Traditional Wedding Vows: Classic Wording For Church & Civil Ceremonies
Infused with love and meaning, traditional wedding vows are, for many couples, a meaningful, time-tested way to say, ‘I do’. Whether you want to incorporate traditional religious vows or are planning a civil ceremony, these words have stood the test of time for generations.
But how do you know which set of traditional wedding vows are right for you? And can you add to them for a more bespoke service? Below, we cover the exact wording for classic wedding vows, what they mean and the many different ways in which you can make your commitment to each other.
The heart of your wedding ceremony will come and go in a flash, but Bridebook — the UK’s #1 wedding planning platform, used by over 2.8 million couples — has put together this complete guide to traditional vow wording, so you know exactly what to expect on the day.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always seek professional legal advice for your specific situation.
Traditional Church of England Wedding Vows
Church of England ceremonies tend to have a traditional order and wording, and you can’t make sweeping rewrites or changes to these for legal reasons.
Along with these vows, you’ll be asked to make ‘declarations’ which confirm you will always love and care for each other in the eyes of God.
The traditional Church of England vows are:
For him:
‘I, (name), take you, (name)to be my wife,to have and to holdfrom this day forward;for better, for worse,for richer, for poorer,in sickness and in health,to love and to cherish,till death us do part,according to God’s holy law.In the presence of God I make this vow.’
For her:
‘I, (name), take you, (name)to be my husband,to have and to holdfrom this day forward;for better, for worse,for richer, for poorer,in sickness and in health,to love and to cherish,till death us do part,according to God’s holy law.In the presence of God I make this vow.’
Traditional Civil Ceremony Vows in the UK
Similarly to Church of England wedding vows, couples having a civil ceremony will need to state both declarations and contracting words by law. Here are some examples of these below:
‘I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (name) may not be joined in marriage to (name).’
Or
‘I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, (name), may not be joined in matrimony to (name)’
Followed by…
‘I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, (name), do take thee, (name), to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband).’
Or
‘I (name) take you (name) to be my wedded wife (or husband)’
Or
‘I (name) take thee (name) to be my wedded wife (or husband)’
Following this, you will make your promises to each other, which can either be written yourself (if you choose to write your own wedding vows) or be provided by your officiant.
The exact wording and options for personalising your vows and promises will vary depending on your local authority, so always check the specifics with your registrar or officiant ahead of the ceremony.
Catholic Wedding Vow Wording
Catholic wedding vows are usually preceded by three questions from the priest – these questions are called The Order of Celebrating Matrimony:
- ‘(Name) and (name), have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?
- ‘Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honour each other for as long as you both shall live?
- ‘Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?’
The bride and groom then respond, ‘I have’ or ‘I am’ after each question.
The traditional Catholic wedding vows then follow:
Priest (or deacon): ‘Since it is your intention to enter into the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church’
Groom: ‘I, (name), take you, (name), to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.’
Bride: ‘I, (name), take you, (name), to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you all the days of my life.’
Can You Change or Personalise Traditional Vows?
Both religious and civil ceremonies held in the UK have statutory declarations that you have to repeat by law. In some cases there are options to embellish (but with permission – no surprises on the day please!).
In the case of Church of England and Catholic ceremonies there is no option to change or alter the vows – they are legally binding – so the simplest way to add a bespoke touch to your ceremony is through your choice of hymns, music and additional readings which you may be able to write yourself.
Chat to your vicar or priest well ahead of your ceremony as these will need to be approved beforehand.
With civil ceremonies and traditional civil ceremony vows, you have a bit more movement. While you are required to say words of declaration and contracting vows in order for your ceremony to be legally binding, there are often a few (government-approved) options to choose from and the promises that follow can be completely bespoke to you.
This is the point where couples who have written their own vows and promises will read them to their partner, and extras such as readings, music and even non-religious symbolic rituals, such as hand-fasting ceremonies, can be incorporated.
Need inspiration? We’ve got plenty of wedding vow examples to inspire you!
Traditional vs Personal Vows: Which Is Right For You?
