How Long Should My Vows Be?

When you’re writing your own wedding vows, you don’t want them to be too short, or go on for too long. So how long should wedding vows be?

Here is our ultimate guide to exactly how long your wedding vows should be for your special day!

Are you writing your vows and wondering exactly how long they should be? You should know that the average length for wedding vows should be anywhere from 45 seconds to 2 minutes.

Usually traditional vows between your priest, minister, or other wedding officiant last no longer than 2 minutes, but depending on if you are having a more religious ceremony, it may be longer. 

If you are writing your own vows, you may have a hard time fitting in all the reasons you love your partner into a short 45 seconds to 2 minutes. You may want to go on and on about all of the things about your spouse that made you want to marry them… but your guests may get impatient at your ceremony. 

When putting your pen to paper to write your wedding day promises, remember to keep your special person in mind. Remember that this is the person that you will go through the seasons of life, joyful things in life, and the trials of life with.

If you want to have a relationship of equality, remember to write that in your vows. If you want strength in marriage, focus on that.

This is the person who you will spend plenty of time with. They will be your partner in crime in everyday life, and even though these feelings may be strong, you need to compact all of these emotions into short and sweet vows to say on your wedding day that aren’t super long. 

Examples of Short Vows

There are lots of examples of real shorter vows that people have written for some inspiration for your vows! Remember that your vows do not have to be super long in order to be effective and heartfelt!

You can follow this guide for wedding vows or use classic wedding promises to inspire your marriage vows. You can also use your own feelings, challenges, dreams, jokes, and love story to inspire you. Use personal stories, faith, or advice from friends and family to write your vows of commitment.

Examples of Short and Sweet Wedding Vows

Here are some real life examples of short and sweet vows. All vows were found on Southern Living. 

1. Your love gives me hope. Your smile gives me joy. You make me a better man.
2. You’re everything that I ever dreamed of and everything I will ever need. Our love for each other is heaven sent. Today I vow to be here with you and for you, forever and always.
3. Today I join my life to yours, not simply as your husband, but as your friend, your lover, and your biggest supporter. Let me be the shoulder you lean on and the companion of your life. I will be your faithful wife and loyal friend until the end of time.

Examples of Romantic Wedding Vows

Here are some of the most romantic vows written by real couples! All of these vows were found on Southern Living. Use this wisdom from people to inspire your vows to your partner in life.

1. You have taught me that two people joined together with respect, trust, and open communication can be far stronger and happier than each could ever be alone. You are the strength I didn’t know I needed, and the joy that I didn’t know I lacked. Today, I choose to spend the rest of my life with you. I will be a constant friend and devoted wife to you.
2. Do you remember the very first day that we met? I knew the very first moment I saw you. I knew we were meant to be together for all of our days. You have become my lover, my companion, and my best friend. There’s no one else I’d want to build a life with. I get to have you by my side, my love and my wife, for eternity. I will be your faithful husband.
3. Today I say, “I do” but to me that means, “I will”. I will take your hand and stand by your side in the good and the bad. I dedicate myself to your happiness, success, and smile. I will love you forever.

Examples of Funny Wedding Vows

Couples who love to laugh and joke with each other may also want to do so at their wedding ceremony. Here are some perfect examples of funny vows for your ceremony from Southern Living.

1. I vow to take your hand when it’s too dark, and the dog out when it’s too early.
2. I vow to always put you first, even during football season.
3. When I say, “I do,” I don’t mean the dishes.

Examples of Short Religious Wedding Vows

If you and your spouse are more religious, here are some examples from Southern Living for vow ideas!

1. I take you to be my wife, before God who brought us together, to love and cherish you even as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it, to lead you and share all of life’s experiences with you by following God through them.
2. I love you and thank the Lord for the love that bound our hearts and lives together in the spiritual fellowship of marriage. I will love, honor, and cherish you always. I will love you in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in sorrow as in joy, and will be true to you by God’s grace, trusting in Him, so long as we both shall live.
3. I promise to love you above all others and to value you in my life as a precious gift. I look forward to raising our family and building our relationship under the care and guidance of God. I promise to stand beside you as your husband and friend in sickness or health, in times of prosperity and decline, in peace and in turmoil, as long as we both shall live.

Find other Christian wedding vow ideas and examples here!

Traditional Wedding Vows

Traditional wedding vows between the bride and the groom take approximately two minutes each. In traditional wedding vows, the wedding officiant guides you and the groom through your vows in front of your closest friends and family. 

Officiants typically guide you through reading your vows to your partner in marriage. To guide you through the vow exchange, officiants typically follow traditional wedding vow structure.

Traditional Format for Wedding Vows

Traditional wedding vows vary between different religions. The most common wedding vow template for secular wedding vows is the following:

“I, (Your name), take you, (Partner’s name), for my lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.”