You Will Ever Need
You’re getting married. Congratulations! It’s an exciting time, but I bet you didn’t realize that you would be bombarded with an infinite stream of paperwork… fun…. NOT!
Maybe you have a better grasp on writing them but have now welcomed the most intense case of writer’s block of your life… good timing… Having a white sheet of paper staring at you is making you anxious as we speak.
To save you from the turmoil and despair of attempting to write your vows from scratch, I am providing you with the ultimate wedding vow cheat sheet. Whatever your style, vibe or individual preferences, these templates can get the ball rolling so those personalized vows for your wedding day flow out of you.
1. Traditional Vows
If you and your future spouse are keeping with the old school/classic vibe in your wedding as a whole, then traditional vows might be the best approach. They encompass all of those beautiful lines the media repeatedly uses and the lines we all know so well. You can never go wrong by sticking to the classics. After all, they became classics for a reason.
Traditional #1: I, ______________, take thee, ____________, to be my lawful 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, and thereto I pledge thee my faith [or] pledge myself to you.
Traditional #2: I, ____________, do take thee, _____________, to be my lawful wedded wife/husband. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity.
Simple yet effective, traditional vows are a great option especially if you find you are someone who tends to be at a loss for the right words.
2. Humorous Vows
Are you the goofball of your friend group? Did your sense of humor help you snag your fiancé in the first place? Then look no further! Humorous vows are the way to go! With a touch of that beautiful love that you and your partner share interspersed with jokes that will get your partner, and those loved ones you have invited to your big day, laughing through your ceremony. It is never a bad idea to steer into one of the qualities that make them fall in love with you in the first place. There is never a bad time to fit in a good laugh.
Humorous Vow Template: I (your name), promise to stand by your side for as long as you can put up with my weirdness. As long as we are married, I promise to (inside joke or activity you two do together) and make sure you always have your (enter item they love here.) I’ll do my best to not (bad habit here) that I know annoys you to no end and quite possibly, makes me wonder why you’re marrying me. You and everyone here will be the first to admit that I don’t know a lot, but what I do know is that I promise to love you (if they have a pet, mention them here) for as long as I live in this crazy, weird and wonderful world with you.
Sample: I, Eric, promise to stand by your side for as long as you can put up with my weirdness. As long as we are married, I promise to not judge you when you put ketchup on your scrambled eggs and make sure you always have your morning coffee with two sugars, not three… three is too many. I’ll do my best to not to smack when I chew and talk in my sleep which I know annoys you to no end and quite possibly, makes me wonder why you’re marrying me. You and everyone here will be the first to admit that I don’t know a lot, but what I do know is that I promise to love you and your tiny little dog, Buddy, for as long as I live in this crazy, weird and wonderful world with you.
3. Romantic vows
There is never a better time to show your adoring romantic side. Although friends and family may want you to put it away while you are in public, they can’t say a word now. It is your wedding and there will never be a better time to gush romantically in the highest capacity.
Romantic Vow Template: I knew I wanted to marry you the moment I saw you when we first met at (where did you meet?) I could not stop staring at (what are their best features?) I remember the first thing I said to my friends about you was, “I’m going to marry that boy/girl.” There is not a single thing about you that I do not love. The things you perceive as flaws, make me fall more deeply in love with you every single day. (Some cute “flaws” here.) You are and will always be perfect in my eyes. I do not know how I would be able to make it through the day without waking up next to you. I spent my life feeling incomplete and like I was missing an integral piece of my soul. That piece was found when I met you. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you.
Sample: I knew I wanted to marry you the moment I saw you when we first met at the party at John’s house. I could not stop staring at your big green eyes and gorgeous wide smile. I remember the first thing I said to my girlfriends about you after we met was, “I’m going to marry that guy.” There is not a single thing about you that I do not love. The things you perceive as flaws, make me fall more deeply in love with you every single day. Like that little scar above your eyebrow that you got when you were seven and fell off your bike or the way you sing off key during Karaoke night. You are and will always be perfect in my eyes. I do not know how I would be able to make it through the day without waking up next to you. I spent my life feeling incomplete and like I was missing an integral piece of my soul. That piece was found when I met you. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you.
See? Your vows do not have to be a scary thing and should not be the cause of so much anxiety. With this cheat sheet, I hope you could lessen some of the turmoil and despair you may have been feeling while attempting to write your vows from scratch. Remember, it is your wedding and it’s one of the most special days of your life. Remember, the person you are marrying already loves you with all of their heart.
So, take a breath… take a minute…
Now put pen to paper and let those vows flow!
Dr. Liliana Wolf,a Florida licensed psychotherapist, former professor of psychology and international relationship expert, has been preparing couples for marriage at her Coral Gables office for over 20 years. Owner and director of Florida Premarital Course, a boutique pre-marriage preparation practice, she is also an approved and certified provider of online premarital courses in all states extending incentives. Favored by couples about to be married, her courses have achieved a consistent 5-star rating, positioning her in the top 1% in sales of online courses by the Teachable platform worldwide. Ranked at the top 1% in the specialty of marriage and family nationwide by HealthGrades, Dr. Wolf is at the top of her game both as a clinician and professor.