7 Traditional Wedding Vows From Various Religions
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Vows are a incredibly meaningful — and personal — part of a wedding ceremony. There are powerful, traditional wedding vows from many different faiths and cultures to choose from. We’ve compiled a sampling of vows from major religions throughout the world. Use them in full or as inspiration as you write your own wedding vows.
1. Jewish Wedding Vows
“Do you, ____, take _____ to be your lawfully wedded wife/husband, to love, honor and cherish?”
2. Hindu Wedding Vows
“Let us take the first step to provide for our household a nourishing and pure diet, avoiding those foods injurious to healthy living.
“Let us take the second step to develop physical, mental and spiritual powers.
“Let us take the third step to increase our wealth by righteous means and proper use.
“Let us take the fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust.
“Let us take the fifth step so that we are blessed with strong, virtuous and heroic children.
“Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.
3. Protestant Wedding Vows
In the name of God, I, (groom/bride’s name), take you, (groom/bride’s name), to be 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, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.
4. Methodist Wedding Vows
“In the name of God, I, ______, take you, ______, to be my wife/husband, 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, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.”
5. Catholic Wedding Vows
“I, ___, take you, ___, for my lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.”
6. Russian Orthodox Wedding Vows
“I, ___, take you, ___, as my wedded wife/husband and I promise you love, honor, and respect; to be faithful to you, and not to forsake you until death do us part. So help me God, one in the Holy Trinity, and all the Saints.”
7. Muslim Wedding Vows
Most Muslim couples do not recite vows, but rather heed the words of the imam (cleric), who speaks about the meaning of marriage and the couple’s responsibilities to each other and to Allah during the nikah, or marriage contract. At the end of this ritual, the couple consents to become husband and wife, and they are blessed by the congregation. However, some Muslim brides and grooms do recite vows — here is a common recitation:
Bride: “I, ___, offer you myself in marriage in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. I pledge, in honesty and with sincerity, to be for you an obedient and faithful wife.” Groom: “I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful husband.”