Note: The following is excerpted from WEDDING VOWS: Beyond Love, Honor, and Cherish (Warner Books, $12.95), by Susan Lee Smith.
For centuries, marrying couples recited the wedding vows of their particular religious or cultural tradition. perhaps without even considering an alternative. It wasn't until the latter half of the twentieth century that the rote recitation of traditional wedding vows came into question and that many couples chose to recite wedding vows of their own creation, in place of traditional wedding vows or in addition to them. Still, most couples find it useful to refer to traditional wedding vows, even if only as a jumping-off point for creating their personal wedding vows.
Religious Wedding Vows
Whether or not you wish to be married within a particular religious tradition, whether or not you wish to recite traditional wedding vows or the wedding vows of any particular faith, you may find it helpful to read through this collection of traditional religious wedding vows. Read carefully, noting any words or phrases that stand out to you, that are relevant to you and your relationship. You may decide you want to incorporate particular phrases and expressions into your customized wedding vows. You may find that a religious wedding vow, adapted to remove any explicit religious references, will suit your ceremony plans perfectly. However, take care when adapting traditional wedding vows to ensure that you don't unwittingl
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