VOW GLOSSARY
- Individual Vows -- each of you has your own vow statements which can be identical or different.
- Unison Vows -- each of you has identical vow statements which you recite in unison as prompted by the Officiant or by memory.
- Memorized Vows -- Easier done than you might think. Officiant could have a 'prompt card' and be ready to give you a reminder, if needed. Memorized vows may have unexpected vows at times (see "spontaneous vows" below), which believe it or not, work perfectly.
- Spontaneous Vows -- where you would leave what you say for your vows to the very moment of them. These are often the most "feeling' of vows because they come right from the heart.
- Question Vows -- very traditional vows in the sense that they are in question form. Any vow statement can be made into a question. Example: "Will you take her to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold and to love her from this day forward?" (response follows)
- Traditional Vows -- More or less with these words: "I take you to be my wife (husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish you, until death due we part. This is my solemn vow."
- Modern Vows -- Just about any vow statement other than the traditional is considered modern. Example: "I vow to laugh with you in good times and to be right with you in challenging times and to be devoted to you until our lives shall end."
- Traditional-Modern Vow Combo (example) -- "I vow to laugh with you in good times and to be right with you in challenging times; to always have and hold you, for better, for worse, until the end of time. This is my solemn vow:"
- Denominational Vows (Buddhist example) -- "May we be peaceful. May we be happy. May we walk together through all things. May we be provided for under any condition."