Inspiration for your Christian Wedding Vows – 15+ Examples & Useful Tips

Are you seeking inspiration for your Christian wedding? We are here to help you choose a vow that will suit you perfectly. 

All marriages and weddings are unique. From the wedding décor to the wedding speeches, each event reflects the couple’s relationship, beliefs and personality. And there is some good news: traditional Christian wedding vows are tweakable.

Traditional wedding vows at a wedding ceremony are based on the Christian principles of Jesus Christ. If you are having a Christian wedding, you will no doubt need Christian wedding vows based on the principles and scriptures of your faith. Religious wedding vows would reflect your and your spouse’s personality and the beliefs that will hold your union together.

Christian Traditional Wedding Vows

There is no explicit template for Christ-centered wedding vows. However, you can tweak traditional vows to fit your vision for your wedding and marriage. To direct you in composing your modern Christian wedding vows in a meaningful manner to your relationship and faith, continue reading to the end. 

Why Are Vows Vital in A Christian Wedding?

Vows are expressions spoken from the heart by the couple. These declarations to each other express both an intent and a promise. They clarify how the couple plans to bond with each other, how they plan to navigate the course of life and what purpose they plan to offer to their marriage.

Vows are an important part of the wedding ceremony whether you choose to have a church or civil wedding. They hold even more importance if you’re opting for a Christian wedding as biblically marriage is ordained by God and serves as a covenant between two people. Here are a few reasons you should take more than just a few minutes to structure your vows;

It gives you time to reflect on your values

Let’s be honest in all the excitement of getting engaged and rushing to plan your picturesque wedding, there’s very little time left to reflect on your relationship and the values you wish to base as the foundation of your new family. Taking this time to ensure that your values continue to align as you move on to the next part of your lives together is an important part of your big day. It might seem like a handful at the moment but the best part is; if you do it right this once you may never have to do it again.

They can be an anchor in tough times

We all know the famous “And they lived happily ever after” line that accompanies all Disney fairy tales and Hallmark movies. What they don’t tell you though is that happily ever after takes a lot of effort. No marriage is smooth sailing every step of the way and disagreements are bound to occur from time to time. In fact, you’ve probably already encountered them.

Wedding vows are a great anchor to reach out for when rough patches seem to have taken over your marriage. It doesn’t hurt to be reminded of your desire to tackle all obstacles together when you’re both hanging on by a thread.

They help you appreciate the role of your partner

We often go our entire lives without taking the time to verbally acknowledge the role our partner plays in our life. Besides being the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, they may also be a teacher, friend, and companion to you. Your wedding vows are the best way to appreciate them for the role they play in your life and express your desire to continue to grow together in your respective roles with each other.

It’s important to let your partner know how appreciated their influence is in your life. And in the meantime, let everyone in the room how lucky you got!

What Does the Bible State About Wedding Vows?

The Bible says many things about love and commitment to your partner. Here are a few solemn vow verses to inspire your vow to commit your love to these days forward with the holy spirit. 

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel since they are heirs with you of the grace of life so that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, beliefs, hopes endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

Examples of Common Wedding Vows

When composing your wedding vows, you could arrange something slightly different. You could use contemporary Christian wedding vows or something completely personalized. It’s up to you. 

As long the basis is on the principles of Christianity and you speak of your love towards your partner, all will be well. 

Below are some samples of biblical wedding vows to guide you.

Traditional Christian Wedding Vows

Searching for traditional Christian wedding vows is a simple task. You may have already visited a few sites before landing here.

Your denomination and minister will typically have a template they will use at your wedding ceremony. You can consult your church minister or designated wedding officiant for guidance in using the traditional vows.

They probably will use something similar to these vows:

“I _____, take you ______, to be my wedded wife/husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or health, to love and to cherish till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.”

“I love you _____ as I love no other. All that I am I share with you. I take you to be my wife through health and sickness, plenty and want, joy and sorrow, now and forever.”

