We love it when readers share their vows with us — it’s such an honor to get to witness the words of commitment and dedication that Offbeat Bride readers speak to each other. Today, we want to share the vows that Karen and her partner Adrian shared with us, which are filled with gender-neutral statements about choice, promise, intention, and teaming up.
OFFICIANT: You fell in love by chance, but you’re here today because you’re making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You’ve chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter.
You’re about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You’re going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other.
There’s a simple premise to each of these promises: you’re vowing to be there. You’re teaming up and saying to the other, “Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of.”
Will you, [Partner 1], keep [Partner 2] as your favorite person — to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life’s tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day?
PARTNER 1: I will.
OFFICIANT: Will you, [Partner 2], keep [Partner 3] as your favorite person — to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life’s tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day?
PARTNER 2: I will.
OFFICIANT: Will you, [Partner 1 and 2], be each other’s partners from this day forward? Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely — for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?
PARTNERS 1 and 2: We will.
Don’t you love that last phrase, “For the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?” Such a wonderful, secular way to acknowledge the things we don’t know. If you’re looking for even more vow guidance we have deep archives full of articles about wedding vow examples, as well as advice on how to write your vows…