Wedding Vow Writing Tips and Examples

A beautiful moment at Full Throttle Ranch as this lovely couple share their vows beneath the open sky.

Writing your vows can feel like an overwhelming task. I’m here to guide you with as much or as little help as you’d like.

Have fun planning your ceremony script and writing your vows. Try to speak authentically and from the heart, rather than worrying about creating overly eloquent or embellished wording.

Matching or Individual Vows?

Start by deciding whether you’d like matching vows that you write together, with both of you saying the same words, or whether you’d prefer separate vows.

When writing individual vows, decide whether you’re going to share them with each other beforehand or keep them as a surprise.

When you decide not to share them before the wedding ceremony, it’s a good idea to agree on a similar length and general vibe. However, that isn’t essential if you think the juxtaposition will add a moment of humour or reflect your relationship.

You can’t get this wrong. It’s all about personal preference, and anything you feel is important to say, or not say, is valid.

The questions I ask in your couple’s questionnaire may also serve as helpful writing prompts and help you find the right words.

The Asking

Here is an example of the asking:

(Name), do you promise to love (Name) freely, cherish them without reservation, and honour and protect them forevermore?

I do.

Or perhaps you’d prefer something with a bit of humour:

(Name), do you promise to love and honour, but not obey, because that’s just a bit controlling really, (Name) for the rest of your days together? Do you promise never to watch the next episode without them and always protect them from spiders for as long as you both shall live?

I do.

The Legal Vows

These are the legal vows that must be said during the ceremony:

“I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, (Name), take thee, (Name), to be my lawful wedded wife, husband or spouse.”

That’s it. Just that short sentence.

Your celebrant will make sure the wording used during your ceremony meets the legal requirements.

Many couples also like to add their own personal vows or perhaps write a short poem. This is the part where you get to say what you want to say on your big day.

It is one of those rare moments in life that is not only intimate and meaningful to you and your partner, but also gives you the opportunity to speak publicly about what your relationship means to you.

Your vows can be funny, romantic or whatever you would like the tone to be. They should reflect your relationship.

Personal Vow Examples

Here are a few lines and examples to help you along the way.

“You impelled me then, you impel me now and you always will. You strengthen my weaknesses and give me the courage to be the best I can be. You make me want to be a better person, not only to be worthy of your love, but so I can give you the world I so want to give you. I promise never to stop trying. To never stop catching my breath when I see you. To never stop falling in love with you every day.”

“I am so blessed to have you in my life. You are my best friend, my soulmate and the love of my life. I feel so lucky to have found you and to be standing here before you today. You make me happier than I ever knew was possible, and I promise always to cherish our love and fill our tomorrows with joy, happiness, compassion and loyalty.”

“I am so honoured to walk through life with you by my side. To laugh and cry with you, to support you, to build our beautiful home together and drink tea with hot toast and butter while our hair is stained with paint."

"I’m so honoured to watch our garden grow with you, our grey hairs spreading just like the growing shade of our little mango tree. To see our love multiply in the form of our children and to smile and say, ‘Look what we did!’ in awe of ourselves.

I’m so honoured to love you and to marry you today.”

Ring Exchange Vow Ideas

“Like this ring, my love for you is never-ending. Please accept it as a symbol of the vows we have made today.”

Or:

“With this ring, I give you my promise of everlasting love, always and forever.”

How Would You Like to Be Announced?

The last thing to decide when planning your script is how you would like to be announced during the pronouncement, which is the part just before your big kiss.

It can represent however you identify, such as:

Husband and wife

Wife and wife

Husband and husband

Partners in marriage

Spouses for life

You may also choose a title of your own, it's up to you!

I hope these wedding vows and tips help get the ink flowing. Remember to keep it genuine and real, and you can’t go wrong.

Wondering how your vows fit into the day? Read my guide to the structure of a wedding ceremony

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