HOMELas Vegas Wedding Vows
Traditional Wedding Vows
Marriage is an honorable estate. It is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly, but discreetly and soberly. Into this relationship these two persons come now to be joined. I therefore charge both of you that if you know any reason why you should not be joined in marriage, you make it known at this time.
-------, will you take ------- to be your wedded wife, to live together in the bonds of marriage? Will you love her, comfort him, honor and keep her, so long as you both shall live?
The bridegroom answers: I will
--------, will you take -------- to be your wedded husband, to live together in the bonds of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, so long as you both shall live?
The bride answers: I will
The bridegroom repeats: I, --------, take thee --------- to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish.
The bride repeats: I, ---------, take thee ---------- to be my wedded husband, to have to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish.
The bridegroom repeats: With this ring I thee wed, and will all my love I thee endow.
The bride repeats: I accept this ring in token of our constant faith and abiding love.
Minister: Inasmuch as you have thus consented together in marriage, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Traditional Wedding Vows 2
When witnessing a wedding ceremony, we have all heard the familiar lines and verses, from "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today" to "'Til death do you part" countless times over, probably without giving much thought to their origins and relevance. When planning your own ceremony, the exchange of vows is the single most important consideration, and one that should be a knowledgeable decision.
Among traditional vows there are several variations. The most basic non-denominational traditional wedding vows are the Question of Intention and the Standard Civil Ceremony. The Question of Intention, adapted from the traditional Medieval Christian ceremony, commences with the minister performing the ceremony asking the couple to join hands before asking each, groom first, the following:
"[Name], do you take [Name] to be your wedded [husband/wife] to live together in marriage. Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep [him/her] For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. And forsaking all others, be faithful only to [him/her] so long as you both shall live?"
Which is answered by "I do". The official then pronounces them man and wife by the power vested in him or her.
The Standard Civil Ceremony is very similar except that the bride and groom make similar statements for themselves rather than answering questions, as follows:
"[Name], I take you to be my lawfully wedded [husband/wife]. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you, with all of your faults and strengths, as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life."
Other commonly used traditional ceremonies are centered on the exchange of rings. There is an official Blessing and Exchange of Rings within the Christian tradition which celebrates the wedding ring as the outward expression of an inner spiritual bond. This is the source of the phrase, "With this ring, I thee wed." The rings are a symbol of an unbroken circle of love, freely given and received equally and with no beginning or end. They serve as a lifelong symbol and reminder of the wedding vows taken and the promises therein.
Any discussion of traditional wedding vows would not be complete without mention of the Form of Solemnization of Matrimony from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. This service has remained virtually unchanged since 1662 and is the source of the phrase,
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy matrimony."
Out of all of the examples of traditional wedding vows given here, aspects of each are often borrowed and combined, either by the betrothed or by the minister, to create a service appropriate to the occasion. No matter what subtle differences there are in the wording of the ceremony, the spirit is the same. All of these words are steeped in rich traditions of the sacred message of a lasting bond.