The Pledge, also called the Betrothal or the Declaration of Intent, is a declaration of free will and intent.
This is the part of the ceremony where the bride and groom say “I do” or “I will”.
The Pledge is when the couple will make declarations of their intentions to the gathering or witnesses. This is different than the vows, in which the bride and groom make promises to each other.
This is the part of the ceremony where the bride and groom say “I do” or “I will”.
The Pledge is when the couple will make declarations of their intentions to the gathering or witnesses. This is different than the vows, in which the bride and groom make promises to each other.
At this point in the ceremony the bride and groom face one another and join hands. The officiant will usually preface the betrothal with an instruction to the couple, advising them to turn to each other and hold hands.
Here is a list of the Pledge options currently offered on the free Build A Wedding Ceremony automated tool for putting together your ceremony.
The Pledge or Betrothal / Declaration Of Intent In A Wedding Ceremony:
The Pledge or Betrothal / Declaration Of Intent In A Wedding Ceremony:
1.
Officiant:
Having freely and prayerfully chosen each other as partners for life, and in an expression of your total commitment to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
________, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Officiant:
Having freely and prayerfully chosen each other as partners for life, and in an expression of your total commitment to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
________, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Groom Responds: I will.
Officiant: To Bride:
________, will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Bride responds: I will.
Officiant: To Bride:
________, will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Bride responds: I will.
2.
Officiant:
As an expression of your total willingness to commit yourself to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
_______, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for __________? Do you promise to affirm her, respect her, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to her?
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
_________, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for __________? Do you promise to affirm him, respect him, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to him?
Bride responds: I do.
Officiant:
As an expression of your total willingness to commit yourself to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
_______, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for __________? Do you promise to affirm her, respect her, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to her?
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
_________, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for __________? Do you promise to affirm him, respect him, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to him?
Bride responds: I do.
3.
Officiant:
As an expression of your willingness to total commit yourself to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.
Officiant: To Groom: _______, will you have ______to be your wife, to live with her, respect her, and love her as God intends with the promise of faithfulness, tenderness, and helpfulness, as long as you both shall live?
Groom Responds: I will
Officiant: To Bride: _______, will you have ______to be your husband, to live with him, respect him, and love him as God intends with the promise of faithfulness, tenderness, and helpfulness as long as you both shall live?
Bride responds: I will.
Officiant:
As an expression of your willingness to total commit yourself to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.
Officiant: To Groom: _______, will you have ______to be your wife, to live with her, respect her, and love her as God intends with the promise of faithfulness, tenderness, and helpfulness, as long as you both shall live?
Groom Responds: I will
Officiant: To Bride: _______, will you have ______to be your husband, to live with him, respect him, and love him as God intends with the promise of faithfulness, tenderness, and helpfulness as long as you both shall live?
Bride responds: I will.
4.
Officiant:
Please turn to each other and hold hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
___________ , is it your wish to let your pledge be known to all these witnesses gathered here today that you will take this woman ___________ to be your wife in the divine sanctity of marriage. And will you honor, respect her and be true to her above all others?
Groom Responds: I will
Officiant: To Bride: ___________, is it your wish to let your pledge be known to all these witnesses gathered here today that you will take this man ___________ to be your husband in the divine sanctity of marriage. And will you honor, respect him and be true to him above all others?
Bride Responds: I will
Officiant:
Please turn to each other and hold hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
___________ , is it your wish to let your pledge be known to all these witnesses gathered here today that you will take this woman ___________ to be your wife in the divine sanctity of marriage. And will you honor, respect her and be true to her above all others?
Groom Responds: I will
Officiant: To Bride: ___________, is it your wish to let your pledge be known to all these witnesses gathered here today that you will take this man ___________ to be your husband in the divine sanctity of marriage. And will you honor, respect him and be true to him above all others?
Bride Responds: I will
5.
Officiant: And now, please turn to one another and join hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
Do you take ________ to be your wedded wife, to love her to protect her, to provide for her, to be unto her a loving husband, and forsaking all others promise unto her your faithfulness.
