
There are hundreds of Protestant churches in America that are not affiliated with any particular denomination. Their styles of worship vary, as do their names. For example, you may see nondenominational churches with names such as "Valley Community Church" or "The Little Church in the Vale." Here are examples of marriage vow phrasings commonly used by this type of church.
"Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in holy matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
The groom answers:
"I do."
Then, the minister continues by asking the same of the bride.
A very simple form of the traditional Protestant vow is in the form of a statement made by the minister:
"This celebration is the outward token of a sacred and inward union of the hearts which the Church does bless and the State makes legal...a union created by loving purpose and kept by abiding will."
Then the minister asks the bride and groom:
"Is it in this spirit and for this purpose that you have come here to be joined together?"
The bride and groom simply respond:
"Yes, I have."
The couple joins right hands and recites these traditional vows to each other, either from memory, or by prompting from the officiant:
"I take you to be my wedded 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 do us part.
This is my solemn vow
According to God's holy ordinance;
And thereto I plight you my troth."
"I, ________________, take thee, _________________, to be my wedded husband / wife, 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, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."
Minister (to the groom): "__________________, wilt thou have __________________ to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"
Groom: "I will."
Minister (to the bride): "___________________, wilt thou have ______________________ to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others,
keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"
Bride: "I will."
(The bride and groom join right hands, face each other and repeat the vows after the minister.)
Groom: "I, ________________, take thee __________________ to be my wedded wife; and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be thy loving and faithful husband, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
Bride: "I, _________________, take thee ______________________ to be my wedded husband; and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be thy loving and faithful wife, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
Minister (to the groom): " __________________, will you take ___________________ to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and cherish her in sickness and in health, be true and loyal to her, as long as you both shall live?"
Groom: "I will."
Minister (to the bride): "_________________, will you take ______________________ to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage? Will you love, honor and cherish him in sickness and in health, be true and loyal to him, as long as you both shall live?"
Bride: "I will."
(The bride and groom join right hands, face each other and repeat the vows after the minister.)
Groom: "I, _________________, take you ___________________ to be my wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage. I promise to love and comfort you, honor and keep you, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, I will be yours alone as long as we both shall live."
Bride: "I, _________________, take you ______________________ to be my wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage. I promise to love and obey you, honor and keep you, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, I will be yours alone as long as we both shall live."
Minister (to the groom): ''__________________, will you take ____________________ to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage? Will you love, honor and cherish her in sickness and in health, be true and loyal to her, as long as you both shall live?"
Groom: "I will."
Minister (to the bride): "_________________, will you take ______________________ to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage? Will you love, honor and cherish him in sickness and in health, be true and loyal to him, as long as you both shall live?"
Bride: "I will."
(The bride and groom join right hands, face each other and repeat the vows after the minister.)
Groom: "_____________________, I now take you to be my wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage. I promise to love and comfort you, honor and keep you, and forsaking all others, I will be yours alone as long as we both shall live."
Bride: "__________________, I now take you to be my wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage. I promise to love you and obey you, honor and keep you, and forsaking all others, I will be yours alone as long as we both shall live."