Wedding Vow Examples for Him, for Her and for Every Style (Original Samples)

By Altar & Agenda · Updated October 18, 2026

Writing your own vows is now the norm rather than the exception: in The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study, 61% of couples wrote their own vows. Reading examples is one of the fastest ways to get unstuck, as long as you use them for shape and rhythm rather than copying them word for word.

All the examples below are original and fictional. Each is labeled with its rough length, and after the examples there's a quick method for turning any of them into vows that are unmistakably yours. For the full writing process, see our step-by-step guide on how to write wedding vows.

How to use these examples

Every example here follows the same five-part shape from our vow-writing guide: a specific moment, who they are to you, what you've built, your promises and a closing line. As you read, notice which openings and promises make you think of your own partner. Write those thoughts down; they're the start of your draft.

A rough length guide at an unhurried speaking pace of about 130 words a minute:

Wedding vow examples for him

These are written to a groom or husband, but they work for any partner with a few word swaps.

Sentimental (about 1 minute)

Before I met you, I thought home was a place. Then you spent a whole Saturday fixing the leaky tap in my first apartment, refusing to call a plumber on principle, and I realized home was wherever you were being stubborn on my behalf.

You are the steadiest person I know. You show love by showing up: at hospital waiting rooms, at my sister's terrible band's gigs, at the airport at 2am.

I promise to show up for you the same way. I promise to tell you when I'm struggling instead of saying "I'm fine." I promise to let you win the argument about the thermostat at least once a year.

You made me feel at home. Today, I choose to build our home with you, for the rest of my life.

Short (about 30 seconds)

You are my calm, my favorite laugh and my best decision. I promise to listen, to be patient, to keep choosing you on the easy days and the hard ones, and to always save you the last slice. I love you. Let's go do forever.

Funny but heartfelt (about 1 minute)

When we met, you told me you were "a great cook." Three years and many smoke alarms later, I can confirm you are a great orderer of takeout, and I wouldn't change a thing.

You make ordinary days ridiculous in the best way. You narrate the dog's thoughts. You dance in supermarkets. You also, quietly, make sure everyone around you is okay.

I promise to laugh at your jokes, even the third time. I promise to always pretend I didn't see you cry at dog videos. And I promise to love you loudly, honestly and for good.

You're my favorite person. Now you're stuck with me.

Wedding vow examples for her

Written to a bride or wife, and easy to adapt for any partner.

Sentimental (about 1 minute)

The night we met, the power went out at the party and you found the candles, the matches and a deck of cards in under five minutes. Everyone else saw a blackout. You saw a game night.

That's who you are. You find the light in every room. You remember the names of the barista's kids. You've made me braver, kinder and much better at cards.

I promise to be your partner in every adventure and every quiet Sunday. I promise to listen before I try to fix things. I promise to cheer the loudest for every dream you chase, even the ones that scare me.

You lit up a dark room once. You've been lighting up my life ever since. I love you.

Short (about 30 seconds)

From our first terrible coffee to this moment, you've been my best friend and my favorite adventure. I promise to be honest, to be kind, to make you laugh when you need it and to love you every single day. Today and always, I choose you.

Romantic (about 90 seconds)

I used to think love at first sight was something people made up for movies. Then you walked into that bookshop, looked at the shelf I was blocking and said, "Excuse me, you're standing in front of my favorite author." It was my favorite author too.

Since then, you've shown me what a life full of small kindnesses looks like. You leave notes in my coat pockets. You call your grandmother every Sunday. You believe the best of people, including me, especially on the days I can't.

We've learned a lot together: how to share a very small kitchen, how to grieve, how to celebrate, and how to apologize properly.

So here are my promises. I promise to keep learning you, even after we've been married fifty years. I promise to protect our time together from a busy world. I promise to tell you every day, in words and in actions, that you are loved.

You stepped into my story by asking me to move. I'm never moving again. I love you.

