Traditional Wedding Vows
From LoveToKnow Weddings
No matter what your denomination, traditional wedding vows can express a wonderful sentiment and affection between a bride and groom.
Common Denominator for Traditional Wedding Vows
Each denomination has their own traditional vows. For example, in the Jewish ceremony, the bride and groom are asked whether they are willing to commit to a life justified by their faith in God and Israel. In the Catholic wedding ceremony, couples may swear by the Virgin Mary and the laws of the Catholic Church that they will pledge themselves to one another. In the Muslim wedding celebration, what we consider as traditional wedding vows are dispensed with altogether. The bride and the groom sit apart from each other (sometimes in separate rooms) and are asked by the officiate if they are willing to commit to one another. After answering in the affirmative three times and signing the marriage contract, the union is considered legitimate.
Traditional wedding vows can mean many things, but the common denominator is love, affection and commitment. If you want to express these sentiments without ascribing to a particular religion, you can use the “Question of Intention” as a base for your own vows.
Non-Denominational Wedding Vows
The question of intention is a traditional vow that has its roots in medieval practice. The bride and groom were questioned by the officiate regarding the sincerity of their desire to wed. Then, after affirming their pledges, they were then pronounced as man and wife. The standard beginning of the Question of Intention (Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today and so on…) harkens back to the Anglican Church and has remained virtually unchanged since 1662. Nonetheless, this opening has been utilized by many faiths and is certainly generic enough to begin your vows.
The ceremony can go something as follows:
- The bride and groom join hands and begin their traditional wedding vows.
- The officiate asks the question of intention.
- The officiate states that the bride and groom shall love, honor and cherish each other through sickness and health.
- The couple is pronounced as man and wife.
If you truly want to be non-denominational, you can replace any references to God with the phrase “higher power”.
Creating Your Own Wedding Vows
Writing your own vows doesn’t mean blindly following what has been done in the past. You can use the wording of traditional wedding vows as a template to express the beauty and individuality of your relationship. Here are some ideas to add your own stamp to traditional wedding vows.
- Incorporate your own statements about what marriage means to you.
- Include meaningful quotes, passages and scriptures that have special significant to your relationship.
- Offer heartfelt love and thanksgiving for the special bond that you have with one another.
- Express your vows in the form of poem or, if you are particularly brave, through song!
Remember, whatever you include in your traditional wedding vows will be beautiful. As long it comes from the heart, there is no right or wrong way to express your love for one another.
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