Great Wedding Vows

TRADITIONAL WEDDING VOWS
Catholic-- I, ___, take you, ___, for my lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. OR I, ___, take you, ___, to be my husband/wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.

Civil-- _______, I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband/wife. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.

Episcopalian-- In the name of God, I, ___, take you, ___, to be my husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death -- this is my solemn vow.

Interfaith-- I, _____, take you, to be my wife/husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.

Muslim-- Bride-- I, ___, offer you myself in marriage in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. I pledge, in honesty and with sincerity, to be for you an obedient and faithful wife. Groom-- I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful husband.

Protestant-- I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded husband/wife, 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, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith/myself to you.

Quaker-- 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 wife/husband as long as we both shall live.

WRITING YOUR OWN VOWS

Many couples are now chosing to write their own vows rather than going with the old standbys. Here's some tips to help you get started:

-Sit down months before the ceremony and figure out what you want to say. You don't want to be stuck in a panic the night before the ceremony trying to figure out what you'll say.

-Talk to your officiant. See if he/she has any suggestions or any advice about what to say in order to incorperate your religion into the vows.

-Think of a special story about your fiance and figure out a way to work them into the vows.
-Quote from poems, songs, movies, etc.

-Think of key vow words you may want to include-- love, partnership, respect, cherish, honor, promise, and support are just a few examples.

-If you're in a jam call up one of your attendants or your parents for ideas.

-Be sure to keep them short and sweet.

-Use a cheat sheet at the ceremony. You may be so nervous you forget what you want to say.

Heather Greene may be contacted at information@weddingwonderful.com.
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Heather Greene is the head writer for Wedding Wonderful, a complete wedding planning website at www.weddingwonderful.com. You may contact her using the e-mail address listed above.