Ring Exchange Wording Inspiration for Your Ceremony

Looking for the perfect words to say when exchanging rings with your future spouse? Here is some great inspiration for anyone looking to share their heart and soul with their partner on their wedding day. 

Here are some exchange wording samples that will sound great at any ceremony. If you are looking for some inspiration, these exchange wording ideas can serve as ideas for your own! 

Traditional Ring Exchange Ideas

Here are some common ring exchange ideas that may work well for a traditional ceremony. This traditional wedding ceremony wording is perfect for couples that want to say something that is familiar to anyone who has attended a wedding before. You can’t go wrong by keeping it classic! 

• “Do you, with this ring, take [name] to be your husband/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 until death or zombies do you part?” 
• “This ring is a token of my love. I offer you all that I have, all that I am, and all that I will be.”
• “Let this ring always be a reminder of my promises to you and the unwavering bond between us.”
• “I give you this ring as a symbol of my everlasting love for you.”
• “Take this ring as a symbol of my vow to you. I’ll be your faithful partner forevermore.”
• “This ring is a symbol of my eternal love. May our everlasting friendship reign forevermore.”
• “The fitting of this ring with its unending circle symbolizes my everlasting love for you. The placing of this ring on your finger, is the fulfillment of my dreams, to have you as my friend, my love, my husband/ wife, to live as one forever.”

Funny Ring Exchange Ideas

If you want to add in a little humor to symbolize your unbreakable bond you have with your partner, here are some great funny ring exchange vows!

• “I promise to hold off secretly watching episodes of *whatever TV show we are watching together, until we are actually together.” 
• “In front of our friends and family gathered here, I promise to love and cherish you in good times and in bad. I promise to put down the toilet seat – and to replace the toilet roll when it’s over and to never, ever, ever forget our wedding anniversary or your birthday.”
• “I vow to stand by your side, John, when the zombie apocalypse comes and, should you be turned into one, I promise to let you bite me, so I can too be one and, therefore, stay by your side forever.”
• “When I say ‘I do,’ I don’t mean the dishes.”
• “I promise to take instagram-worthy photos of you.”

Simple Ring Exchange Ideas

If you are looking for a simple ring exchange wording that is different from traditional wording, here are some great ideas. 

• “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day.”
• “I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my (wife/husband) this day and forevermore.”
• “Because this ring is perfectly symmetrical, it signifies the perfection of true love. As I place it on your finger, I give you all that I am and ever hope to be.”
• “I give this ring as my gift to you. Wear it and think of me and know that I love you.”
• “I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart.”
• “With this ring, I wed you, and pledge you, my love, now and forever.”

Religious Ring Exchange Ideas

If you are having a religious ceremony, here are some ideas of what to say when exchanging rings. The ring in many religions represents your eternal faith to your partner, and depending on which religious sects you belong to, the wording may change. Celebrate the covenant of marriage and your faithful devotion with some of these ideas. 

• “I give you this ring in God’s name, as a symbol of all that we have promised and all that we shall share.”
• “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love; 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.”
• “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, take and wear this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.”
• “I give you this ring as a sign 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. Amen.”
• “With this ring, I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, till death do us part.”

Modern Ring Exchange Ideas

If you want a twist on the traditional ring exchange wording, here are some great modern takes. 

• “With this ring, I marry you and bind my life to yours. It is a symbol of my eternal love, My everlasting friendship, And the promise of all my tomorrows.”
• “With this ring, I marry you. With my loving heart. With my willing body. And with my eternal soul.”
• “I give you this ring that you may wear as a reminder of my love for you.”
• “The fitting of this ring with its unending circle, symbolizes my everlasting love for you. The placing of this ring on your finger,
  is the fulfillment of my dreams, to have you as my friend, my love, my husband/wife, to live as one forever.”

Commonly Asked Questions About Ring Exchange

Here are the most common questions brides and grooms have about the ring exchange portion of their wedding ceremony. 

What is the Ring Exchange?

The exchange of rings at your wedding is one of the most important parts of your special day. It symbolizes that you are married when you exchange wedding bands with your partner.

The wedding rings symbolize that you are going to be a faithful partner. Ring exchange has been a part of weddings in cultures all around the world. 

Who Goes First?

During the wedding ring exchange, typically the groom goes first. If you are having an unconventional ceremony or you are writing your own vows, don’t feel like you have to stick to this rule.

Even though its more common for the groom to say his vows first in a traditional exchange, it is completely fine for the bride to go first!

Are They the Same As My Wedding Vows?

There are a few differences between the wedding vows and the ring exchange wording.

During your heartfelt wedding vows, you are explaining to your partner the promises that you are making to them. During the vows, partners exchange what they will do for their partner and the never ending love they have for them.

The ring exchange ceremony is a little different. During this portion of your ceremony, the bride and groom exchange the rings and say what the ring means to them. Some brides and grooms decide to skip the ring exchange vows and just stick to writing wedding vows, but if you want to add in this extra touch it is a traditional element of the ceremony.

Depending on who will be officiating your wedding and helping you exchange wedding rings, they might say special words to help you with the ring exchange and you may not need to write your own.

Make sure you speak with your wedding officiant beforehand and ask for advice on what to prepare before the ceremony.

How to Get Inspired to Write Your Own Ring Exchange Vows?

The first step of writing your own ring exchange wording is to get inspired.

Think about what the ring symbolizes for you. Is it an unbroken and unending circle of faith to your partner? Is it a symbol of completeness? A circle of happiness? Or an outward and visible reminder to others that you are taken?

Whatever the ring represents to you, you should take that inspiration to start to write your ring exchange words. The next step is to do some research. Look online at different articles (like this one!) or look at songs, quotes, or poems that you love for some inspiration.

The next step is to incorporate your religious beliefs. Some Christians want their rings to be blessed on the Bible before they are exchanged. If you want to involve religion into your ceremony, make sure you discuss with your wedding officiant or religious leader before the ceremony occurs.