Below are the traditional vows of various denominations. The subtle distinctions between them are insightful and reflect the flavor of each denomination.

BAPTIST VOWS:

"Will you, ___________, have ____________ to be your wife/husband? Will you love her/him, comfort and keep her/him, and forsaking all other remain true to him/her as long as you both shall live?" ("I will.")

(Repeat) "I, ________, take thee __________to be my wife/husband, and before God and these witnesses I promise to be a faithful and true wife/husband."

(Rings) "With this ring I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, 'til death do us part."

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CATHOLIC VOWS:

" _____ _______, will you take __________ here present, for your lawful wife/husband according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Catholic Church?" ("I will.")

(Repeat) "I, ____________, take you ____________, for my wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

(Rings) "With this ring I thee wed and pledge thee my troth."

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LUTHERAN VOWS:

"_________, wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wedded wife/husband to live together after God's ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her/him, comfort her/him, honor and keep her/him as long as ye both shall live?" ("I will.")

(Repeat) "I, ___________, take thee ___________, to be my wife/husband, and pledge thee my troth, so long as we both shall live."

(Rings) "Receive this ring as a token of wedded love and faith."

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METHODIST VOWS:

"_________, wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wedded wife/husband to live together after God's ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her/him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto her/him, so long as ye both shall live? ("I will.")

(Repeat) "I, ___________, take thee ___________, to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

(Rings) "In token and pledge of the vow between us made, with this ring I thee wed; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

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PRESBYTERIAN VOWS:

"____________, wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wife/husband, and wilt thou pledge thy faith to her/him, in all love and honor, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with her/him, and cherish her/him, according to the ordinance of God, in the holy bond of marriage?" ("I will.")

(Repeat) "I, __________, take thee ___________, to be my wedded wife/husband, and I do promise and covenant before God and these witnesses, to be thy loving and faithful wife/husband; in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."

(Rings) "This ring I give thee, in token and pledge, of our constant faith and abiding love."

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EPISCOPAL VOWS:

"____________, wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wedded wife/husband to live together after God's ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her/him, comfort her/him, honor and keep her/her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto him/her as long as you both shall live?" ("I will.")

(Repeat) "I, ____________, take thee ______________, to be my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part, according to God's ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my troth."

(Rings) “With this ring I thee wed; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

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JEWISH VOWS:

(Groom) Do you ____________, take ____________ to be your wife? ("I do.") Do you promise to love, cherish and protect her, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek with her a life hallowed by the faith of Israel? ("I do.")
(Bride) Do you ____________, take _____________ to be your husband? ("I do.") Do you promise to love, cherish and protect him, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek with him a life hallowed by the faith of Israel? ("I do.")

Rings: (Groom) __________, as you place this ring upon the finger of __________, speak to her these vows:
"With this ring be thou consecrated unto me as my wife according to the law of God and the faith of Israel."

Rings: (Bride) ___________, as you place this ring upon the finger of __________, speak to him these vows:
" With this ring be thou consecrated unto me as my wife according to the law of God and the faith of Israel."

Traditional Wedding Vows:

I, (name), take you, (name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

Traditional Civil Ceremony Vows:

(Name), I take you to be my lawfully wedded (husband/wife). Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.

Traditional Wedding Vows:

I, (name), take you, (name), to be my beloved (wife/husband), to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.