Read: 101 Romantic Wedding Vows That’ll Inspire Your Love | MHE

I’ve been to more weddings than I can count. And you know what? The vows are always my favorite part. There’s something magical about two people promising their love to each other. But writing your own amazing wedding vows can be tough. That’s why I’m here to help! I’ve put together 101 romantic wedding vows to inspire you. Plus, I’ll share tips on how to write your own vows that’ll make your partner swoon.

This guide is perfect for…

• Engaged couples looking for wedding vow inspiration
• Darling friends who are helping someone write their vows
• Epic wedding planners looking for resources for clients
• Hopeless romantics who just LOVE love

How to Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Suck

Before we get to the examples, let’s get you started on writing your own wedding vows. The tips below will inspire you to personalize your vows and give you a basic structure for writing them.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

Your wedding vows are going to be spoken In front of your officiant, pastor, priest or rabbi, your entire family, and your circle of friends. The last thing you want to do is throw them together at the last minute. We recommend getting started right away. That will give you time to write, revise, and even procrastinate a tiny bit.

Use Keepsakes, Letters, Cards, or Gifts For Inspiration

When writing anything you need inspiration. Writing wedding vows is the same, which is why you should surround yourself with keepsakes, cards, gifts, and anything else that you’ve gotten from your spouse-to-be. These objects will remind you of special dates, events, wedding quotes, and occurrences that can inspire your words of love and devotion.

Agree on a Format Beforehand

If you’re like most couples you’ll probably want to keep your vows a little bit of a secret until the big day. However, agreeing on a specific format, length, and other ground rules, if you will, is a good idea. Things like humor, for example, might be okay with one of you but not the other.

Ask a Trusted Friend or Family Member to Take a Look

If writing comes naturally to you, this might be a tip you can skip. If not, asking a trusted family member or friend to give you some feedback on your vows is a great idea. If you don’t have anyone you can rely on for this task, try the most honest (sometimes too honest) platform on the internet, Reddit!

Write. Stop. Write Again. Repeat.

This is a great tip for people who don’t write all the time; don’t try to write everything in one sitting. Some of the best writers on the planet take breaks from their writing. That way, they can come back to it with a fresh mind, clearer outlook, or new inspiration. You should do the same.

Make a List of All the Things You Love

If you’re having trouble getting started putting words to paper (or to your phone’s notes app) you might consider writing a list instead. List all of the things that you love about your partner. Make another list of the things that you enjoy doing together or a list of the hopes and dreams you both have. When you’re done, you can then use your lists to inspire what you write and make your wedding vows unique.

Don’t Get Too TMI

Yes, your wedding vows are supposed to be romantic and talk about the deep personal feelings you have for each other. That being said, don’t go too far because all your friends and family will be listening. You probably want to skip any inside jokes that no one else would understand or anything about your sex life (obviously). Then again, these are your vows, and you can say whatever you want. As long as you both agree on it, go for it. (BIG TIP – Do NOT embarrass your sweetheart. That could start your wedding day on a slightly sour note.)

Answer Your Own Questions

This is another tip for those of you who are having trouble writing. Make a list of questions in your favorite notebook and then answer them. This is a great way to inspire yourself based on facts that you already know. Here are a few good ones:

• Where did you meet?
• When was the first time he or she said: “I love you”?
• What do you have in common?
• What was your first impression when you met?
• What interesting things have you done together? (vacations, etc.)
• What do you love most about them?
• What obstacles have you faced together?
• What values are most important to you? (ex. kindness, honesty, patience, faithfulness, acceptance, etc.)
• How have they inspired you?
• What activities do you enjoy together?

Get the idea? You can ask a million questions like these and then use the answers to write your vows! They can be about anything you wish when you’re writing secular wedding vows.

101 Example Marriage Vows

Now, let’s get to the good stuff! Here are 101 vows to spark some romance…

15 Funny Wedding Vows

1. I promise to be your partner in crime and your alibi if needed.
2. I vow to always let you have the last piece of pizza.
3. I promise to love you even when you leave your socks on the floor.
4. I vow to always kill the spiders, no matter how big and scary they are.
5. I promise to pretend to like your favorite TV show, even if I don’t.
6. I vow to be the Chandler to your Monica, the Pam to your Jim.
7. I promise to always laugh at your jokes, even the bad ones.
8. I vow to love you more than I love scrolling on Instagram (and that’s saying something).
9. I promise to always let you win at board games (sometimes).
10. I vow to be your personal chef, as long as you’re okay with cereal for dinner.
11. I promise to love you even when you’re hangry.
12. I vow to always be on your team in (insert sport you play together), even though you’re terrible at it.
13. I promise to share the blankets… most of the time.
14. I vow to love you more than my favorite sports team (but it’ll be close).
15. I promise to always pretend to listen when you talk about your day.

