I’m Kayla, and I actually stood there—white dress, shaky hands, church full of cousins—and said the Catholic marriage vows. Not a sample script. The real words. I’ll tell you what felt holy, what felt stiff, and what made me cry anyway.
Want a second opinion? Here’s an unfiltered look from another bride who also went all-in on the official Catholic marriage vows.
And yes, I’ll write out the vows we used so you can see them plain as day.
The Setup (Short and sacred)
In the Catholic rite, the key part is called consent. That’s church-speak for “the vows.” You can do it inside a full Mass or a simple ceremony. We had a nuptial Mass because my grandma asked and, well, you don’t cross Grandma Maria.
Our priest kept it simple. He walked us through every step so I didn’t freeze. Good thing, because my voice went thin the second I said “I promise.”
Real Examples We Used (U.S. parish)
These are the actual forms we were offered. Our priest said we could choose one style.
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Repeat-after-me style:
“I, [Name], take you, [Name], to be my wife/husband.
I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health;
to love you and to honor you all the days of my life.” -
“I do” question style:
“Do you, [Name], take [Name] to be your wife/husband?
Do you promise to be faithful to her/him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health,
to love her/him and to honor her/him all the days of your life?”
“I do.” -
Rings (what we said as we put them on):
“Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Before the vows, our priest also asked the intention questions. Ours sounded like this:
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“Have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?”
“I have.” -
“Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?”
“I am.” -
“Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”
“I am.”
Small note: wording can shift a bit by country or parish, but this is very close to what we said. If you want to compare the exact, church-approved phrasing and see where each line comes from in the Roman Rite, skim the concise breakdown on Catholic Wedding Help.
For even deeper dives into phrasing—from Catholic to civil and everything in between—check out this side-by-side vow guide that dissects each line and what it really means.
And if you’re leaning toward promises lifted straight from Scripture instead of the Roman Missal, skim through this candid review of biblical wedding vows—complete with printable examples you can snag.
What Hit Me (and why I almost forgot my own name)
The phrasing is short. It’s clean. It doesn’t fuss. I thought I’d want a long poem. Turns out, those one-liners punched right through my chest.
Curious how to weave actual passages into the ceremony without turning it into a marathon reading? This blow-by-blow account of using Bible verses at a wedding breaks down what soars and what sinks.
When I got to “in sickness and in health,” I saw my dad nod. He had chemo last year. The line stopped being a line. It became a life.
You know what? The honor part surprised me. Not just love. Honor. That word made me stand taller. It felt like work language—like a contract—but tender. Odd mix. I liked it.
What I Loved
- It’s brief, so the moment stays crisp. No rambling.
- It’s old, but not dusty. The words feel steady and safe.
- I didn’t have to be a poet. I could just mean it.
- Community matters. When the church heard “I do,” it wasn’t just us. It felt like a team behind us.
What Bugged Me (a little)
- There’s not much room to customize inside the vow text. If you want jokes or stories, do that at the reception or in your letters.
- Stage fright is real. The chapel echoed. My voice shook, and the mic squealed once. Not cute.
- Timing can feel fast. The priest keeps it moving, which is good, but I wanted a beat to breathe.
A Few Tips I Wish Someone Told Me
- Practice both styles. Try the repeat-after-me and the “I do.” Pick the one that calms you.
- Ask about language. If you’re bilingual, see if the priest can do part in Spanish, Tagalog, or whatever your family speaks. Hearing “fidelity” in your heart language lands different.
- Print the ring words big. Your hands will shake. Big font helps.
- Take one deep breath after the intention questions. Then say the vow.
- If you want personal words, share them later. We read letters to each other after dinner. No mics. Just us.
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If you’re hunting for vows that sit somewhere between fully custom and fully liturgical, have a peek at these field-tested Christian wedding vows—they blend tradition with a dash of personalization.
Who It’s Great For
- Couples who want faith first and promises that last.
- Families who care about tradition but don’t want a long script.
- Anyone who gets choked up easily. The clarity helps.
Maybe not perfect for:
- Couples who want fully custom vows during the ceremony. The Catholic rite sticks to the formula.
How It Felt After
Walking back down the aisle, I kept hearing “honor you.” Funny, right? Not “love you.” Honor you. It’s the part that felt like a daily thing. Like packing lunches, or watching the baby at 3 a.m., or saying “I’m sorry” when you don’t feel like it.
Honestly, that’s marriage.
For a pastoral reflection on what promises like “honor” and “faithful” demand day-to-day, the marriage ministry site For Your Marriage unpacks each word with practical examples.
My Verdict
- Clarity: 5/5
- Emotion: 4.5/5 (simple words, deep hit)
- Flexibility: 3/5
- Overall: 4.5/5 — short, solemn, and steady. It holds.
Would I choose these vows again? Yes. Every time. They’re not flashy. They’re faithful. And that’s the whole point.