Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding vows are promises made between two people during a wedding ceremony. While marriage is a legally binding contract, there are no specific words or phrases that are required by law to be said during the wedding ceremony. However, there are two basic elements that must be included for the wedding to be legally binding: the Declaration of Intent and the Pronouncement. The Declaration of Intent is when the couple verbally declares their intention to enter into a marriage contract, often in the form of vows or promises. The Pronouncement is when the officiant officially declares the couple to be married. While the specific words used in these sections are flexible, the legal paperwork, such as the marriage license and certificate, must be completed accurately and returned promptly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legal declaration | "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)" or "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)" or "Are you (your full legal name) free, lawfully, to marry (your partner's full legal name)?" |
| Contracting vows | "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I (your full legal name) do take thee (your partner's full legal name) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband" or "I (your full legal name) take you (your partner's full legal name) to be my wedded wife/husband" |
| Personal promises | "I promise that I will respect you as an individual, support you through difficult times, rejoice with you through happy times, be loyal to you always and, above all, love you as my wife/husband and friend" or "I promise to care for you above all others, to give you my love and friendship, support and comfort, and to respect and cherish you throughout our lives together" or "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" |
| Religious connotations | Allowed in music or readings but not in civil ceremonies |
| Rings | Not legally required but traditional |
| Readings and music | Allowed |
| Types of ceremonies | Civil, Anglican, Quaker, and Jewish |
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What You'll Learn
- In the UK, civil ceremonies must not mention God
- There is no legal requirement to exchange rings
- In England, Quaker, Jewish, and Anglican weddings are exempt from most rules
- The minimum legal requirement is to say declaratory and contracting words
- You can write your own vows, but they must be pre-approved by the registrar
In the UK, civil ceremonies must not mention God
In the UK, civil ceremonies are not permitted to include religious content, including mentions of God. This is because civil ceremonies are designed for those who are against religious marriage or do not believe in God, ensuring that non-religious people have the option of a secular wedding.
The legal requirement for wedding vows in a civil ceremony is to include a legal declaration and contracting vows. The declaration is a statement that there is no lawful reason the couple may not be joined in matrimony. The contracting vows are the promise to take one's partner to be one's wedded wife or husband.
There are traditional, modern, and simplified options for the legal declaration and contracting vows, which can be chosen by the couple. For example, the traditional declaration is:
> "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 option 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)."
After the legal declaration and contracting vows, couples can make personal promises to each other, which can be chosen from a selection or written by the couple. These personal promises must also not contain any religious content and will need to be pre-approved by the registrar.
While civil ceremonies cannot include religious content, couples can still include religious elements in their wedding day. For example, couples can have a pastor conduct a blessing after the civil ceremony or include religious music and readings.
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There is no legal requirement to exchange rings
While exchanging rings is a common practice during wedding ceremonies, it is not a legal requirement. This means that couples are not obliged to include rings as part of their ceremony. Instead, they have the freedom to personalise their vows and incorporate other meaningful elements that reflect their relationship and values.
The legal requirements for wedding vows are standardised and must be met for the marriage to be considered valid. These requirements include the use of specific declaratory and contracting words, which serve as a legal declaration of the couple's intention to marry. The declaratory words affirm that there are no known legal impediments to the marriage, while the contracting words express the willingness to enter into a marital union.
In a civil ceremony, the traditional declaration states: "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (full names) may not be joined in matrimony to (full names)". This can also be said in a modern or simplified manner. The modern declaration is: "I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (full names) may not be joined in marriage to (full names)". For the simplified version, the registrar asks: "Are you (full name) free, lawfully, to marry (partner's full name)?", to which the response is "I am".
After the legal declaration, couples have the option to include personal promises. These promises can be exchanged during the exchanging of rings or gifts, but they are not restricted to this moment. Couples can choose to write their own promises or select from a list of pre-approved options provided by the registrar. It is important to note that these personal promises must not contain any religious content in a civil ceremony.