15 Unique Vows

1. I vow to be your anchor in stormy seas and your sail in calm waters.
2. You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars.
3. I promise to be your steady rhythm when life’s song gets chaotic.
4. You are my favorite what-if turned reality.
5. I vow to be your soft place to land and your springboard to fly.
6. I promise to be the adventure to your wanderlust.
7. You are the missing piece of my puzzle. I vow to treasure our perfect fit.
8. I promise to be your North Star, guiding you home always.
9. You are the harmony to my melody. I vow to keep our love song playing.
10. I promise to be the pen to your paper, writing our story together.
11. I vow to be the wind beneath your wings and the ground beneath your feet.
12. You are the colors in my world. I promise to keep our life vibrant.
13. I vow to be the silence in your noise and the noise in your silence.
14. You are my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye. I promise to say both with love.
15. I vow to be the dream in your reality and the reality in your dreams.

15 Short Vows

1. I choose you, today and always.
2. You are my today and all of my tomorrows.
3. With you, I am home.
4. I promise to love you fiercely.
5. You are my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye.
6. I vow to love without hesitation.
7. You complete me.
8. I promise forever, every day.
9. You’re my person, always.
10. I choose us, endlessly.
11. You and me, always.
12. I’m yours, completely.
13. Forever starts today.
14. My heart is yours.
15. Love you, no matter what.

11 Wedding Vows for a Passed Down Wedding Ring

1. With this ring, passed down through generations, I promise to honor our past, cherish our present, and build our future.
2. This ring carries the love of those who came before us. I vow to add our love story to its legacy.
3. As this ring has stood the test of time, so will my love for you.
4. This heirloom symbolizes the enduring love of our families. I promise to continue that tradition with you.
5. With this ring, I connect our love to the love that came before us, creating an unbroken chain of devotion.
6. This ring represents not just our love, but the love of generations. I vow to honor its history and our future.
7. As I place this family ring on your finger, I promise to make our love a worthy addition to its story.
8. This ring has witnessed countless moments of love. I vow to fill it with many more.
9. With this treasured ring, I promise to create a love story as enduring as its legacy.
10. This ring symbolizes the timeless nature of love. I vow to make our love equally eternal.
11. As I give you this ring, I join our love with the love of those who came before us.

23 Classic Wedding Vows for Him

1. I promise to be your biggest cheerleader and your softest landing.
2. I vow to be your shoulder to cry on during times of sorrow and your partner to celebrate with in times of happiness.
3. I promise to be your biggest fan and your honest critic when you need one.
4. With you, I am the best version of myself. I vow to keep growing together.
5. I promise to be your constant in a world of change.
6. I vow to be the rock you can always lean on.
7. I promise to always reach for your hand, both literally and figuratively.
8. I vow to be your protector, your supporter, and your equal partner in all things.
9. I promise to love you through all of life’s adventures and challenges.
10. I vow to be not just your husband, but your best friend, confidant, and biggest admirer.
11. I promise to always strive to be the man you deserve.
12. I vow to support your dreams as if they were my own.
13. I promise to be your safe haven in this crazy world.
14. I vow to always choose you, every single day.
15. I promise to be your strength when you need it, and to lean on your strength when I do.
16. I vow to love you more each day than I did the day before.
17. I promise to always find reasons to make you smile.
18. I vow to be your partner in all of life’s adventures.
19. I promise to always listen to your hopes, dreams, and fears.
20. I vow to grow old and silly with you.
21. I promise to always see the best in you, even when you can’t see it yourself.
22. I vow to be your biggest supporter in all your endeavors and triumphs.
23. I promise to create a life filled with adventure and love with you.

