Touching and Unique Wedding Vows From Real Couples

Warning: You’ll need a box of tissues.

Photo: Katerina Kutas Photography

Updated Sep 15, 2025

Whether you decide to hold it privately or publicly, the vow exchange is a special moment for you and your partner to communicate your unwavering love to each other. With that comes the pressure to create unique wedding vows. (Let's face it: They're some of the most personal and emotional words you'll say on your wedding day.) But crafting interesting wedding vows doesn't have to be a hassle. Say goodbye to writer's block and hello to these heartwarming wedding vows from real couples to put you in the right romantic mindset.

Wedding Promises for Both Emotional and Silly Soulmates

In this article: Tips for Writing Unique Wedding Vows | Unique Wedding Vow Examples

Tips for Writing Unique Wedding Vows

There are three things you need to do before you start writing your unique wedding ceremony vows: First, look at our comprehensive wedding vow template. Second, follow this guide about how to write your own wedding vows. Third, save those two articles by logging into your account on The Knot and clicking the heart icon. This allows you to access your favorites so you can reference the content later. Now that you're up to speed on the basics, here are a few tips to help you during the writing process:

Wedding Promises for Both Emotional and Silly Soulmates

1. Collect Cherished Keepsakes

Grab mementos that remind you of special times you've shared with your partner. Lay out things like movie tickets from your first date or a photo of you and your partner at your favorite vacation destination to get the creative juices flowing. While you're looking at your souvenirs, reflect on their meaning, what emotions you feel in their presence and how each memento adds to your love story. (Psst. Need ideas for vows for older couples? Then this next sentence is for you.) Our favorite part about this nostalgia-focused tip: Gathering your relationship keepsakes gives you and your partner a reason to travel down memory lane.

2. Don't Be Selfish

Your unique wedding vows are supposed to express your love for your partner, what you adore about them and how you'll continue to commit to your marriage over time. So this isn't the time to write about how much you love that your partner makes you delicious pancakes every morning. Instead of talking about what your partner does for you, talk about what you hope to do and be for your partner during your marriage. Not only will your partner appreciate hearing this, but it'll also make your wedding vows more unique.

FOR YOU

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3. Include Jokes and Personal Stories

Adding sweet stories and funny jokes is a great way to make your vows unique and memorable. But note: Including a couple of inside jokes for you and your partner is fine, but keep them at a minimum if you're delivering your wedding vows publicly. You don't want your loved ones to feel excluded from the ceremony or that it's okay to tune out.

4. Think Unconventionally

We have no problem with traditional wedding vows, but if you want to be unique, you'll have to think outside the box. What does that mean? Well, consider singing your vows, quoting your favorite superhero character or presenting your vows in a video format. No matter how you go about it, as long as you're doing something your partner will love, that's all that matters.

5. Do Your Research

We think watching wedding movies and TV shows with wedding scenes is some of the best unique vow research you can do. By tuning into your favorite romantic movie or show, you'll see the dos (and don'ts) of writing and presenting your vows. Since these types of media are scripted, you can also note when the actors (or live audience members in your living room) say "Aww," which can show you the best placement for your most-sentimental remarks.

Unique Wedding Vow Examples

No matter what kind of unique wedding vow ideas you're looking for, we got them. From short-and-sweet to funny, below are gendered and non-gendered vows straight from the mouths of couples who were in your shoes not long ago.

For Him | For Her | Short | Funny | Romantic

Unique Wedding Vow Examples for Him

Example of unique vows for him from real couples.

Finding a unique wedding vows example for grooms to reference doesn't have to be hard. Here are three that we love.

Quote from a novelist in love: George Moore wrote: "You and you alone make me feel that I am alive. Other men, it is said, have seen angels, but I have seen thee, and thou art enough." You are my angel and I love you. – Ron
Taking a chance: I can lie to everyone and say that I knew from the first time we locked eyes that I knew we were going to marry each other, but that wouldn't be true. From day one, I knew you were way out of my league. That made me terrified of you, but also excited to get to know you. You are the most beautiful and sweetest person I have ever met. I feel so blessed that I took a leap of faith and walked over to talk to you. – Jesus
Together in every lifetime: In different cities, as different people, we've met each other again and again. Each time felt like the first time. And each time you've helped me to become greater than I am. More patient, more kind, more confident. In our Hindu ceremony, we got married for seven lifetimes. In this lifetime and those that follow, I promise to care for you, to support you and, above all, make you laugh. – Ajay

Unique Wedding Vow Examples for Her

Example of unique vows for her from real couples

Calling all brides! Do you need unique vows for the wedding ceremony? The following examples are for you.

