Heartfelt & Creative Wedding Vows for Him to Inspire You

Though it has become more popular in recent years to personalize your vows, there’s nothing wrong with going a more formal or traditional route. These vows are timeless, and are a great option if you’re worried about getting tongue-tied on the big day.

Formal vows often take on the traditions of the couple’s religious and/or cultural background, so take some time to research vow options that are in accordance with your faith. You may also want to consult your officiant if they are a pastor or priest, as they can help you build formal vows as well. For additional ideas, you can check out our complete guide to traditional wedding vows.

• “I, _____, take you, _____, to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.”
• "I,_____, take you, _____, to be my wife/husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life."
• Catholic: "____, I give you this ring as a symbol 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."
• "This ring I give you, in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."

• Jewish (traditionally said in Hebrew): "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
• Hindu:
  “Let us take the first step to provide for our household a nourishing and pure diet, avoiding those foods injurious to healthy living.
  Let us take the second step to develop physical, mental, and spiritual powers.
  Let us take the third step to increase our wealth by righteous means and proper use.
  Let us take the fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness, and harmony by mutual love and trust.
  Let us take the fifth step so that we are blessed with strong, virtuous, and heroic children.
  Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.
  Finally, let us take the seventh step and be true companions and remain lifelong partners by this wedlock.“
• Muslim: “I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful husband.”
• “I, _____, commit myself to you, _____, as a wife/husband to learn and grow with, to explore and adventure with, to respect you in everything as an equal partner, in the foreknowledge of joy and pain, strength and weariness, direction and doubt, for all the risings and settings of the sun. We tie these knots to symbolize our connection to one another. They represent our trust in each other and our combined strength together.”

Sometimes less is more. A succinct statement can often carry more weight than a drawn-out speech. Touching one-line vows are also much easier for your fiancé and the other wedding attendees to remember long after the day is over. Here are some one-liner examples of vows for him.

• “My dreams at night are reflections of joyous times we have spent together and adventures that await.”
• “I have never been more certain of a decision than wanting to spend the rest of my life with you.”
• “When I look in your eyes, I am reminded how lucky I am.”
• “Sometimes I like to watch you just go about your normal activities and reflect on the joy you bring to my life.”
• “I am a better person with you in my life.”
• “I am excited about what my life path holds with you sitting shotgun.”
• “Words can’t describe the amount of joy you bring to my life.”
• “I love and cherish you, secure in the knowledge that you are my best friend, my dearest, my kind and adoring wife/husband.”
• “Making you smile is the biggest accomplishment of my life.”
• “I can’t wait to hold your hand as my wife/husband for the rest of my life.”
• “You have the core of my heart beating for you, a love beyond what words can express.”
• “You are my dream come true, and I can’t wait for the reality we get to build together.”
• “Forever with you simply will not be enough, but from this day forward, I vow to make the most of every moment.”
• “With this ring, I promise that you’ll never have to face the world alone.”
• “You are my guide to love, my every wish, and the person I want to grow old with.”

If a one-liner doesn’t capture the depth of your love, then creating complete, deeply romantic vows might be the best way to express yourself. Below we have compiled a collection of more detailed wedding vow examples for him to build upon a congruent thought or theme. Read through these sample vows to gain inspiration and select the best wording — don’t be afraid to put your personal spin on what you see here!

• “I could thank you for loving me, but instead I want to thank you for showing me that I deserve to be loved. And I could thank you for fixing me, but instead I want to thank you for showing me that I was never broken.”
• “I promise to be your faithful spouse. I vow to love you when the sun shines, when the rain falls, in sickness, and in health, through good times and bad. When you look at this ring, think of me and remember that I love you always.

• “When you walked into my life, love walked in. It was a magical moment that I will treasure forever with you. I will walk together with you and with love.”
• “All I have in this world I give to you, I promise to hold and keep you, comfort, protect, and shelter you, for all the days of my life.”
• “I promise you my unconditional love, tenderness, and undying devotion, to not ask you to be more than you are, and to love you for being you.”
• “Today, _____, I join my life to yours, not merely as your partner, but as your friend, your lover, and your confidant. Let me be the shoulder you lean on, the rock on which you rest, the companion of your life. With you, I will walk my path from this day forward.”
• “On this day I pledge to be the partner you dreamed of marrying when you were a child. It will be my continued goal to uncover all your dreams for the future and work toward making them a reality that we can both share and enjoy.”
• “When you smile I feel a level of accomplishment you wouldn’t begin to understand. When you cry, I interpret it as a failure on my behalf. I view your emotions as a gauge of how I am performing as a soon-to-be spouse. I promise to continue to watch over you and strive to keep a smile on your face for all the days to come.”
• “I want your worst. Give me your bad hair days, your long commutes, your burnt coffee, your lost keys, your stained clothes. Give me your every day, and I will give you my love to make it alright.”