More vow styles

For a courthouse or elopement ceremony (about 30 seconds)

Civil ceremonies are short, and many courthouses don't allow personal vows during the official ceremony, so couples often say these afterwards. See our courthouse wedding checklist.

We didn't need a big room to say this. You are my person. I promise to be honest with you, to be gentle with you, to grow with you and to choose you every day we're given.

Non-religious, traditional in tone (about 45 seconds)

I take you as my partner in life. I promise to love you, comfort you, honor and support you, in times of plenty and times of struggle, in sickness and in health. I will be faithful, patient and kind, and I will treat our life together as the most important thing I ever build. This is my promise to you, today and for all the days to come.

Vows for a second marriage or blended family (about 1 minute)

Neither of us came to this without a history, and I'm grateful for every part of yours, because it made the person I love.

To you, I promise patience, honesty and a home that's calm and full of laughter. To [child's name], I promise to be someone you can count on: to show up for you, to listen to you, and to love your mom/dad well.

We're not starting from scratch. We're starting from something even better: a family that chose each other.

Vow renewal (about 1 minute)

Ten years ago, I promised to love you. I didn't know then what that would mean: two cross-country moves, one very loud toddler, a year of hospital visits and a thousand ordinary breakfasts.

Here's what I've learned: loving you isn't one promise, it's a choice I get to make every morning. I'd make it again in a heartbeat.

So today I promise again, with more knowledge and more gratitude than I had the first time: I'm yours.

Promise lines to borrow and adapt

Mix two to four of these with promises that only make sense for the two of you:

• I promise to listen before I fix.
• I promise to keep choosing you, especially when it's hard.
• I promise to be your biggest fan and your most honest friend.
• I promise to make our home a place where we can both rest.
• I promise to apologize first, even when I'm only half wrong.
• I promise to keep dating you.
• I promise to share the last bite, the remote and the hard decisions.
• I promise to grow with you, not away from you.
• I promise to celebrate your wins as if they were mine.
• I promise to hold your hand through every season of our life.

How to make any example your own

1. Swap every generic detail for a real one. Replace "our first coffee" with the actual café. Real places, objects and quotes are what make vows land.
2. Keep the structure, change the words. Moment, who they are, what you've built, promises, closing line.
3. Add one promise only you could make. "I promise to never again plan a hike that's 'only a little uphill'" says more about your relationship than any line here.
4. Read it out loud and time it. Rewrite any sentence you stumble over.
5. Agree on length with your partner so one of you doesn't read four lines while the other reads two minutes.

Frequently asked questions

How long should wedding vows be?

Most vows land between one and two minutes, about 130 to 260 words. Agree on a rough length with your partner so your vows feel balanced.

Can I use a vow example word for word?

You can, but your vows will feel much more personal if you change the details. Use examples for structure and rhythm, then add real memories and promises.

Should we share our vows before the wedding?

It's up to you. Many couples keep them a surprise but share the length and tone. Some ask their officiant to read both versions to check they're balanced.

What should you not say in wedding vows?

Avoid references to exes, private stories your partner wouldn't want shared, and inside jokes that need explaining. Keep promises realistic and specific.

Do you have to write your own vows?

No. Traditional or religious vows are beautiful too, and some ceremonies require them. You can also combine traditional vows with a short personal message.

Want a guided workbook?

Our Wedding Vow Workbook walks you from blank page to finished vows in four short sessions: memory prompts, promise starters, the five-part structure, a fill-in template, a length guide, an editing checklist and printable vow cards and keepsake page (printable PDF plus an editable Word / Google Docs version). It's also in the Wedding Planner Bundle.

Planning the rest of the wedding? Start with our free 12-month wedding planning checklist.

Sources

• The Knot Worldwide, 2026 Real Weddings Study press release: 61% of couples wrote their own vows.

Disclosure: Altar & Agenda makes the workbook linked above. All vow examples are original and fictional; you're welcome to adapt them for your own ceremony.

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