Vows

James and Laura - Photo Josephine Harkin

The central moment of a wedding ceremony is the Vows. There is a preliminary question from the Celebrant (The Asking) then there are the Vows (see below) and The Rings (Placing them on with accompanying words.)

VOWS (one example)
Groom:
I, Romeo, take you, Juliet, as my wife.
I pledge to share my life openly with you, t
o speak the truth to you in love.
I promise to honour and tenderly care for you,
to cherish and encourage your own fulfilment
as an individual, for the rest of my life.

Bride:
I, Juliet, take you, Romeo, as my husband.
I pledge to share my life openly with you,
to speak the truth to you in love.
I promise to honour and tenderly care for you,
to cherish and encourage your own fulfilment
as an individual, for the rest of my life.

Some Special Vows for a Second Love

(Reprinted with the permission of the couple and Barry Klassel (the celebrant)

My dear C., thank you for finding me and for loving me.
To love once is bittersweet,
to love again so deeply, is to be rescued from the endless doubt
and pulled back into the sunlight.
You are the Queen of my world,
and the beacon that shines to show me the way.
I promise for all the days of my life
to cherish and honor you,
to give you reason every day to love me,
for your love makes me whole.
I will be your lover, your champion,
your jester, and your knight.
No one could love more completely,
or more passionately than I love you this day.
I am yours until our dust returns to the earth.

J., my love, I come this day to pledge my love to you;
believer, healer, and soul mate.
You brought sunshine back into my dark days.
You have put your strong arms around me
and given me sanctuary.
You are my King, my fortress,
and the strength that gives me contentment
down to my soul.
I promise to honor and cherish you
and bring inspiration to your life.
It is my delight to be your lover, your handmaid,
your faithful companion, and your lady.
I will never take you for granted,
and I am grateful everyday God gives you breath.
I will love you for the rest of my fortunate life.