Is there one official set of Christian wedding vows?

No. There is a common ancestor — the 1549 and 1662 Book of Common Prayer — and then a dozen descendants. Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Anglican books each set their own text, and independent churches use whatever the pastor prefers.

Do Christian wedding vows have to mention God?

In a church service, almost always. Methodist and Episcopal vows open “In the name of God”; Anglican vows close “In the presence of God I make this vow”; Presbyterian vows promise “before God and these witnesses.” Non-denominational churches vary, and some leave the reference to the surrounding prayers instead.

Can we add our own promises to a Christian ceremony?

In most Protestant churches, yes, alongside the authorised vow rather than instead of it — but ask the minister first. Lutheran books introduce the vow as “these or similar words,” which gives unusually wide latitude. Anglican and Catholic wording cannot be altered.

Are Christian wedding vows in the Bible?

No. The vow text is liturgical, not scriptural — it comes from the medieval Sarum rite by way of Cranmer's prayer books. The Bible supplies the covenant idea behind the vow and most of the readings around it, but no vow formula.

Christian wedding vows: the standard text, by denomination

There is no single set of Christian wedding vows. There is one ancestor — the Book of Common Prayer — and a dozen descendants that differ in small, deliberate ways. Every text below is quoted from the book named beside it.

The common Protestant form

This is what most people mean by “standard Christian wedding vows,” and what a non-denominational or Baptist minister will most likely bring. It has no governing book behind it: it is the 1662 prayer-book vow with the archaic pronouns modernised and the troth line dropped.

The standard Protestant vow

Common usage · no single authority

I, N., take you, N., to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.

Because no book governs it, this is the one Christian vow that can be freely shortened. The most common edits are cutting “for richer or for poorer” and replacing “till death do us part” with “for as long as we both shall live.”

The same vow with a faith clause

Common usage · non-denominational

The usual way an independent church adds a religious frame without adopting another denomination's authorised text. “According to God's holy ordinance” is the 1662 phrase; “according to God's holy law” is the modern Anglican one.

The authorised texts

Where a denomination publishes a service book, this is what it says. The differences are small and worth noticing — they are how you tell which tradition an order of service came from.

United Methodist

The United Methodist Book of Worship, 1992

In the name of God, I, N., take you, N., to be my wife, 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, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

Distinguished by its opening — “In the name of God” — and by “until we are parted by death” in place of “till death do us part.” The bride says the same, substituting “husband.”

Episcopal

The Book of Common Prayer, 1979

In the Name of God, I, N., take you, N., to be my wife, 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, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

Almost identical to the Methodist text and constantly confused with it; the Episcopal version begins “In the Name of God” with the capital N and drops the commas between the paired clauses. No version of this rite contains “obey.”

Anglican — Church of England

Common Worship, 2000 · set by law

I, N, take you, N, to be my wife, 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, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.

Legally binding wording that cannot be reworded. An alternative form replacing “to love and to cherish” with “to love, cherish, and obey” is offered for the bride and must be actively chosen. See traditional wedding vows for the 1662 original.

Presbyterian

Book of Common Worship, PCUSA, 1993

N., you are my beloved, and I promise, before God and these witnesses, to be loving and faithful to you in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; as long as we both shall live.

Structurally different from the prayer-book family: it opens by naming the other person rather than by taking them, and it substitutes “in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow” for the richer/poorer and better/worse pairs. The Book of Common Worship offers more than one form — confirm which your church uses.

Lutheran

Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978

I take you, N., to be my wife, from this day forward, to join with you and share all that is to come, and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us.

Introduced as “these or similar words,” which makes it a model rather than a formula — the widest latitude of any of the mainline books. The LBW also gives a longer alternative beginning “and these things I promise you.” Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006) is the current ELCA book.

Quaker

Traditional Friends declaration

In the presence of God and these our friends, I, N., take thee, N., to be my wife, promising with divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband so long as we both shall live.

Spoken without an officiant, during a meeting for worship, when the couple feel ready. Everyone present signs the marriage certificate afterwards — the meeting is the witness.

The declaration of consent is not the vow

Nearly every Christian service contains both, in this order, and printed orders of service confuse them constantly. The declaration is the minister’s question, answered “I will.” The vow is what you say to each other.

The declaration of consent

The Book of Common Prayer, 1979

N., will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

Asked of each partner before the vows. The answer is “I will,” not “I do” — “I do” belongs to the question form of the Catholic rite and to civil ceremonies.

The Presbyterian declaration of intent

Book of Common Worship, PCUSA

N., do you desire to enter the covenant of marriage, giving of yourself in every way, with mutual love and respect?

Shorter than the Anglican form and answered “I do.” It asks about the covenant itself rather than listing the obligations.

The giving of rings

The wording differs more between denominations than the vows do.

Episcopal

The Book of Common Prayer, 1979

N., I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Church of England

Common Worship, 2000

N, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The phrase “with my body I honour you” is the modern rendering of the 1662 “with my Body I thee worship,” where worship meant to hold in honour rather than to adore.

Presbyterian

Book of Common Worship, PCUSA

This ring I give you, as a sign of our constant faith and abiding love, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Lutheran

Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

The shortest of the four, and easily the easiest to say without stumbling.

What each tradition lets you change

Fixed: Church of England and Church in Wales — the vows are set by law and the registrar will not accept a variation. Roman Catholic consent is prescribed; the four authorised forms are at Catholic wedding vows.
Authorised text, additions allowed: Episcopal, United Methodist and Presbyterian. The book’s vow is said and personal promises may sit around it with the minister’s agreement. Ask before you write, and send the final wording at least a week ahead.
Wide latitude: Lutheran, whose books say “these or similar words.” Baptist, non-denominational and independent evangelical churches, where there is no book at all and the pastor decides. Quaker meetings, where the traditional declaration is customary rather than required.

Folding scripture into the vow itself? Wedding vows with Bible verses sets out the passages verse by verse. For a ceremony with no religious content, see non-religious wedding vows.

Common questions

What are the standard Christian wedding vows?: “I, N., take you, N., to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.” That is the common Protestant form. Each denomination has its own authorised wording, and they differ in small, specific ways.
Is there one official set of Christian wedding vows?: No. There is a common ancestor — the 1549 and 1662 Book of Common Prayer — and then a dozen descendants. Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Anglican books each set their own text, and independent churches use whatever the pastor prefers.
Do Christian wedding vows have to mention God?: In a church service, almost always. Methodist and Episcopal vows open “In the name of God”; Anglican vows close “In the presence of God I make this vow”; Presbyterian vows promise “before God and these witnesses.” Non-denominational churches vary, and some leave the reference to the surrounding prayers instead.
Can we add our own promises to a Christian ceremony?: In most Protestant churches, yes, alongside the authorised vow rather than instead of it — but ask the minister first. Lutheran books introduce the vow as “these or similar words,” which gives unusually wide latitude. Anglican and Catholic wording cannot be altered.
Are Christian wedding vows in the Bible?: No. The vow text is liturgical, not scriptural — it comes from the medieval Sarum rite by way of Cranmer's prayer books. The Bible supplies the covenant idea behind the vow and most of the readings around it, but no vow formula.