Christian Wedding Vows, Civil Wedding Vows, Renewal Vows,
and Commitment Vows

Christian Ceremony :: Civil Ceremony I :: Civil Ceremony II
Renewal Vows :: Committment Vows

    We are assembled here in the presence of God and these witnesses to celebrate the joining of this man and this woman in the unity of marriage. There are no obligations on earth more sweet or tender than those you are about to assume. There are now vows more solemn than those you are about to make. There is no human institution more sacred than that of the home you are about to form. True marriage is the holiest of all earthly relationships. It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully, and with full understanding of its sacred nature. Marriage to be complete must first be spiritual. 

          Who brings this woman to this man?

(The father, children, relative may give the bride away. He/they answer “I do” or “I do on behalf of her family and friends.” This person then steps back and the groom takes the bride’s hand.)

          Today your separate lives with their individual memories, desires, and hopes merge into one. Will you bring to this new life each for the sake of the other, the best that you have in you, seeking to express your life together, each at the highest level of your own understanding?

Both answer “I will.”

          Will you please face each other and join hands? 

Husband, will you take this woman, whose hands you hold, choosing her alone to be your wedded wife? Will you live with her in the state of true matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her at all times, and be faithful to her?

Husband answers “I will.”

Wife, will you take this man, whose hands you hold, choosing him alone to be your wedded husband? Will you live with him in the state of true matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him at all times, and be faithful to him?

Wife answers “I will.”

          A marriage ceremony represents one of life’s greatest commitments. But it is also a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians. I believe it is a true model of love and one I hope you pursue in your marriage.

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them.

Will you repeat after me.

I, Husband, take you, Wife, to be my wife, to love and cherish from this day forward.

I, Wife, take you Husband, to be my husband, to love and cherish from this day forward.

The rings, please. 

Bless O God, these rings, and the one who gives it and the one who receives it may they ever abide in thy peace, living together in unity, in love, and in happiness, and with good purpose do thy will. Amen.

Please repeat after me.

With this ring, I wed you, Wife. Let this ring be a symbol of our love.

With this ring, I wed you, Husband. Let this ring be a symbol of our love.

These rings are a symbol of the unbroken unity of truth now to be symbolized in your married life.

Let us all join in prayer. Heavenly Father, may this man and this woman, who have entered into this spiritual union, always be conscious of Thy presence. May they be one with each other as they are even now with God. May they rejoice in perfect love and peace together, and live always in accord with the true law of their Divine Being. Amen.

Inasmuch as Husband and Wife have consented together in the union of matrimony and you have pledged your faith each to the other in the presence of God and these witnesses, now by the authority vested in me as a minister, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

 

Civil Ceremony I and Civil Ceremony II

CIVIL WEDDING CEREMONY I

This is one of those occasions that have the distinction of being both festive and solemn at the same time. 

This is a ceremony and a festival in which we all have a part. This man, (Husband), and this woman, (Wife), are here today to publicly give their marriage vows to each other. We are here both as witnesses to these vows and to celebrate with Husband and Wife their partnership. 

In the final accounting, love and the search for love, are what life is all about. Love is many things, Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoinces with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres. The fulfillment of love in marriage and union it symbolizes is one of life's highest experiences.

It used to be said that in marriage man and woman are one. Husband and Wife understand and believe that this sharing of their lives is not at the expense of either person's individuality; but rather that each of these partners is all the stronger for having two people -- two wills -- two bodies -- to rely on and trust. 

We give of ourselves in love; but we do not give our individuality away, because it is the individuality and uniqueness of character that the other person needs, and that drew these people together. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is overpowered nor absorbed by the other. The strength of the marriage comes not from a melting of two into one; but rather from a forging of two unique and valuable individuals inseparably to each other. 

We assembled will witness the vows these people make; but the true union between these people is that private union in their hearts. Into this estate these two people come to give their vows in mutual love, concern, trust and respect. 

Please hold hands. Husband and Wife, the vows that you make will be witnessed here today. Please repeat after me: I take you Wife to be my wife, lover and best friend and these things I promise to you: I will be faithful to you and honest with you/ I will respect, trust, help and care for you/ I will share my life with you/ I will share with you everything that is to come throughout the rest of our lives together. 

I take you Husband to be my husband, lover and best friend and these things I promise to you: I will be faithful to you and honest with you/ I will respect, trust, help and care for you/ I will share my life with you/ I will share with you everything that is to come throughout the rest of our lives together. 

Husband, place this ring on wife's finger and repeat after me: This ring is a sign of my love and commitment to you. 

Wife, place this ring on husband's finger and repeat after me: This ring is a sign of my love and commitment to you. 

Inasmuch as Husband and Wife have this day consented together in the Estate of Matrimony, and have given and pledged their faith to each other in the presence of this company, by the virtue of the authority vested in me under the laws of the State of Florida, I pronounce you husband and wife.

In marriage you make the most beautiful commitment in life; to love each other forever. 

You will share work and play, happiness and sadness, goals and values, family and friends, excitement and boredom. 

You will build a life, which is stronger because you are nowt part of a team, a team that will go through life holding hands, always rooting for each other.

In marriage you make the most beautiful commitment in life; two people in love joining together to become one forever.

