Types of wedding vows

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While one couple may be married in an intimate chapel wedding while another ties the knot in a coliseum filled with 1,000 friends, the one requirement of every wedding is that it includes the exchange of vows. You're not legally married without this ceremony, but the vows you recite depend on your religion and preferences.

1. Civil Vows

   • If you're skipping the elaborate wedding and getting married in a civil ceremony at the court house or are eloping to a Las Vegas chapel, the vows will generally be very simple. The officiant will ask each of you if you take the other to be your lawfully wedded spouse, then you'll exchange rings and be declared married. While this is the basic template for vows in a civil ceremony, your officiant may add a few more lines or allow you to make some additional promises.

   Religious Vows

   • Anytime you're being married in a house of worship or by a member of clergy, you may be required to use specific vows that are mandated by that religion. These vows may or may not include specific religious references. For instance, in a Roman Catholic ceremony your vows may only include promises to be faithful and true to one another, while Jewish vows often include a promise to live by "the faith of Israel."

   Nondenominational Vows

   • If neither of you is religious or you just don't want to include specific religious references in your wedding, you'll generally be married by a nondenominational minister or non-religious officiant. The exact vows will vary based on your officiant, but they'll generally be similar to the the vows you exchange in a religious ceremony. The officiant may ask each of you if you take the other to be your lawfully wedded spouse, then ask you to state your love and commitment to one another.

   Personalized Vows

   • Couples who don't want to be like everyone else may choose to write their own vows for one another. Each person should write specifically to her partner. She may not only promise to be faithful and loving, but also vow to laugh at all his jokes and let him watch as much football as he wants. In order to be legally married, most states require couples to make some statement of commitment to one another. You may either write this into your vows or recite these personalized vows in addition to traditional vows.

Source: www.ehow.com

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