Cultural Wedding Vow Ideas
Work with your wedding officiant to create a ceremony that beautifully reflects your union, complete with marriage vows that honor your heritage as you plan your wedding.
1. Baptist Wedding Vows
For couples who want to honor their Protestant faith through traditional Christian marriage vows, Baptist wedding vows are a good place to start.
The Baptist church is the most populous Protestant Christian denomination in the United States, and there's a good chance that your family, or even some of your guests, have a deep connection to the denomination's wedding tradition.
At a Baptist wedding ceremony, partners will share their promises and commitments during the exchange of vows, which occurs immediately before the exchange of wedding rings.
2. Buddhist Wedding Vows
Buddhist wedding vows are not spoken aloud. While newlyweds can exchange verbal vows, it's not required at a Buddhist wedding ceremony. Whether exchanged silently or aloud, Buddhist wedding vows express a couple's desire to work together toward enlightenment.
3. Celtic Wedding Vows
Celtic vows have been passed down through generations and are an excellent choice for couples who want to honor their Irish, Scottish, or Welsh ancestors. For those incorporating Celtic traditions into their wedding, a handfasting ceremony is a nice way to complement your Celtic marriage vows.
4. Greek Orthodox Wedding Vows
Despite their rich tradition, Greek and Eastern Orthodox wedding ceremonies don’t include wedding vows. Because the wedding ceremony is viewed as the couple's union through the eyes of God rather than the law, formal vows are often omitted.
However, many elements of the ceremony, such as the crowing, candle lighting, and common cup, take place to symbolize the couple's bond. Many modern couples like the idea of exchanging verbal vows and making promises to each other in a private setting.
5. Hindu Wedding Vows
During a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony, the vows are exchanged by taking seven steps or saptapadi around a holy fire known as Agni. Each of the seven steps corresponds to a promise made by the couple to each other.
These seven steps, along with the other Hindu wedding rituals, serve to bind the couple in wedded matrimony.
6. Interfaith Wedding Vows
Couples with different religious or cultural backgrounds may want to create blended wedding vows that incorporate elements from both upbringings.
When it comes to crafting your vows and deciding which phrases to include and which to leave out, working with your officiant or even two officiants if you want someone from both religions or cultures to preside is the best approach.
7. Jewish Wedding Vows
A traditional Jewish wedding ceremony doesn't include spoken wedding vows. Instead, the ring exchange and seven blessings (Sheva Brachot) are traditionally used to symbolize the marriage contract. However, many modern couples enjoy the idea of exchanging self-written promises and choose to include vows in their wedding ceremony.
8. Muslim Wedding Vows
During the nikah, or marriage ceremony, most Muslim couples do not recite vows but rather listen to the imam (cleric), who speaks about the meaning of marriage and the couple's responsibilities to each other and to Allah.
At the conclusion of this ritual, the couple consents to marry and is blessed by the congregation. However, some modern Muslim couples choose to recite vows.
9. Cherokee Wedding Vows
Cherokee wedding ceremonies are steeped in tradition, with vows, readings, and poems passed from generation to generation. During a Cherokee wedding ceremony, the couple can choose to honor natural forces such as fire, wind, and water in exchange for the blessing they bring to their spouse.
Every faith, race, and culture has traditional wedding vows that are heartfelt, intimate, and spiritual, bringing the couple's commitment to the forefront.
Wedding vows that have survived through many generations are not only deeply felt but also powerful, meaningful, and very personal. Jeanne's Hair and Makeup Studio values and respects all of our clients' cultures and traditions.
We have a beautiful space to get hair and makeup done, as well as offer on-site hair and makeup for brides as well as their parties. We also have a small location on site for exchanging vows, as well as a sweet area for preparation for your minimony. We work hard to make sure your day is perfect, in the space that is best for you.
If you want to learn more about who we are and what we do, please visit our website and get in touch with us.