We are here today to celebrate the marriage of (Wife) and (Husband). The solemn vows about to be exchanged should not be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, and with love and commitment in your hearts. The vows you take today will join your lives and by the rings you will wear, you will be known to all as Husband and Wife.

(Husband) will you take (wife) to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in the estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep you only unto her for as long as you both shall live? (Husband answers, "I will.")

(Wife) will you take (husband) to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in the estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep you only unto him for as long, as you both shall live? (Wife answers, "I will.")

(Husband and Wife), as you pledge your vows to each other, please face each other and repeat after me: I, (Husband), take thee (Wife) to be my wedded wife, 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, from now until forever.

I, (Wife), take thee (Husband) to be my wedded 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, from now until forever.

The perfect circle of a ring symbolizes eternity and the gold is a symbol of all that is pure. Our prayer for (Husband and Wife) is that their love for each other will be as eternal and pure as these rings.

(Husband) do you give his ring to (Wife) as a token of your love for her? Then place this ring on her finger and repeat after me: (Wife) I give you this ring as a symbol of my vows, and will all that I have and with all that I am, I honor you.

(Wife) do you give this ring to (Husband) as a token of your love for him? Then place this ring on his finger and repeat after me: (Husband) I give you this ring as a symbol of my vows, and will all that I have and with all that I am, I honor you.

From this day forward, I will be here for you-I will sing your joys, cry your sorrows, and stand by your side through whatever life may bring your way. From this day forward, through good times and bad, I will live with you, grow and change with you, I will do all I can to keep our marriage strong and happy and alive with possibilities. From this day forward, I will cherish you-I will look with joy down the path of our tomorrows and find peace and happiness knowing we will walk in it together, side by side, hand in hand, and heart to heart.

Inasmuch as (Wife) and (Husband) have consented today in wedlock and have given and pledged their faith each to the other in the presence of these witnesses, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Florida, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.

          We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall re-unite Husband and Wife in marriage.

          Husband and Wife, life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to use by our family and by our friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of the greatest challenges of life and is the shared goal of married life.

          Husband, do you take Wife to be your Wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and being faithful to her?

         Husband says “I do.”

         Wife, do you take Husband to be your Husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and being faithful to him?

         Wife says “I do.”

          Rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual guide and the unbroken circle of love, signifying to all the union of this man and woman in marriage.

          Please repeat after me.

         I, Husband, take you Wife, to be my Wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in heath, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my continued love to you.

          I, Wife, take you Husband, to be my Husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in heath, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my continued love to you.

          Husband and Wife, as this day you renew your marriage vows which united you as husband and wife __years ago, and as to this day affirm your love for one another, I ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, and live each day that you may share it together, as you shall remain in each other’s heart, comfort and refuge, your marriage is strengthened by your love and respect for each other.

A marriage ceremony represents one of life’s greatest commitments. But it is also a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians. I believe it is a true model of love and one I hope you pursue in your marriage.

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best of them, and will always stand your ground in defending them.

Our hearts are filled with gladness as Husband and Wife renew their wedding vows today and reaffirm their love for one another. Remember to temper your hearts with kindness and always live as each other’s sweetheart, helpmate, friend, and guide, so that together you will meet the cares and problems of life together hand in hand and heart to heart.

Husband and Wife, inasmuch as the two of you have reaffirmed your wedding vows before these witnesses, have promised your love for each other, and joined your hands in the giving of rings, I now declare you to be Husband and Wife.

Congratulations.

          We are here today because Partner and Partner have asked us to witness their love, to acknowledge their love, and to respect their love.

          Partner and Partner, it is this day you take a giant step of courage.  We here as witnesses and to applaud your love, courage, and growth. With a commitment this strong, the force of that commitment, of that love, of that courage, reaches out around you, so that our lives are changed. We share a part of your small pond; the ripple of the love from this celebration extends and grows in each of us.

          Partner and Partner, you are now taking into your care and keeping the one in the entire world whom you love most. You are adding to your life the companionship and blessing of a deep trust. You are to each other strength, responsibility, and love.

          In human history, we have not discovered a better way of life than sharing love in a lasting and responsible way. You have found the one to share your love, companionship, hopes, joys, and dreams of life. 

          Real love, Partner and Partner, is something beyond the warmth and romance of being deeply in love. It is caring as much about the welfare of your partner as about your own. Real love is not total absorption into each other; but rather the sharing of two hearts, two minds, and two bodies. Love makes burdens lighter because you have someone with whom to share them. Love makes you stronger in many ways and able to face life in ways you dare not face alone.

          Please repeat after me.

         I, offer myself to you, Partner, as companion, lover, and friend, and I promise to love you forever.

          I, offer myself to you, Partner, as companion, lover, and friend, and I promise to love you forever.

          Partner, do you give this ring as a token of your love and commitment to Partner? I do.

Then, place this ring on Partner’s finger and repeat after me: I give this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.

         Partner, do you give this ring as a token of your love and commitment to Partner? I do.

Then, place this ring on Partner’s finger and repeat after me: I give this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.

          Partner and Partner, may your lives together be joyful and content. May your love be as bright as the stars and serve as a beacon for us, your friends. May your love be as warm as the sun, accepting as the ocean, and enduring as the mountains.

          It gives me great pleasure to unite you both inseparably to each other.

Congratulations!