Although exchanging rings is a long-standing tradition in many cultures, it is not mandated by law. Couples have the flexibility to include or exclude this element based on their personal preferences and the significance they attach to the exchange of rings within their relationship. Ultimately, the legal requirements for wedding vows centre on the declaratory and contracting words, leaving room for customisation and personal expression in other aspects of the ceremony.
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In England, Quaker, Jewish, and Anglican weddings are exempt from most rules
The legal requirements for wedding vows in the UK are complex and differ between England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and Scotland. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, a wedding ceremony must take place inside a building or "cemented fixture", whereas in Scotland, weddings can be held anywhere deemed "safe and dignified", including outdoor locations, as long as the venue is approved and licensed.
For Jewish weddings, the legal requirements are also relaxed. The religious vows used in the UK today are largely unchanged from the Sarum Rite in Medieval England and were first written in the Book of Common Prayer in 1549. However, the word "obey" for brides has not been used since 1928. A religious ceremony with traditional vows must be held in a registered religious building, whereas civil ceremonies can be held in a register office or any approved venue.
Anglican weddings in England also have fewer legal requirements. While civil ceremonies cannot include any religious references in words or music, Anglican weddings can include religious elements, such as the traditional "for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health" vow.
Regardless of the type of wedding, there are certain legal phrases that must be included in the vows for the marriage to be legally binding. These include declarations of no lawful impediment to the marriage and promises to take the other person as one's "lawful wedded wife/husband."
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The minimum legal requirement is to say declaratory and contracting words
In the UK, the legal requirements for wedding vows are quite strict, and while there is room for personalisation, there are two sets of phrases that must be included to make the ceremony legally binding. These are the declaratory and contracting words, which are a form of legal declaration and contracting vows.
The declaratory words are a declaration that there is no reason the couple may not be joined in matrimony. There are a few options for this declaration, including the traditional: "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (full names) may not be joined in matrimony to (full names)", and the modern: "I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (full names) may not be joined in marriage to (full names)". A simplified version is also available, where the registrar asks: "Are you (full name) free, lawfully, to marry (full name)?", to which the response is "I am".
The contracting words are a promise made to each other, often prompted by the registrar: "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I (full name) do take thee (full name) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband". A simplified version of this is also available: "I (full name) take you (full name) to be my wedded wife/husband".
After the legal declaration, couples can make personal promises to each other when exchanging rings or gifts. These can be written by the couple or chosen from a list of options. For example, "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". Importantly, these personal vows must not contain any religious content and will need to be pre-approved by the registrar.
While there is no legal requirement to include rings or religious content in the ceremony, these are both common traditions. The well-known "for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health" is not necessary in a civil ceremony but is required in Anglican vows.
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You can write your own vows, but they must be pre-approved by the registrar
While a civil marriage or civil partnership ceremony follows a fairly standard format, there are many opportunities to personalise your ceremony with vows, promises, readings, and music. During your marriage ceremony, you must say a legal declaration and contracting vows, which you can choose from the options provided by the local authority.
You can also write your own vows, but they must be pre-approved by the registrar. These vows must not contain any religious content. The declaration makes sure that there is no reason against your marriage. It is the "speak now or forever hold your peace" kind of thing. For example, "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impedient why I (your name) may not be joined in matrimony to (your partner's name)".
After the legal declaration, you can make personal promises to each other when exchanging rings or gifts. You can write your own personal promises or choose from the options provided. For example, "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".
In addition to making the legal declarations required by law, you can choose from a selection of vows to personalise your ceremony. You can choose to have them traditional, modern, or simplified.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Couples are free to create a completely customized wedding ceremony.
There are two basic elements that must be included for the wedding to be legally binding: the Declaration of Intent and the Pronouncement.
The Declaration of Intent is where the couple verbally declares their intention to enter into a marriage contract, often in the form of vows or promises.
The Pronouncement is where the officiant officially declares the couple to be married. This is often heard as, "And now, with the power vested in me by American Marriage Ministries, I pronounce you..."
Yes, in addition to the vows, the marriage license and certificate must be completed accurately and returned promptly for the marriage to be officially recorded and legalized.
