The Statutory Wedding Vows

The minimum wedding vows required for your marriage to be legal are the declatory words and contracting words shown below. These words must be said by both of you and be used somewhere in your ceremony. You will usually be allowed to add your own choice of vows before or after these statutory wedding vows:

In England and Wales the statutory declaration is:

"I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, [your name], may not be joined in matrimony to [your partner's name]."

followed by these contracting words:

"I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, [your name], do take thee [your partner's name] to be my lawful wedded husband [or wife]."

However, since February 1997, you may choose to use either of the following alternative declaratory and contracting words:

Alternative Declaratory Words

I declare that I know of no legal reason why I, [your full name], may not be joined in marriage to [your partner's full name].

or

by replying 'I am' to the question 'Are you, [your full name], free lawfully
to marry [your partner's full name]'.

Alternative Contracting Words

I, [your full name], take you, [your partner's full name], to be my wedded wife [or husband].

or

I, [your full name], take thee, [your partner's full name],
to be my wedded wife [or husband].

In Scotland the wedding vows are:

"I solemnly declare that I know of no legal impediment why I, [your name], may not be joined in matrimony to [your partner's name].

In Northern Ireland the statutory declaration is:

"I know of no lawful impediment why I, [your name], may not be joined in matrimony to [your partner's name]. I, [your name], take you [your partner's name] to be my lawful wedded husband [or wife].