22 Classic Marriage Vows for Her

1. You are my best friend, my soulmate, and my greatest adventure.
2. I vow to always see the best in you, in times of hardship and prosperity.
3. I promise to dance with you in the kitchen and under the stars.
4. You are my favorite love story. I vow to keep writing our chapters together.
5. I promise to love you through all seasons of life.
6. I vow to be your biggest supporter and your most honest friend.
7. I promise to stand by your side, hand in hand, through whatever life brings us.
8. You are my home and biggest blessing. I vow to fill our life with love, laughter, and endless joy.
9. I promise to be your partner in all things, big and small.
10. I vow to love you fiercely and without reservation.
11. You make me a better person. I promise to do the same for you every day.
12. I vow to be your safe harbor and your greatest adventure.
13. I promise to cherish every moment of our life together. It is a privilege to live this life with you.
14. You are my heart’s choice. I vow to choose you for an eternity.
15. I promise to be your wife, your friend, and your faithful partner in all of life’s journeys.
16. I vow to always find my way back to you, no matter how far we roam.
17. I promise to be your soft place to land and your springboard to leap from.
18. I vow to keep falling in love with you, over and over again.
19. I promise to be your constant companion and your greatest admirer.
20. I vow to always see the magic in our everyday moments.
21. I promise to build a life of love, laughter, happiness, and endless adventures with you.
22. I vow to be your biggest fan and your honest truth-teller when you need it.

Additional Tips & Tricks

Questions to Keep in Mind

Need some more help adding some personalization to your vows? Here’s a handy Q&A:

Fill this out and you’ll have a great starting point for your vows!

Vow Writing Tools

Want some extra help? Check out these cool tools:

1. Vow writing apps: Try “Vow Muse” or “Lover.ly” for inspiration.
2. Online thesaurus: Find just the right words at Thesaurus.com.
3. Rhyme dictionary: Add some poetry at RhymeZone.com.
4. Grammar checker: Make sure everything sounds perfect with Grammarly.
5. Voice recorder app: Practice out loud and listen back.

Marriage Promise Do’s and Don’ts

Here’s a quick guide to keep you on track:

FAQs: Your Burning Vow Questions Answered

What are the classic wedding vows?

The classic vows go something like this: “I, [Name], take you, [Name], to be my lawfully wedded [husband/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, till death do us part.”

What should wedding vows say?

Your vows should express your love, make promises for the future, and reflect your relationship. Include what you love about your partner, how they’ve changed your life, and what you promise to do for them.

Can I use song lyrics in my vows?

Absolutely! If a song captures how you feel, go for it. Just be sure to give credit to the artist to keep the audience in the loop.

What if I cry during my vows?

That’s totally okay! Tears show how much you mean it. Just take a deep breath and keep going. It has to be personal, not graceful! Let your adoration shine through.

Should our marital vows match?

They don’t have to! It’s nice if they have a similar tone, but they should reflect your individual voices.

How long should classic wedding vows be?

Aim for at least 1-2 minutes. That’s usually around 200-250 words.

Is adding humor to my vows too corny?

Never! A little laughter can ease nerves. Just keep it sweet, not snarky.

What if I’m nervous about speaking in public?

Practice, practice, practice! The more you say your vows out loud, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Use your nerves to fuel your excitement! It’s also pretty common for couples to exchange their vows in private, too. If you take that route, ask your venue for a quiet place to do so.

I just can’t see myself exchanging traditional vows… do you have any other wedding ceremony ideas?

Yes! There are plenty of other things you can do to infuse your ceremony with personality and warmth. Here are some ideas…

1. Sand Ceremony: The couple pours different colored sands into a single vessel, symbolizing their union.
2. Unity Candle: The couple lights a single candle together from two individual candles, representing their joining.
3. Handfasting: The couple’s hands are tied together with a ribbon or cord, symbolizing their commitment and union.
4. Wine Ceremony: The couple each pours a glass of wine into a single cup and drinks from it, representing the blending of their lives.
5. Ring Warming: Before exchanging rings, the rings are passed around to each guest, who silently offers their blessings and well wishes.
6. Personal Readings: Instead of traditional vows, the couple reads meaningful excerpts from literature or scripture that represent their feelings for each other.
7. Memory Box: The couple places significant items, like letters, photos, or keepsakes, into a box to be opened on a special anniversary.
8. A Ceremony Toast: Forget about waiting for the reception, pass the drinks! The couple creates a signature cocktail together and shares a toast, symbolizing the blending of their lives and tastes.
9. Interactive Wedding Vow Art: Guests are invited to participate in a collaborative art piece or activity, such as adding their fingerprint to a tree painting, to symbolize their support for the couple.
10. Memory Video: A pre-recorded video of the couple’s journey is played during the ceremony, showcasing key moments in their relationship.

These alternatives can add a unique and personal touch to your ceremony, making it memorable and special for both you and your guests.

Ready to Start Writing?

Writing your own vows and sharing them with your partner is the best way to start a beautiful wedding day and a happy marriage. It’s a chance to tell your partner exactly how you feel. Remember, there’s no “right” way to write vows, this isn’t editorial! The most important thing is that they come from your heart. Your partner will love them because they come from you. So take a deep breath and grab a pen. Good luck writing, and congratulations on your happy ending!