SECULAR WEDDING VOWS

What follows is a collection of thoughtful, articulate wedding vows


I, Sam, commit myself to you, Alex, as [wife/husband] to learn and grow with, to explore and adventure with, to respect you in everything as an equal partner, in the foreknowledge of joy and pain, strength and weariness, direction and doubt, for all the risings and settings of the sun.

We tie these knots to symbolize our connection to one another. They represent our trust in each other and our combined strength together.

***

Today, surrounded by people who love us, I choose you Alex to be my partner. I am proud to be your [wife/husband] and to join my life with yours. I vow to support you, push you, inspire you, and above all love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live.

***

OFFICIANT: Do you, Sam and Alex, pledge to create a life of mutual respect, compassion, generosity, and patience toward each other as you grow together in years?


COUPLE: We do.


OFFICIANT: Do you pledge to recognize each other’s individuality and celebrate each other’s uniqueness as a strength in marriage. While at the same time, will you guard one another’s weaknesses with understanding, support, and inspiration?


COUPLE: We do.


OFFICIANT: And do you pledge to share the love you have for each other with all living beings? To be a couple that lets their marriage radiate into others, making their lives more beautiful because of it?


COUPLE: We do.


OFFICIANT: Sam/Alex, if you will face each other and repeat after me:

Alex, I give you my life. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.

Sam, I give you my life. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.


I, Sam, take you Alex to be the wife/husband of my days, the companion of my house, the friend of my life. We shall bear together whatever trouble and sorrow life may lay upon us, and we shall share together whatever good and joyful things life may bring us. With these words, and all the words of my heart, I marry you and bind my life to yours.

***

You have taught me that two people joined together

with respect, trust, and open communication

can be far stronger and happier than each could ever be alone.

You are the strength I didn’t know I needed,

and the joy that I didn’t know I lacked.

Today, I choose to spend the rest of my life with you.

I promise to love you for who you are,

and for who you are yet to become.

I promise to be patient,

and to remember that all things between us are rooted in love.

I promise to nurture your dreams and to help you reach them.

I promise to share my whole heart with you,

and to remember to show you how deeply I care for you,

no matter the challenges that may come our way.

I promise to love you loyally and fiercely—as long as I shall live.

Do you take me to be your lawfully wedded [husband/wife]?

***

I, Alex, do pledge you, Sam, my love, for as long as I live. What I possess in this world, I give to you. I will keep you and hold you, comfort and tend you, protect you and shelter you, for all the days of my life.