Being there no matter what: I vow to fight well with you and never give up on cultivating the intimacy that entails. I vow to always point you to Jesus in the good times, the bad times and everything in between. I vow to never forget this feeling of pure unfiltered ecstasy that I have right now as I am just moments away from becoming your wife. – Simone
Meant to be together: For someone who loves to talk as much as me, I've been struggling to find the adequate words that capture what this moment and our relationship means to me. But I do know that, in you, I have found my life partner. And although we may seem outwardly different to those who first see us, I know we are cut from the same cloth—fated to be each other's companions since the day we were born into this world. – Christina
Passionate in all things: I vow to honor your past, to understand the memories that have shaped you and what you may be healing from. I vow to love you fiercely in the present, protect you and always be there for you. I vow to your future self that my love for you will continue to grow until infinity ends. You will forevermore be first and foremost in my heart and soul. – Angelica

Short and Unique Wedding Vow Examples

Example of short and unique vows from real couples.

You don't have to write a long speech for your vows. Keep it simple and say your marital promises in a concise way that's still powerful.

Sweet and to the point: As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to hold from this day forward. – Johnny
Quote from an author and activist: With our losses, we've committed to being there. With our gains, we've committed to being there. Bell hooks wrote, "To love somebody is not just a strong feeling––it's a decision, it's a judgment, it's a promise." I promise to do the work—the work of treating you with care and kindness. I promise to love you. – Lena
Being together forever: I'm glad to be a part of everything we've created and to be a part of this journey with you. And I look forward to our next adventure. The one thing I want to promise you from here on out is that, no matter what the future holds, I promise to always be there. I love you. – Jonathan

Funny and Unique Wedding Vow Examples

Example of funny and unique vows from real couples.

Unique, funny wedding vows are sometimes hard to come by. Keep reading to see how different people added humor to their ceremony.

There whenever you need me: I promise to take you to get cookies and ice cream no matter how late it is. No matter how comfortable I am on the couch rewatching "Breaking Bad" for the third time. This is a silly way of me saying that I promise to be there for you in your time of need because you're always there for me. – Mia
Becoming a better person with a twist: I believe a soulmate is someone who has keys to your locks. You have the key to making me calm when I'm anxious. Motivated, when I am uninspired. Passionate, when I am downcast. You unlock every aspect of me that is good. I vow to support your growth and celebrate your wins while getting you to celebrate your accomplishments. I also vow to only make my carbonara once a month. – Christopher
Laughter-focused love: I promise to make you laugh every day. Not the small cute laugh you do when you're in public, but the big boisterous one you do when it's just us two. I don't want to go a day without hearing your beautiful laugh filling every space we're in. – Carter

Romantic and Unique Wedding Vow Examples

Image alt text: Example of romantic and unique vows from real couples.

Most likely every to-be-weds' goal is to write unique, romantic wedding vows. Check out the three examples below to see how these people hit the nail on the head.

Everything you are is remarkable: I couldn't have dreamed of someone as amazing and special as you. You're my life's joy. You're my delicate rose. You're my life jacket when I feel like I'm drowning. You're my absolute favorite and greatest gift I've ever received. I love you with all my heart and I can't wait to spend forever with you. – Adam
Unity-centric promises: Even though the future is uncertain, today I commit to our future together, and trust that the rest of our lives will fall into place around that union. I promise to keep that union and never take it for granted, knowing that love exists because we make it exist. Love lasts because we choose to make it last. I promise to keep making that choice, even as we change and grow in those bounds, and even when it's a difficult choice to make. – Jenn
I choose you: Today, in front of our family and friends, I vow to choose our life together and to actually live it together. And I choose to be with you whether happy or sad, and I choose to love you no matter what this life brings to us. I love you. – Mark