome and the extremely rare occasion when we forget to be awesome, I promise to always love you because you’re the Dom to my Maria.
It’s a pretty good guess this household has multiple television sets.
I, Maria, promise to love you, Rocky, forever and always from this day forward. I promise I will learn how to cook especially your favorite meals. I will never criticize your mother and will make sure that you don’t hang out with your boozy friends. I will try to keep the house relatively clean, except for the times when we will be busy making love. I will give you full supremacy of the remote control but that too on weekends only. For this is my promise to my one true love and partner for life.
If you’re a guy, you’re thinking “Now, that’s a keeper!”
The “Best Ever Wedding Vow Award” goes to a teacher that allowed his 3rd grade students to write his vows. It just doesn’t get any more honest, or cuter, than this one!
Mr. Meiers promises to always sit by Ms. Racheal on roller coasters.
Ms. Racheal promises never to change because Mr. Meiers likes her just the way she is.
Mr. Meiers promises to give Ms. Racheal 8 billion kisses every day.
Mr. Meiers promises to be more like Johnny Depp.
The “Thank You For Your Service Military Wedding Vow Award” goes to this soldier and his wife. God bless the soldiers and their families!
Wilt thou Amy, take this soldier as thy wedded husband, knowing that he is depending upon you to be the perfect (well almost) Army wife, running the household as you see fit, and being nice to the commander’s wife? Furthermore, you understand that your life with your husband (little that you may have together) will not be normal, that you may have to explain to your children, not once, but twice, and more often in the same day, that mothers do have husbands, and that children do have daddy’s, and that the picture of the man on the refrigerator is not the milkman, but the same individual who tucks them in at 2200 hours, long after they are asleep. This soldier is their daddy, who loves them very, very much. Wilt thou love, respect and wait for him, preparing his favorite cookies and pictures of yourself and the kids, so he can remember what you look like? And last but not least, put on the outside of your door his ‘Welcome home’ sign when he’s due to arrive?
CELEBRITY VOWS
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston
For their wedding vows, they promised to split the difference on the thermostat.
John Caprulo
For his vows to wife Jamie Marie, John Caprulo wrote:
“Jamie Marie, from this day forward I promise to be worth it. Worth the time. Worth the trip. Worth the energy. Worth the embarrassment. Worth your love. I promise that you will always count. You will always come first, and of course, if you don’t for whatever reason, I will buy you some shoes.
From the moment you entered my world, you have filled it with life, color, and energy like never before…like kool-aid in a mud puddle…or a cupcake in a salad…or a rose garden in a junk yard. You are my rose, Jamie Marie, and I promise to devote my life to being your dirt.”
How to Make Your Own Vows Funny
If you’re a humorous person, you can make your own vows funny by adding in a few personal promises. Make sure it’s something most friends and family can identify with. For instance, if your groom is a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan, you can say that you’ll promise to love him in sickness and in health and even when the Steelers are losing.
Other than adding in a few personal promises, you can be self-deprecating (which is really funny) just like John Caprulo. Sometimes, being a little funny is extremely romantic!
Hope these wedding vow ideas and examples will help you to write your own personal vows! If you have any other ideas or templates, please share them with other brides to be in the comments below :)
Happy Planning
Ryan
