Marital vows are binding, because marriage is ordained by God. Whether the couple is married by a Justice of the Peace or a minister, God honors the covenant of marriage.
Here’s a template – the transcript of our wedding vows on September 1, 1973.
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God has placed within the heart of every person the deep desire to be loved, cherished and cared for These two families have been drawn together through the love that John has for Doris, and that Doris has for John.
Mr. and Mrs. Knoles, do you welcome and receive Doris into your family? We do.
Mr. and Mrs. Elshaug, do you welcome and receive John into your family? We do.
(Then followed a Scripture commentary and encouragement concerning the holiness, beauty and sanctity of marriage from I John 4, I Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 5.)
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together in the sight of God and before this company to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony, which is commanded by God to be honorable among all men, and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discretely and soberly in the sight of God. Into this Holy Estate these two persons, John and Doris, come now to be joined.
John, will you have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s Holy Ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Will you honor her, comfort her and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?
I will.
Doris, will you have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s Holy Ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Will you love him, obey him, serve, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall live?
I will.
(Wedding Song)
John, will you, with your right hand, take Doris’ right hand and repeat this vow after me:
I, John, take thee Doris
To be my wedded 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
According to God’s holy ordinance
And thereto I pledge thee my faithfulness
Doris, with your right hand holding John’s right hand, repeat this vow after me:
I, Doris, take thee John
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
And to obey
Till death do us part
According to God’s holy ordinance
And thereto I pledge thee my faithfulness
(Ring ceremony)
These rings are symbols of the love John has for Doris, and that Doris has for John. They are a perfect circle and they are unending.
John, as you place this ring on Doris’ ring finger, repeat this vow after me:
With this ring I thee wed
And with all my earthly goods
I thee endow
In the name of the Father
And of the Son
And of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Doris, as you place this ring on John’s ring finger, repeat this vow after me:
With this ring I thee wed
And with all my earthly goods
I thee endow
In the name of the Father
And of the Son
And of the Holy Spirit
Amen
As I join your right hands together, let me quote the Word of God by saying “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder”.
I, by the Lord Jesus, and by the laws of this state, pronounce you husband and wife in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
You may have your wedding kiss……
Friends and loved ones, may I present to you
(Bride and Groom now turn and face the congregation)
Mr. and Mrs. John Knoles.
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….and we live happily ever after!