Vows in a Wedding Ceremony

When it comes to writing your wedding vows many couples wonder where to begin. Every ceremony in Australia must include the legal wording as stated in the Marriage Act 1961. These are the essential words that make your marriage official in the eyes of the law as shown below.

I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, A.B. (or C.D.), take thee, C.D. (or A.B.), to be my lawful wedded wife (husband or spouse)’; or words to that effect.

These words must be included in the ceremony. They are the minimum words which must be exchanged by the couple to ensure that they fully understand the nature of the ceremony and that they are marrying each other.

From there you are welcome to personalise your vows in whatever way feels right for you as a couple. I can offer suggestions to help get you started which can sometimes spark ideas or inspiration, or you are more than welcome to write your own completely from the heart. There is no need to memorise anything. I prepare your vows on a card for you to read to one another so you can simply be present in the moment.

If you would like your vows to remain a secret until the ceremony, I make sure they are not included in any shared documents or emails. Your promises to one another should unfold exactly the way you imagine.

My role is to make your wedding all about you. Your story, your words and your connection. Just the way it should be.