80+ Short Wedding Vows: Simple Vows for Your Ceremony

Wedding vows do not have to be long to be meaningful. Short wedding vows can say everything that matters in a few honest sentences: I will be faithful, I will be patient, I will care for you and your family. This page gathers more than 80 simple vows of one to three sentences each, ready to read at your ceremony or adapt in your own words.

If you are still deciding on style, see our main guide to wedding vows, or learn how to write wedding vows step by step. For vow-themed quotes, our live post on love quotes for wedding vows may help.

Quick Tips Before You Write

1. Choose three promises you can truly keep. Short vows are strongest when each one is honest.
2. Say them aloud at home. Short vows are easy to memorise, and speaking them builds confidence.
3. Avoid long lists. Three to five short lines are enough for most ceremonies.
4. Begin with “I promise” or “I vow” and finish with a closing line that names your partner.
5. Keep the language modest and sincere. A promise made quietly is often the most moving.

One-Sentence Wedding Vows

Perfect for couples who want brevity. Each vow stands alone.

1. I promise to be faithful to you in word, thought and deed.
2. I vow to care for you through every season of life.
3. I promise to be your friend, your partner and your home.
4. I will listen to you with patience and answer you with kindness.
5. I promise to respect you and your family always.
6. I vow to stand beside you in hardship and in ease.
7. I promise to be honest, even when it is difficult.
8. I will care for your heart as I care for my own.
9. I promise to forgive quickly and love steadily.
10. I vow to build a home of peace with you.
11. I promise to be grateful for you every day.
12. I will be your support when you are tired and your joy when you are glad.
13. I promise to share the load, the worries and the happiness.
14. I vow to keep my promises, big and small.

Two-Sentence Wedding Vows

A little more room to explain what the promise means to you.

1. I promise to stay by your side in good times and in hard times. I will never stop trying to understand you.
2. Today I give you my word. I will be faithful, patient and kind.
3. I vow to be honest with you always. I will treat your trust as my greatest treasure.
4. I promise to honour your family as my own. I will welcome them with warmth and respect.
5. I will listen when you speak and comfort you when you are troubled. You will never be alone.
6. I promise to work with you to build a peaceful home. I will do my part with joy.
7. I vow to be thankful for you. I will say so often.
8. I choose you today and every day after. I will keep that promise with all my heart.
9. I will be patient when life is slow and steady when life is fast. You can rely on me.
10. I promise to be gentle with your heart. I will protect it with my words and my actions.
11. I vow to laugh with you and to solve problems with you. Together we will be strong.
12. I will take care of you when you are unwell. I will rejoice with you when you are well.

Short Wedding Vows for the Bride

Vows a bride can say to her husband, calm and sincere.

1. I promise to be a loyal wife and a faithful friend.
2. I vow to make our home a place of peace.
3. I will respect you and honour your family.
4. I promise to be patient with you and with myself.
5. I will stand beside you in your dreams and your worries.
6. I vow to speak kindly, even when we disagree.
7. I promise to support your work and to share your burdens.
8. I will be grateful for you every morning.
9. I promise to be your companion for as long as I live.
10. I will walk with you wherever our path leads.
11. I vow to build a family full of kindness.
12. I promise to forgive and to ask forgiveness.

Short Wedding Vows for the Groom

Vows a groom can say to his wife, steady and respectful.

1. I promise to protect you, provide for you and respect you.
2. I vow to listen with patience and speak with care.
3. I will honour your family as I honour mine.
4. I promise to be faithful in all that I do.
5. I vow to share my worries and my joys with you.
6. I will be your support in sorrow and your friend in joy.
7. I promise to be a gentle husband and a responsible father.
8. I will keep our home peaceful and our hearts warm.
9. I vow to thank you for all that you do.
10. I promise never to take you for granted.
11. I will stand with you in every hardship.
12. I promise to grow with you in kindness and in wisdom.

Simple Vows for a Wedding Ceremony

Plain, dignified lines suited to a family ceremony where both sets of parents are present.

1. In front of our families, I promise to love and respect you.
2. I take you as my partner in life and promise to be true.
3. I will care for you and our family with all my strength.
4. I promise to be kind to you and to your loved ones.
5. Before our families, I give you my loyalty and my word.
6. I promise to build a life of honesty and mercy with you.
7. Today I join my life to yours with a grateful heart.
8. I accept you as my spouse and promise to cherish you.
9. I will be faithful, I will be patient, I will be yours.
10. With my family as witness, I make this vow to you.
11. I promise to hold you in respect all my days.
12. Together we will make a home and keep it well.

Short Vows for Second Marriages and Older Couples

When two people marry later in life, vows often carry gratitude and wisdom.

1. I have waited for a friend like you. I promise to be one in return.
2. At this stage of life, I choose you with open eyes and a grateful heart.
3. I promise to bring peace to your days and warmth to your home.
4. I will respect your family and your past, and I will help build our future.
5. I promise to walk beside you gently and patiently.
6. I vow to bring joy to your life and care to your children.
7. I promise to be your companion in the years ahead.
8. I give you my word that you will never be alone again.
9. I will be patient as we blend two lives into one.
10. I promise to value every day we share.
11. I choose you today with all that I have learned.
12. I will love you well and honestly.

Short Wedding Vows With Light Humour

A smile during the ceremony is welcome when the humour is gentle.

1. I promise to share the blanket and, most days, the last biscuit.
2. I vow to never let you wait alone at a shop.
3. I promise to laugh at your jokes, even the old ones.
4. I promise to share the remote control, within reason.
5. I vow to make tea when you are tired.
6. I promise to put the lid back on, and to say sorry when I forget.
7. I will carry the heavy bags and listen to the long stories.
8. I promise to be on time, or at least to call.
9. I vow to try your cooking with a smile and tell you the truth, kindly.
10. I promise to love you even when you are hungry.

Sample Notes You Can Copy

Sample short vow for the bride

Today I promise to be your faithful wife and friend. I will honour your family, care for our home and stand beside you in every season. I am yours, with all my heart.

Sample short vow for the groom

I vow to protect and respect you. I will be patient, honest and kind. Together, we will build a home of peace, and I will thank you for it every day.

Sample shared vow

We promise to listen to each other, to forgive each other and to remain true. With our families as our witnesses, we begin this life together.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should short wedding vows be?

Most short vows are 30 to 60 words, which takes under a minute to say. One to three sentences is a good guide.

What are simple vows for a wedding ceremony?

Simple vows use plain words and clear promises: faithfulness, patience, respect and care for each other’s families.

Can both partners say the same vow?

Yes. Many couples repeat the same vow after the officiant, which also makes it easy to memorise.

Should I write my own vows?

Writing your own makes them personal. If you prefer help, use a vow above and change a few words. You can find a fill-in-the-blank version in our wedding vows template.

Final Thoughts

Short wedding vows prove that sincerity matters more than length. A few honest promises, said clearly in front of your families, will be remembered far longer than a page of elaborate words.

Explore more in our Marriage category, including wedding vows for her and wedding vows for him.