Even if you aren’t the overly sentimental type, you can still infuse a bit of personality in your vows! Take this as an opportunity to showcase the laughter — along with the love — that makes your relationship so strong. It is always a good idea to ground your funny wedding vows in humor your spouse-to-be and guests will connect with, like a personal story or anecdote. We have a complete guide to writing funny vows, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

• “I promise to beat anyone up who makes you cry. And if I'm the one who made you cry, I promise to beat myself up and do everything in my power to make you laugh again."
• “I promise to love you five-ever, because it's more than four-ever.”
• "I promise to unclog the tub, even though only one of us has long hair."
• “I promise to turn on the air conditioning when you are hot, even if I am totally freezing.”
• “I vow to always get a professional, even though I really want to try and do it myself first.”

• “Once I take your hand, I promise I'll never let you go — our clothes will have to be specially made — but it’ll be worth it.”
• “I vow to take your hand when it is too dark, and the dog out when it is too early.”
• “I vow not to continue watching a Netflix series we started together without you. Or at least pretend it's the first time I’ve watched it when we watch it again.”

State who your spouse is to you.
They could be your best friend, your lover, or your partner in all things.

Share a key thing that you love or cherish about your partner.
This could be a special story, a memory, or anything that feels relevant. Think about what your partner does to make you feel special, the moment you knew you loved them, and what inspires you about them to get started. This is also a great place to inject a bit of humor, if you feel comfortable doing so!

Share why you cherish your status as a couple.
This could be a short line about how your partner has helped you become the person you are today, or a few sentences on the challenges you’ve overcome together.

Clearly state what you are promising your partner.
Use phrases like “I vow to,” “I pledge to,” and “I promise to.” Try to keep your list of promises as succinct and as meaningful as possible. Typically, these include something that communicates that you will support your partner no matter what, how you plan to build your future together, and how you promise to ensure they feel loved.

Share a favorite quote, saying, or belief.
This is optional, but think of it as your spousal mission statement. (The quotes shared earlier in this article are great options to include here!)

Emphasize your life-long commitment. Close your vows by reiterating to your spouse that you intend to love, cherish, and support them for the rest of your life.

What is it about your fiancé that makes them so special to you? Why do you want to spend the rest of your life with this person? What do you want to tell your loved one in front of all your closest family and friends?

As you jot down these questions and answers, see what path you are led down. Can you draw inspiration from this exercise to help draft groom vows that are sourced from your heart?

Everyone loves a good story. Close your eyes and think of some of the fondest memories you share with your fiancé. Maybe it is a fun anecdote of a trip on a lake when one person fell overboard. Or it could be a time you went wine tasting together in Napa. Look through photo albums on your phone to jog your memory on fun adventures you may have shared with your partner.

Once you have a story or two in mind, explain how much fun the two of you had and how that experience is a reflection of the times to come. What character traits exemplify why you love your fiance so much? If you can include a funny moment or two in your anecdote, that can help balance out the sentimental moments that may have the wedding guests teary-eyed.

This one is probably the trickiest to pull off, but if executed correctly, can be a very powerful way to express your vows. Think about your partner and see if there is something they are passionate about. Perhaps they are learning astronomy and are fond of the constellations. Maybe they are taking up rock climbing and learning to scale new peaks.

Brainstorm a list of terms and ideas that fit in with a certain theme and then see how you may be able to weave them into a well-thought-out summary of your love and vows for the future. For example, “Like the ancient astronomers who gazed into the heavens in anticipation wondering what clues about our universe they would discover, I share a similar excitement for what the future holds when I gaze into your eyes.”

Some people choose to memorize their vows, while others write them on an index card (or piece of personalized stationery) and recite them. Whatever approach you take, it is encouraged that you verbalize your vows before the ceremony to make sure you don’t stumble on some of the words. Take note of areas where you should pause and allow time for your new spouse to digest the meaning.

We all know that people can interpret the same message differently. Practice reading your vows to a trusted friend (a groomsman, perhaps?) or family member to get their honest feedback. Ask them what they thought about your words, the meaning, and your overall presentation.

Have a chat with the officiant to understand when the vows will be exchanged during the ceremony. Understanding the sequence of events in your marriage ceremony will help you feel less anxious and be better able to relax into the moment. Be sure to ask the officiant who will be reading their vows first, you or your spouse? If you are going second, understand that you may be more emotional having just heard your spouse’s vows and seen them deliver their heartfelt words.

Though not as bad as misplacing your rings, you definitely don’t want to be caught unprepared when it comes time to say your vows. Have your best man hold on to a backup copy of your vows just to be safe. He is up there near the altar with you for a reason!

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, but remember your vows are just about you and your partner! If you’re feeling anxious when it comes time to speak, take a deep breath and steady yourself. Keep your focus on your spouse and allow yourself to really feel the love you’ve poured into your vows. However that love gets expressed is absolutely perfect.