Will you write your own vows, or go with the traditional vows? There are good reasons for each decision, and each couple will choose what seems best to them.But when a couple says "we want to use traditional vows", they don't often realize there isn't any one 'traditional' vow. Most couples, whether they know it or not, are thinking of the Wedding Vows taken from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, which have remained virtually unchanged since 1662.
I, (name) take thee, (name) to be my wedded (husband/wife),
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part,
according to God's holy ordinance;
thereto I plight thee my troth.
(I pledge to uphold this vow faithfully.)
Sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it? Some couples opt to remove the references to God, and end up with something like this:
"[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?"
Still pretty much the Book of CP, really.
But if you want really, REALLY traditional, you might want to go back a couple hundred years to this beauty:
I, [man's name], take thee [woman's name] to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth.
"For fairer or fouler?" Oooo! THIS has potential. Think about it. "Fouler." Whether he knows it or not, he's pledging to monthly chocolate runs and hour-long foot-rubs during heavy PMS weeks. "Yes, you do, honey. It's right here, in thecontract vows."
But before we get too enthused, let's see what's required of the bride...
I, [woman's name], take thee [man's name] to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be bonny and buxom at bed and at board, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth.
"Bonny and buxom at bed and at board?" Those pre-medieval types knew the truth: the way to a man's heart is indeed through his stomach. And other ... parts. But pledging to this, for the rest of your life? What? HE never has to cook? And no "headache" nights - no "I've been up 17 times with the baby, and I'm just too tired?"
Hmmm... all the chocolate runs and foot-rubs in the world might not balance out the need for just a few minutes' more sleep...
So you say you want traditional vows? Make sure you know which tradition you're dipping into - or you could end up promising more than you know!
"For fairer or fouler?" Oooo! THIS has potential. Think about it. "Fouler." Whether he knows it or not, he's pledging to monthly chocolate runs and hour-long foot-rubs during heavy PMS weeks. "Yes, you do, honey. It's right here, in the
But before we get too enthused, let's see what's required of the bride...
I, [woman's name], take thee [man's name] to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be bonny and buxom at bed and at board, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth.
"Bonny and buxom at bed and at board?" Those pre-medieval types knew the truth: the way to a man's heart is indeed through his stomach. And other ... parts. But pledging to this, for the rest of your life? What? HE never has to cook? And no "headache" nights - no "I've been up 17 times with the baby, and I'm just too tired?"
Hmmm... all the chocolate runs and foot-rubs in the world might not balance out the need for just a few minutes' more sleep...
So you say you want traditional vows? Make sure you know which tradition you're dipping into - or you could end up promising more than you know!
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What's in a name?
Dress of the day: Anastasia by Maggie Sottero
Unusual wedding cakes from Dragons and Daffodils
