Junior Rasmussen
Wedding vows are a legally binding declaration of commitment between two people. Civil ceremonies, which include registry office weddings, offer more flexibility in terms of venue choice, as they can be held in approved locations outside of register offices. Couples opting for a civil ceremony must choose from a set of legal vows that do not contain religious content. They can, however, personalise their ceremony with their own vows, readings, and music.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legal declaration | "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (your name) may not be joined in matrimony to (your partner's name)" |
| "I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (your name) may not be joined in marriage to (your partner's name)" | |
| "Are you (your name) free, lawfully, to marry (your partner's name)?" | |
| Contracting words | "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I (your name) do take thee (your partner's name) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband" |
| Personal vows | "I promise to care for you, to give you my love and friendship and to respect you and cherish you throughout the rest of our lives together" |
| "I will seek to build a strong, loving relationship based on kindness, understanding and trust that are already part of us both" | |
| "I promise to love you in good times and bad, to cherish and care for you, to live with you in love and harmony, whatever the future may bring" | |
| "I promise to share my life with you as an equal partner, and to ensure that our love and friendship continue to grow" | |
| "I promise to love you above all others, to cherish and respect you throughout our lives together" | |
| Music | Can be personalised but must not include hymns or any music with religious content |
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What You'll Learn
Civil vs religious vows
There are two types of wedding vows: religious and civil ceremony vows. Religious vows are typically said in a registered religious building, such as a church, while civil vows are said in a register office or any approved venue. Civil ceremonies cannot include any religious references in words or music, whereas religious vows remain largely unchanged from those in the Sarum Rite in Medieval England.
Civil Vows
Civil vows must be held in a register office or an approved venue. They can be said outdoors and can be personalised with vows, promises, readings, and music. However, any readings or poems must be non-religious and pre-approved by the registrar. Civil vows typically include a legal declaration and contracting vows, with options for traditional, modern, or simplified declarations. An example of a traditional declaration is:
> I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (your name) may not be joined in matrimony to (your partner's name).
Religious Vows
Religious vows are said in a registered religious building and typically cannot be modified. However, couples may choose to add religious readings, poetry, or extracts. It is important to discuss these plans with a clergy member, as some may be stricter than others. Religious vows include 'Declarations' that reference God and the couple's commitment to each other.
Comparison
Both civil and religious vows are a formal and public pledge of love and a promise of lifelong commitment. The main difference lies in the venue and the inclusion or exclusion of religious references. Civil vows offer more venue choices and flexibility in personalisation, while religious vows follow a more traditional format and are typically held in a religious setting.
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Legal declarations
The legal declarations in wedding vows are a crucial aspect of the ceremony, affirming the couple's intention to enter into a legally binding marriage. These declarations are typically made in addition to the personal vows or promises exchanged between the couple. Here is some information regarding these legal declarations:
Traditional Declaration
The traditional declaration is a solemn affirmation, stating that the individual is unaware of any lawful impediment to their marriage:
> "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (your name) may not be joined in matrimony to (your partner's name)."
Modern Declaration
A more contemporary version of the declaration maintains the same sentiment but with slightly different wording:
> "I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (your name) may not be joined in marriage to (your partner's name)."
Simplified Declaration
This option is a concise inquiry posed by the registrar:
> "Are you (your full name) free, lawfully, to marry (your partner's name)?"
Contracting Words
In addition to the declarations, contracting words are also a vital component of the legal vows. These words signify the couple's commitment to each other and their promise to uphold the marriage:
> "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I (your name) do take thee (your partner's name) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband."
It is important to note that these are standard examples, and slight variations may exist based on different sources. Additionally, while personalisation of the ceremony is encouraged, any personal vows or promises must adhere to specific guidelines, excluding any religious content, and will need to be pre-approved by the registrar.
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Contracting words
The legal declaration and contracting words, also known as vows, are an essential part of a wedding ceremony. Contracting words are a promise of lifelong commitment to your partner. While there are three sets of legal contracting words to choose from, you can also personalise your ceremony with your own vows or promises, as long as they are non-religious and pre-approved by the registrar.
The traditional contracting words are:
> "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (your full legal name) may not be joined in matrimony to (your partner's full legal name)."
The modern version is:
> "I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (your full legal name) may not be joined in marriage to (your partner's full legal name)."
The simplified option is a question posed by the registrar:
> "Are you (your full legal name) free, lawfully, to marry (your partner's full legal name)?"
The contracting words are followed by vows, which can also be personalised or chosen from a selection. An example of a standard vow is:
> "I (your name) do take thee (your partner's name) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband. I promise to care for you, to give you my love and friendship, and to respect and cherish you throughout the rest of our lives together."
Another example of a vow is:
> "I will seek to build a strong, loving relationship based on kindness, understanding and trust that are already part of us both. I promise to love you in good times and bad, to cherish and care for you, to live with you in love and harmony, whatever the future may bring."
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Personalisation
Registry office wedding vows are legally binding. While a civil ceremony has a standard format, there are many ways to personalise the wedding with vows, promises, readings, and music.
You can personalise your registry office wedding vows by writing your own. You can include personal vows or promises, but they must not contain any religious content and will need to be pre-approved by the registrar. You can also choose from a traditional, modern, or simplified declaration.
- "I promise to love you in good times and bad, to cherish and care for you, to live with you in love and harmony, whatever the future may bring."
- "I promise to share my life with you as an equal partner, and to ensure that our love and friendship continue to grow."
- "I will seek to build a strong, loving relationship based on kindness, understanding and trust that are already part of us both."
In addition to personalising your vows, you can also choose your own readings and music. You can select any music you like for your civil ceremony, but it cannot include hymns or any religious content. You can also choose to include a friend or relative to present your reading, or the registrar can do this for you.
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Ceremony location
Registry office wedding vows are typically used in civil ceremonies. These can take place in a variety of locations, including a register office or any approved venue. If you choose to hold your civil ceremony at an approved venue, it is possible for the entire ceremony to take place outdoors.
For example, Pynes House offers a range of indoor and outdoor civil ceremony locations, from their front courtyard to their Drawing Room.
If you are looking for a more intimate setting, you may choose to have a small civil ceremony at the registrar's office before your wedding. This can be a lovely way to personalise your ceremony and make it more meaningful.
It is important to note that, regardless of the location, a civil ceremony must not include any religious references in words or music. This includes hymns and religious music. However, you are welcome to include non-religious readings, poems, or music of your choice to personalise your ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
Registry office wedding vows are also known as civil ceremony vows. They are non-religious and can be held in a register office or an approved venue.
There are three types of declaration to choose from: traditional, modern, and simplified. You can also personalise the ceremony with your own vows or promises, but they must be pre-approved by the registrar and contain no religious content.
Here is an example of the traditional declaration: "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (your name) may not be joined in matrimony to (your partner's name)". An example of a vow is: "I promise to love you in good times and bad, to cherish and care for you, to live with you in love and harmony, whatever the future may bring".
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