Traditional Wedding Vows

“I, (Williams), take you (Jennie), to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.” No matter what, wedding vows are the most important things in a marriage. Those little but very special words that get you married and the promises you make to each other during the ritual are the most memorable moments of your wedding that you will cherish throughout your life. Although many couples today write their own customized and funny wedding vows, traditional ways of writing wedding vows are still the most popular choice. If you are planning to get married soon and are scouting for traditional wedding vows, then browse through the sections below for those traditional vows that have been recited by couples over the ages.

Traditional Marriage Vows

• I, [name], choose you [name] to be my [husband/wife], to respect you in your successes and in your failures, to care for you in sickness and in health, to nurture you, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life.
• I, (name of the bride/groom), take thee (name of the groom/bride), to my wedded (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.
• I, (name of the bride/groom), take you, (name of the groom/bride), to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the (man/woman) you will become, and falling in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.

• The ‘saptapadi’ or the seven steps in a Hindu wedding is of immense importance. Each step has its own meaning and significance.
• First vow, the couple pledge for the prosperity of the household.
• Second vow, the couple promises to grow their mental, spiritual, and physical power to protect the family.
• Third vow, the couple pledges to make a living so that their materialistic wealth increases manifold.
• Fourth vow, the couple promises to acquire happiness, harmony, and knowledge by mutual love, respect, and faith.
• In the fifth vow, the couple promises to expand their family by having children.
• The couple takes the sixth step and the sixth vow for self control of mind, body, and soul.
• The last and the final vow is to stay true and loyal to each other.

• There is no such exchange of vows in traditional Muslim wedding.Instead, the Mullah (priest) reads certain verses from the holy Quran.
• The bride and the groom have to give their consent for the marriage. Both the sides must give consent for the wedding to be legal.
• The groom gives the bride ‘Mehar’ which is a compulsory nuptial gift from the groom to the bride.
• The couple then signs the ‘Nikaahnama’ or the marriage contract (legal document).
• After the wedding, the couple is given permission to sit beside each other for the first time. Their heads are covered with a dupatta, and they read prayers following the Mullah. They are then asked to look at each other through a mirror.