Each vow’s title highlights its promises

1 – best friend & true love

I, ____________, take you, ____________, to be my wife/husband, promising that I will always be your closest friend, your faithful partner, and your one true love. You are truly my best friend and I will love and respect you always.

2 – to have and to hold

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, promising you my faithfulness for as long as we both shall live.

3 – to have and to hold (traditional)

I, ________________, take you, _____________, to be my wedded wife/husband. I promise before God and these witnesses to be your faithful husband/wife; in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish; promising you my faithfulness for as long as we both shall live.

4 – by your side

On this special day, I give to you in the presence of these witnesses my promise to stay by your side, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, through the good times and the bad. 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.

5 – let me be what you need

Today, __________, I join my life to yours, as your best friend, your only lover, and your closest confidant. Let me be the shoulder you lean on, the rock on which you rest, the companion of your life. With you I will walk this path together from this day forward.

6 – sharing all things

As freely as God has given me life, I freely join my life with yours. Wherever you go, I will go; whatever you face, I will face. Your friends will be my friends. Your family will be my family. In sickness and in health, in happiness or sadness, come riches or poverty, I take you as my (husband/wife), and will give myself to no other.

7 – serve & encourage you

I take you, ______________ to be my wife/husband and I promise before God and all who are present here to be your loving companion and faithful husband/wife. I will serve you with tenderness and honour you with respect. I will encourage you to develop God’s gifts in you and share my life with you, for as long as we shall live. May this community of faith witness our love for each other for the rest of our lives.

8 – encounter life together

I come here today to join my life to yours. In the presence of our family and friends I now pledge myself to be true to you, to respect you, and to grow with you through the years. Time will pass, joy will abound, trials might come; but come what may, we will encounter them together. I vow here that this love will be my only love. I will make my home in your heart from this day forward.

9 – love, devotion & prayer

In the sight of God’s love, and in the presence of our families and friends, I (Name), take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife). I offer my friendship and trust in you, promising to be faithful and understanding. I will care for you with tenderness, and I will always seek to strengthen you, comfort you, encourage you, and hold you in prayer before our Heavenly Father. I pledge you my devotion and eternal love, from this day forward…as long as we both shall live.

10 – walk side by side

Today I marry you, my best friend, the one I will live with, dream with and love.
I take you to be my husband/wife. From this day forward I will cherish you, I will look with joy down the path of our tomorrow’s knowing we will walk it together side by side, hand in hand and heart to heart.

11 – dream, share, cherish

I, _____, ask you, _____, to be my husband/wife as my friend and my love. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. We will share all things, serving each other and always seek to fulfill our dreams together. I will cherish and respect you, comfort and encourage you, be open with you, and stay with you as long as we shall.

12 – God’s love & Christ’s leadership

I love you, (Name), and I know that this love is from God. Through all of the uncertainties, adventures, joys and trials of the present and future, I promise to be faithful to you and love you. I promise to guide, love, and protect you, as Christ does his Church, as long as we both shall live.