For some couples, knowing which vows to exchange in their ceremony is an easy decision. If you have a connection to a particular faith, or a strong affinity to a certain wedding venue, you’ll probably know which type of ceremony you want from the start.
However, the choice is not so obvious for everyone – it’s all about deciding what suits you best as a couple, considering where you’re prepared to compromise, and identifying your absolute priorities.
According to the Bridebook UK Wedding Report 2026, which draws on insight from 7,000 couples, 12% of UK couples married at a place of worship — while the majority opted for a civil ceremony at a licensed venue or registry office.
You don’t have to be religious to use traditional religious wedding vows, but you should ideally have some connection to the religion or practice if you want to use the traditional wedding vows of that denomination out of respect for the culture and heritage from which they originate.
For example, if your grandmother was Jewish but you personally don’t practice Judaism, incorporating traditional Jewish wedding vows could be a meaningful way to honour her and the cultural background she cherished. But having no connection to a religion yet wanting to use their vows could be considered disrespectful.
Think about the style of ceremony that you want – and that will dictate the wedding vows that you choose.
Traditional religious ceremonies – and therefore the vows you say – are more rigid in structure and tend to follow a set script. Those who want more freedom with their wedding vows, who perhaps don’t practice a certain religion or even come from different faith backgrounds are more likely to consider writing personal wedding vows to incorporate in a civil or humanist ceremony.
Traditional Wedding Vows FAQ
What are the traditional Church of England wedding vows?
Alongside the declarations couples must make, the traditional Church of England wedding vows are as follows:
‘I, (name), take you, (name)to be my wife (or husband),to have and to holdfrom this day forward;for better, for worse,for richer, for poorer,in sickness and in health,to love and to cherish,till death us do part,according to God’s holy law.In the presence of God I make this vow.’
What are the traditional civil ceremony vows in the UK?
In the case of civil ceremonies, couples will often have the choice of two or three government-approved vows, though this will vary depending on individual districts. Alongside the declarations that couples must repeat by law, the contracting vows include:
‘I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, (name), do take thee, (name), to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband).’
Or
‘I (name) take you (name) to be my wedded wife (or husband)’
Or
‘I (name) take thee (name) to be my wedded wife (or husband)’
Do you have to use traditional vows?
If you’re looking for stress-free wedding vows, sticking with the traditional marriage vows are undoubtedly the way to go. They’re beautiful, timeless and have been used for hundreds of years to help couples express their love and commitment to one another.
There’s little to no movement on the structure of a Church of England ceremony – the vows here are legally binding.
Civil ceremonies offer more flexibility. While you must say the legal declarations and contracting vows given to you by the registrar, they are quite brief and everything around those vows – the music, readings and promises you make to one another – can be chosen by you, as long as they don’t have any religious references or connotations.
This is all, of course, if you want a wedding ceremony that is legally binding. For those who are interested in something completely bespoke, you might want to consider a humanist or celebrant-led ceremony instead of – or in addition to – a legal one.
Can you add to traditional wedding vows?
You can’t add to traditional wedding vows in a Church of England or Catholic ceremony, but you can if you’re having a civil wedding ceremony or partnership. While you’ll need to state the legal declarations and contracting vows in order to make your marriage legal, you can also write your own vows and promises which can incorporated into the service.
What is the difference between church and civil ceremony vows?
The main difference between church vows and civil ceremony vows is, of course, that church vows are religious and civil ceremony vows are not. Church vows very much have a set wording that cannot be changed, while civil ceremony vows allow for greater personalisation.
Can same-sex couples use Church of England wedding vows?
Same-sex couples cannot currently marry in the Church of England — the marriage service is only available to opposite-sex couples. However, since December 2023, many Church of England churches offer a blessing for same-sex couples who have already married civilly, using the Prayers of Love and Faith. Speak to your local church to find out if they offer this, or search on the Church of England’s A Church Near You website.
Can same-sex couples have a civil ceremony in the UK?
Yes. Civil ceremonies in the UK are open to all couples, regardless of gender, and the legal vows work the same way for everyone.
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