Biblical Wedding Vows

Biblical wedding vows are no doubt based on the Bible. These vows will be heavily based on your love for each other and the Biblical principles that keep you both steadfast in your beliefs. A few quotes or Bible passages will go a long way in giving more meaning to these vows.

“Let the husband render unto the wife due to benevolence: and likewise the wife unto the husband.”

Personalized Christian Wedding Vows for Him

It is appropriate to write personalized wedding vows for a Christian ceremony. No rule stops you if you want to write your own vows to your partner. It is also not a requirement to recite precise words.

“______, I love you. I prayed that God would lead me to his choice. And I praise Him that tonight His will is being fulfilled. Through the pressures of the present and uncertainties of the future, I promise my faithfulness to follow you through all of life’s experiences as you follow God, that together we may grow in the likeness of Christ and our home be a praise to Him.”

“I, _______, take you, _______, to be my 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 we do part. According to God’s holy law, in the presence of God, I make this vow.”

Examples Of Christian Wedding Vows for Her

If you want to write your Christian wedding vows for her, you might be leaning towards more personalized than traditional ones. Certain verses in the Bible could inspire you with God’s holy law. Romantic Christian wedding vows from the originally published poems from the Songs of Solomon are a great choice.

“______, I love you. Long ago, you were just a dream and a prayer. This day is like a dream come true, the Lord Himself has answered that prayer. For today, ______, you, as my joy, become my crown. I thank Jesus for the honor of going through the time with you. Thank you for being what you are to me. With our future as bright as the promises of God, I will care for you, honor and protect you. I lay down my life for you, _____, my friend and my love. Today I give me to you.”

“I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy. I choose you to be my husband: to have and to hold, from this day forward.”

Modern Christian Wedding Vows

Modern Christian wedding vows are similar to traditional vows. Couples prefer to customize their vows to develop a message to convey the life of love they will live. It is ok to provide your personality into these vows as each couple is different. That way your vows can feel more authentic.

Here are some examples to use for your modern Christian promises. 

“_____, I take you, with all your faults and strengths, as I offer myself to you with all my faults and strengths. And I will help you when you need help and turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person I will spend my life with.”

“I, _____, take you, _____, to be my partner, loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not yet know. And I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, get to know the man/woman you will become and fall in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.”

Tips For Writing Christian Wedding Vows

Your wedding vows are an essential part of your wedding ceremony. Therefore, they should be impactful and hold all the meaning you intend for your marriage. Your beliefs and love can assist in writing the most beautiful vows. Here are a few tips to guide you.

1. Remember your faith in God. While the ceremony is about your partner, remember God is your first love when you write your vows.
2. Quote Bible verses if you can.
3. Practice! It is essential to recite it a few times so you can say them by heart.
4. Your words should be from your heart, words you genuinely mean.

The above guidelines will help you write your partner the best Christian wedding vows. 

You shouldn’t miss on our other popular posts:

• Traditional and Inspiring Celtic Wedding Vows
• Non-Traditional Wedding Vows for a Modern World

How Long Should My Wedding Vows Be?

First and foremost, it’s your day but by that we also mean; say all the sweet and mushy things without going over the 3-minute mark. Wedding vows last about 2 minutes on average but if you’ve got a little speech prepared, you can always push it to three. One thing to remember is; you have your entire lives together moving forward and you can spend it telling all the stories that made you realize you’d met the one. Your guests, however, should be treated to just one of these.

What Are the Top 10 Christian Wedding Vows?

Traditional Christian vows are reminders your romantic love will be a lifetime commitment to God and your partner. Marriage is not about going your own way but going in conjunction with God’s plan. 

The solemn vow in traditional marriage vows creates one flesh between the partners in a Christian marriage. The marriage vow section is critical in the marriage covenant. These marriage vows remind us that as Christ loved us, we should extend the love to our spouse.

Consider these vows if you want safer options for modern Christian wedding promises. 

1 “I promise to stick by you through tough times.”

Anyone can stand by your side on sunny days. 

