Free tool
Short Traditional Wedding Vows
Classic traditional language, condensed. Deliverable without notes.
Short traditional wedding vows are the go to for courthouse weddings, formal religious ceremonies, and any couple who wants the familiar structure without the length. These templates compress classic phrasing like 'to have and to hold' and 'as long as we both shall live' into tight, memorable promises. Every word earns its place.
Tone
Length
Who are these for?
5 matching vows in the library. Tap the heart on any vow to save up to 3 for comparison.
I, [your name], take you, [partner], to be my lawfully wedded spouse. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.
[partner], I take you as my wife. I promise to love you faithfully, to honor you, and to stand beside you through every season of our lives. All that I have and all that I am, I give to you today.
[partner], I take you as my husband. I promise to love you, respect you, and walk beside you through every chapter of our lives. Today I give you my word, my heart, and my future.
[partner], I take you today, with reverence, with love, and with a full heart. I promise to honor our vows, to be faithful, and to love you all the days of my life.
[partner], I pledge to you my faith, my fidelity, and my devotion. From this day forward, I am yours, and you are mine. So I promise, and so I shall.
Next step
Your vows are sorted. Now lock in the other 27 steps.
Vows are one piece of the wedding puzzle. The MyWeddingKit bundle covers every other piece: the 111 page planning guide, 19 tool spreadsheet, vendor negotiation scripts, and the complete 27 step system used by 527 couples.
- ✓111 page wedding planning guide covering every decision you will make
- ✓19 interactive planner tools (budget, guest list, timeline, seating, vendor tracker)
- ✓Vendor negotiation scripts that have saved couples $3,500+
- ✓Lifetime access, instant download, 30 day guarantee
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How to write wedding vows that actually land
The best wedding vows share three traits. They are specific. They name a real moment, a real habit, a real promise, not a generic feeling. They are deliverable. You can read them out loud without losing the thread or running out of breath. They are honest. They sound like how you actually talk to each other, not how a Pinterest board thinks you should.
The templates above give you a frame. Your job is to personalize. Swap one or two lines for something only you two would say. Name an inside joke. Reference a real memory. That is what makes guests stop scrolling in their heads and actually listen.
Read your final vow out loud three times before the ceremony. Read it standing up. Read it when you are nervous. If you can deliver it without stumbling, you are ready.
Frequently asked
How long should wedding vows be?
One to two minutes spoken, which is roughly 150 to 250 words. Shorter vows deliver better and are easier to remember. Longer vows need practice and pacing to avoid losing your audience.
Should both partners write the same length vows?
Yes. Agree on a length ahead of time so neither of you is blindsided by a 5 minute speech after a 90 second vow. The disparity is awkward for everyone.
Can I just copy one of these vows directly?
You can. They are written to stand alone if personalized with your names. But guests will feel it more if you swap a line or two for something specific to your relationship. The templates are a starting frame, not the finished product.
What is the difference between wedding vows and a wedding reading?
Vows are promises you make to your partner, in your own voice. Readings are passages read by someone else, often a friend or family member, to frame the ceremony. You can have both in the same ceremony.