Getting married for the second time is not only an act of love, it is also an act of optimism and faith. A “wedding mach 2” is also a chance to do it “your way” rather than focusing on the traditional stuff that took precedence the first time around. Writing your own vows is therefore highly recommended when marrying for the second time, even if you want to incorporate religious ideas/concepts. With that in mind, let’s check out a few of the many vow options out there, and hopefully some will inspire you to take pen to paper!
Contemporary Religious Vows
If you want to incorporate faith into your vows, the following ideas may be of help:
“Before God our father, I [Name] bind myself to you [Name] in the covenant of marriage. I promise my faithful love to you and to share my life with you until death parts us. May this community of faith bear witness to our undying love.”
“In the sight of God’s love and the presence of our friends and family, I offer you my friendship and trust. I promise to remain faithful and understanding as long as we both shall live.”
“I love you, [Name.] Today is incredibly special, as I wished and prayed for you for so long. Our future looks as bright as the promises of the Holy Father, and I vow to take care of you in addition to honoring and protecting you. My life is yours, my love.”
Formal Religious Vows
Rather go the formal route? These options can get you started:
Groom: “I, [Name], take you [Name], to be my lawfully wedded wife. As is Christ to his body, the church, I am to you, and will forever be a loving and faithful husband. I promise you my love, care and devotion, and vow to lead our lives in homage to Christ Jesus. No matter what our future holds, I pledge my life to you as your devoted husband.”
Bride: “I love you, [Name], and I feel in my heart that God has ordained our union. I prayed for [x] years that God would reveal His choice to me, and I know that tonight we fulfill His will. No matter what life brings us, I promise to be faithful to you and love you each and every day.”
Book of Common Prayer: “I, [Name], take thee, [Name], to be my lawfully wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish, ’til death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; thereto I pledge thee my troth.”
Denominational Wedding Vows
A few ideas for denomination-specific vows:
Baptist: “I, [Name], take thee, [Name] to be my husband/wife, and before God and these witnesses I promise to be a faithful and true husband/wife.”
Episcopal: “I, [Name], take thee, [Name], to be my wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s ordinance; thereto I pledge thee my troth.”
Lutheran: “[Name], our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I enter into this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of our love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully. Let us commit until death do us part.”
Methodist: “I [Name], take thee, [Name], to be my husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and thereto I pledge thee my faith.”
Presbyterian: “[Name], this ring I give you, in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love.”
Quaker: “In the presence of God and these our Friends, I [Name], take thee to be my husband/wife, promising with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband/wife as long as we both shall live.”
Roman Catholic: “I [Name], take you, [Name] for my husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
Non-Christian Vows
Perhaps one or both of you is Jewish? Buddhist? You get the idea….
Jewish: “With this ring be thou consecrated unto me as my husband/wife, according to the law of God, and the faith of Israel.”
Buddhist: “[Name], in the future, happy occasions will come as surely as the morning. Difficult times will come as surely as the night. When things go joyously, meditate according to the Buddhist tradition. When things go badly, meditate. Meditation in the manner of the Compassionate Buddha will guide your life. To say the words, “love and compassion” is easy. But to accept that love and compassion are built upon patience and perseverance is not easy.”
Muslim: “I, [Name], take you, [Name], to be my husband/wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
Non-Religious Vows
If you’d rather go the secular route, plenty of options abound! The following vows work for both the bride and the groom:
“[Name], today we take our vows. I take them happily and without reservation, knowing our lives will be forever changed. I promise to always honor you, protect you, and do everything I can to make you happy. Take my hand as we embark on our new life together.”
“It’s because of you, [Name], that I laugh, smile and dare to dream again. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, being there for you every day in every way. I vow to be true and faithful until my last breath.”
“I stand here today to join my life to yours before these people. I vow to be faithful, respectful, and to grow old with you. Time may pass, good and bad will happen, but no matter what, I pledge that this love is my only love. You are my home.”
“Since you found me, I have found a new life. Today I make the commitment to share that life with you, and I do so willingly knowing our love is eternal. [Name], on this special day, I pledge to remain by your side, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, through the good times and the bad. I vow to love you without reservation, comfort you, encourage you, laugh with you and cry with you, to grow with you in mind and spirit, to always be honest with you, and to cherish you as long as we are on this planet!”
“My love. I give you the brisk, vibrant autumn of my life. I vow to be a companion worthy of you, and pledge my compassion in good times and bad, my encouragement in sickness and health. I want our life together to include our large circle of wonderful friends and loving families. I cannot wait to create new memories with you. I love you so much.”
Good luck with your vows, and remember to write from the heart. If you do that, you’ll be golden!
Related articles
