You have been planning your wedding for the past few months. You’ve picked out the flowers, cake, attire, and rings. Now it’s time to choose your wedding vows. Some people use traditional vows, and others choose to write their own. It depends on each couple. Still, wedding vows are very important to a ceremony and should not be chosen lightly. This is a binding pledge to your spouse forever.
History of Wedding Vows
Where do wedding vows come from? How did they get started? People automatically think that wedding vows derive from the Bible. However, there are no vows to be found anywhere in the text. According to Weddingwire, the Medieval Church in England first mentioned wedding vows. A prayer book was written in 1549 containing verse examples that many modern couples draw from today.
However, one popular verse used in many wedding vows is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, which says, “Love is patient and is kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures every circumstance.”
Examples of Traditional Wedding Vows
If you want to use traditional wedding vows, here are some examples for inspiration.
1. “(Groom’s name), you are mine, and I am yours. From this day forward, I promise to love you without end. With this ring, I choose you to be my partner and my husband, whom I will love and cherish from this day on. I solemnly vow to give you my faithfulness and my love, just as Jesus has loved us and died for us for our salvation. In His sight, we shall be one forevermore.” (Inspired by Song of Solomon 2:16)
2. “(Bride’s name), you are the most inspiring woman I have ever met. Your intellect and beauty are far above the price of rubies, and I am so lucky to have you in my life. On this blessed day, I take you to be my wedded wife so that we may live our lives together according to God’s plan. With his guidance, I promise to be a strong spiritual leader to you until death do us part. With this ring, I profess my love to you in the name of Lord Jesus.” (Inspired by Proverbs 31:10)
3. “______, do you take _____ to be your husband/wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him/her, forsaking all others and holding only him/her forevermore?
4. Groom, “I, ________take you, ______ to be my wedded wife. With the deepest joy, I take you into my life so that together we may be one. As Christ is to His body, the church, so I will be a loving and faithful husband to you. Always will I perform my headship over you, even as Christ does over me, knowing that His Lordship is one of the holiest desires for my life. I promise you my deepest love, fullest devotion, and tenderest care. I promise I will live first unto God rather than others or even you. I promise to lead our lives into a life of faith and hope in Christ Jesus. Ever honoring God’s guidance by His spirit through the Word, and so throughout life, no matter what may lie ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful husband.”
Bride: “I ______ take you, _____, to be my wedded husband. With the deepest joy, I come into my new life with you. As you have pledged to me your life and your love, I too give you my life, and in confidence submit myself to your headship as to the Lord. As is the church in her relationship to Christ, so I will be to you. ____, I will live first unto our God and then unto you, loving, obeying, caring, and ever seeking to please you. God has prepared me for you, so I will ever strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage you. Therefore, no matter what may be ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as an obedient and faithful wife.”
Bible Verses to Incorporate Into Your Vows
There are also different Bible verses you can incorporate into your vows.
1. “Place me like a seal over your heart, over your arm. For love is as strong as death, it’s jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.” (Song of Solomon 8:6, NLT)
2. “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” (Philippians 2:2 NLT)
3. “And do everything with love.” (1 Corinthians 14:16 NLT)
4. “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
5. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)
6. “Never let loyalty or kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.” (Proverbs 3:3-4 NLT)
7. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT)
8. As Scripture says, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 31-33, NLT)
Are wedding vows found in the Bible?
Although the Bible is full of great marital advice, there are no actual wedding vows. Therefore, many people choose verses and chapters from the Bible that are meaningful to them to use for their wedding day.
Writing Your Own Vows
In place of tradition, some people choose to write their own vows, and that’s okay. If you have a way with words, go for it! However, make sure your vows are meaningful to both you and your spouse. Whether you decide to go traditional or write your own, you are bound to exchange deep, heartfelt vows on your special day.
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Do Marriage Vows Come from the Bible?