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
Do you take ________ to be your wedded husband, to inspire him, to encourage him, to be unto him a loving wife, and forsaking all others promise unto him your faithfulness.
Bride Responds: I do.
Officiant: And now, please turn to one another and join hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
Do you take ________ to be your wedded wife, to love her to protect her, to provide for her, to be unto her a loving husband, and forsaking all others promise unto her your faithfulness.
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
Do you take ________ to be your wedded husband, to inspire him, to encourage him, to be unto him a loving wife, and forsaking all others promise unto him your faithfulness.
Bride Responds: I do.
6.
Officiant: And now I ask you to please face one another and take each other’s hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
Do you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded wife? If so answer “I do”.
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
Do you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded husband? If so answer “I do”.
Bride Responds: I do.
Officiant: And now I ask you to please face one another and take each other’s hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
Do you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded wife? If so answer “I do”.
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
Do you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded husband? If so answer “I do”.
Bride Responds: I do.
7.
Officiant:
Having freely and prayerfully chosen each other as partners for life, and in an expression of your total commitment to one another, I invite you to please join hands as you prepare to take your vows.
Officiant: To Groom:
_______, will you have ______ to be your wife, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives together in Jesus Christ? Will you stand by her faithfully and love, honor and cherish her as long as you both shall live?
Groom Responds: I will.
Officiant: To Bride:
_______, will you have ______ to be your husband, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives together in Jesus Christ? Will you stand by him faithfully and love, honor and cherish him as long as you both shall live?
Bride responds: I will.
Officiant:
Having freely and prayerfully chosen each other as partners for life, and in an expression of your total commitment to one another, I invite you to please join hands as you prepare to take your vows.
Officiant: To Groom:
_______, will you have ______ to be your wife, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives together in Jesus Christ? Will you stand by her faithfully and love, honor and cherish her as long as you both shall live?
Groom Responds: I will.
Officiant: To Bride:
_______, will you have ______ to be your husband, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives together in Jesus Christ? Will you stand by him faithfully and love, honor and cherish him as long as you both shall live?
Bride responds: I will.
8.
Officiant:
Having freely and prayerfully chosen each other as partners for life, and in an expression of your total commitment to one another, I invite you to please join hands as you prepare to take your vows.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
________, do you take ________ to be your wedded wife, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to strengthen this bond of love from this day forward with the best of all that you are? Will you stand by her in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and you will keep yourself to her alone as long as you both shall live?
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
________, do you take ________ to be your wedded husband, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will everything in your power to strengthen this bond of love from this day forward with the best of all that you are? Will you stand by him in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and you will keep yourself to him alone as long as you both shall live?
Bride Responds: I do.
Officiant:
Having freely and prayerfully chosen each other as partners for life, and in an expression of your total commitment to one another, I invite you to please join hands as you prepare to take your vows.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
________, do you take ________ to be your wedded wife, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to strengthen this bond of love from this day forward with the best of all that you are? Will you stand by her in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and you will keep yourself to her alone as long as you both shall live?
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
________, do you take ________ to be your wedded husband, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will everything in your power to strengthen this bond of love from this day forward with the best of all that you are? Will you stand by him in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and you will keep yourself to him alone as long as you both shall live?
Bride Responds: I do.
9.
Officiant:
And now I ask you to please face one another and take each other’s hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
Do you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to love, honor and respect, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live? If so answer “I do”.
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
Do you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to love, honor and respect, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live? If so answer “I do”.
Bride responds: I do.
Officiant:
And now I ask you to please face one another and take each other’s hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
Do you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to love, honor and respect, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live? If so answer “I do”.
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
Do you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to love, honor and respect, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live? If so answer “I do”.
Bride responds: I do.
10.
Officiant:
Now face one another and join hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
Do you take ________ as your wedded wife? If so answer “I do”.
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
Do you take ________ as your wedded husband? If so answer “I do”.
Bride responds: I do.
Officiant:
Now face one another and join hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant: To Groom:
Do you take ________ as your wedded wife? If so answer “I do”.
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant: To Bride:
Do you take ________ as your wedded husband? If so answer “I do”.
Bride responds: I do.
