Read Complete Book of Wedding Vows Online

Authors: Diane Warner

Tags: #Family & Relationships, #Marriage, #test

Complete Book of Wedding Vows (9 page)

BOOK: Complete Book of Wedding Vows
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Page 29
Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful wife / husband so long as we both shall live."
The groom speaks his promises first, then the bride. The bride is not given away, nor does a third person pronounce them married, for the Friends believe that only God can create such a union.
Traditional Nondenominational Protestant
There are hundreds of Protestant churches in America that are not affiliated with any particular denomination. Their styles of worship vary, as do their names. For example, you may see nondenominational churches with names such as "Valley Community Church" or "The Little Church in the Vale." Here are examples of marriage vow phrasings commonly used by this type of church.
"Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in holy matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
The groom answers:
"I do."
 
Page 30
Then, the minister continues by asking the same of the bride.
A very simple form of the traditional Protestant vow is in the form of a statement made by the minister:
"This celebration is the outward token of a sacred and inward union of the hearts which the Church does bless and the State makes legal...a union created by loving purpose and kept by abiding will."
Then the minister asks the bride and groom:
"Is it in this spirit and for this purpose that you have come here to be joined together?"
The bride and groom simply respond:
"Yes, I have."
The couple joins right hands and recites these traditional vows to each other, either from memory, or by prompting from the officiant:
"I take you to be my wedded wife / 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,
BOOK: Complete Book of Wedding Vows
8.71Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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