There's something timeless about traditional wedding vows—they've been whispered, promised, and cherished for generations. But here's the thing: even the most classic words can feel like they were written just for you when you say them with your whole heart. Whether you're standing at an altar or under a canopy of trees, these vows are a beautiful starting point. You don't have to reinvent the wheel; you just have to make it spin your way. Think of traditional vows as a warm, cozy sweater—they fit everyone, but you can add your own little patches to make them uniquely yours. So take a breath, grab a pen, and let's craft something that feels both eternal and deeply personal.
“I take you to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part. But I also promise this: to laugh with you when life gets silly, to hold your hand when the road gets bumpy, and to always save you the last bite of dessert. You are my best friend, my anchor, and my greatest adventure. I promise to be your partner in all things, big and small, and to love you with every beat of my heart.”
“I vow to love you faithfully through all the seasons of our lives. I promise to stand by your side in joy and in sorrow, in plenty and in want. I will respect you, honor you, and cherish you as the unique person you are. I promise to listen when you need to talk, to comfort you when you're low, and to celebrate every victory—no matter how small. You are my rock and my safe place. With this ring, I pledge my heart and my life to you, today and forever.”
“I take you to be my husband, my partner, and my home. I promise to be your wife—not just in name, but in every action, every word, and every thought. I will love you when you're easy to love and when you're not. I will support your dreams as if they were my own. I vow to build a life with you that's full of laughter, kindness, and unwavering trust. You are my today and all of my tomorrows. With all that I am, I choose you—now and always.”
Make any of these yours: generate personalized vows with AI in about a minute.
Every style page below includes full sample wedding vows you can read, borrow, and personalize — not just snippets. Here's a taste of what you'll find, plus where the complete wedding vows examples live.
"I, [Name], take you, [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 and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
See the full wording and variations: traditional vows for him · traditional vows for her.
"I promise to love you not only on our best days, but on the hard ones too. You are my favorite conversation, my safest place, and my greatest adventure. I choose you — today, tomorrow, and always."
More: romantic vows for him · romantic vows for her.
"I promise you this: I will laugh with you, stand by you, and love you — every single day. You are my person, and I am yours. Forever."
More: short vows for him · short vows for her.
Want vows written from your actual love story instead of a sample? Generate personalized wedding vows with AI — takes about a minute.
Looking for vows from a specific side of the aisle? Start from a complete hub, then narrow by tone:
Choosing wedding vows starts with understanding what kind of ceremony you're having and what feels authentic to you as a couple. Here's a framework.
Need help getting started? Our AI Wedding Vow Generator creates personalized vows. Read our complete guide to writing wedding vows.
Pair your vows with our ceremony script generator, or prepare a best man speech or father of the bride speech.
Simple wedding vows prove that plain words carry the most weight. A generic wedding vows base you can say as-is: "I take you as you are, and I choose you as you are, all the days of my life." Simple vows for a wedding ceremony work best when both partners match register — if one reads scripture, the other shouldn't do stand-up. Contemporary wedding vows in the simple register trade poetry for precision: "I promise to be your partner in everything — the big adventures and the ordinary Tuesdays." Basic wedding ceremony vows for nervous speakers can be as short as three lines; the bride and groom wedding vows exchange needs no symmetrical length — say what's true, stop when it's said.
Ready-made options: simple vows for him · simple vows for her · standard traditional wording.
Beach wedding ceremony vows lean sensory — reference the horizon, the tide, the sand between your shoes: "Like the tide, my love will return to you every single day." Courthouse wedding vows fit a two-minute civil ceremony — keep them short and skip props entirely; many couples simply repeat the standard civil wording and save personal vows for the reception. Private wedding vows (spoken just to each other, no audience) are the fastest-growing format — no performance pressure means the words can be completely unguarded. Court wedding vows and elopement vows share one rule: nobody's watching, so say the real thing.
Planning the moment around the words? Our AI vow generator drafts from your actual story — free to try, no sign-up wall before you see your vows.