When producing a lifelong dedication to someone, you commit to being there for them “in sickness and health.” Sickness may not be a common cold. It may be a significant, life-altering challenge. It may be the sickness of your partner or you who becomes sick. 

It may not be a literal health challenge but a rough patch in life that tests your commitment and love. You are pledging to be by your spouse’s side when times are not good. You promise to be there always.

2 “I always promise to make us a priority.”

We strive for success in our relationships. These include our work as we hustle to take professional life to the next level. Although we must be cautious not to destroy our relationship with our partner through neglect.

Before you were a CEO, high-powered attorney or programmer, you were a man or woman. You fell in love with an intimate and emotional connection to another human being.

Even the most significant accomplishments lose meaning when we lose the person we cherish. The key is to find a balance. Allowing the scales to tip too far in either direction will only lead to disaster.

3 “I promise I will never let you forget how much I love you.”

Sometimes life gets intense and we must catch up on things by mistake. One of these things is letting our significant other know how much they mean to us daily.

Gratitude is one of the biggest challenges to find in a long-term relationship. However, we all want to feel appreciated and sometimes think we have been taken for granted. Then we can quickly feel resentment. Resentment erodes the foundation of your vows. 

Expressing your love towards each other fulfills your commitment to your marriage. 

4 “I promise I will not let myself go.”

There is a vital distinction between somebody who becomes old and someone who reasons, “Hey, I’m married now, life is complete and I do not need to do anything else.” 

Our bodies and appearance will change as we age, but the point is not to waste our health because you’ve got yourself a husband or wife.

5 “I promise I will not lose my identity.”

In any joyful, wholesome relationship, it is vital that the two individuals together remain two individuals.

Of course, you combine lives through marriage and have become “us.” Still, if either partner begins to lose sight of their hopes and dreams, it can bring deep dissatisfaction to the relationship.

Therefore, this is another reason why self-development is so important, as well as personal growth. As a couple, you need to grow as individuals supporting each other.

6 “I promise to keep things exciting.”

Reminding someone you love them is not enough to keep things exciting. You will need to do more to keep the spark alive. Spontaneous candle-lit dinners, start an unexpected bath as your partner gets home or just a quick weekend getaway for no reason.

When we start a fire, we cannot leave the room and expect it to burn forever. We must add strong material and kindling to keep the fire burning so the flame will never go out.

Problems arise when we stop providing the attention necessary to continue burning. 

7 “I promise I will do my best for our children.”

You can read all the books you want, talk to all the parents you meet and be as prepared as anyone can be. However, there will inevitably be endless unique challenges as a parent to your children. 

As a father, you must be a role model to your children. Parenting with your bride is a lifetime commitment and you must remember the common prayer. 

When you promise your husband or wife you will do your best, you can figure it out together along the way.

8 “I promise I will accept and love you fully.”

As humans, we all have our particular flaws. Insecurities can arise as we fall from grace. As we walk down this journey with God, we must be aware that we have shortcomings and so does our partner. 

We cannot enjoy everything about our spouse, let alone ourselves. Therefore, we need to commit to accepting all of their traits and loving them.

9 “I promise I do not love you for your beauty.”

You should love someone’s beauty and be physically attracted to the person. But all these things are very different from loving someone for their beauty.

My mother and grandmother always said never to fall in love with someone for their looks, hair, teeth or money because we all can lose these traits over time.

When the vows of marriage and the faithful enter the equation, all these things take a back seat. You must ask who they would be if you removed their beauty. If these physical traits were lost, would you still love the person?

10. “I promise I am in this until the end.”

The rest of your life. Death. Possible illness. Forever. This commitment could be highly intimidating. Death separates your being from your partner through God’s plan.

In reality, love with your partner is a commitment and takes energy until the end. Living life with daily obligations eases the enormity of this commitment. 

When you swear the remainder of your life to your promise, that is what you do. Therefore, you promise around 50+ years if we are fortunate. We do not know what the future brings, but committing to your partner on your wedding day can help you have some assurance.