Non-traditional wedding vows | Go bespoke
When I ask any couple I’m working with what they mean by non-traditional wedding vows, they all have a different answer. Some could be thinking of creating personal promises that are still quite conservative whereas others might want to make wedding vows to one another that are more obviously unconventional.
What they can all usually agree on is what traditional wedding vows are and it’s always ‘for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health’ – in other words the legally-binding wedding vows of the Church of England* wedding ceremony. Since the vows end ‘according to God’s holy law’, by ‘non-traditional’ some couples mean ‘non-religious’, whereas for other brides and grooms, it’s not about religion but about wanting their individuality to be represented. Whilst they respect the fact that millions of couples have said these vows over the centuries, they would rather do things their own way.
So what options does that leave them? Well, the first thing to say is that if you are marrying in church and would like some non-traditional vows to go alongside the traditional, it’s well worth discussing this with your Vicar. There might be more flexibility than you realise and I can certainly suggest some bespoke ideas that you can put forward.
If you’re having a civil wedding ceremony though, held in either a Register Office or a licensed venue, it’s easier to add some non-traditional vows of your own to complement your pick of the statutory words everyone must say. I design and write all sorts of wedding vows, written with your words, from a few simple lines to full-repetition statement pieces. It really depends what you’re looking for and what will fit well within your Registrar-led ceremony.
We could take your separate answers to the same question about how and why you love and create the most beautiful statement vows, each sharing certain promises but with your own unique touches as well. Or why don’t we have a mix of more fun promises that you each want to include with more serious wording too, so they balance each other out? No matter what we create together, you’ll know that nobody else has ever, or will ever, say exactly the same words on their wedding day. For many couples, that’s why non-traditional wedding vows appealed in the first place.
Whatever we decide would suit, your Registrar will want to sign off on any additional content beforehand, which is why when I put my writing range together I consulted with the General Register Office direct.
If you’d like to explore the bespoke declarations, vows and ring exchanges I create for wedding ceremonies nationwide just follow these links or drop me a line.
I’ll be delighted to hear from you.
Hannah Wroe Gill | Writer | Words and Wisdom
*Please note that this post refers to the current marriage law in England and Wales. Ceremony rules in other parts of the UK and elsewhere in the world may vary.
