What are the UK civil vows?

Question

Yes I admit it I am a control freak. My partner and I are getting married in six weeks and I have searched high and low onthe internet for the wording to the civil ceremony so that I know what I will be expected to say and can't find a thing. Does anyone know the exact wording? I know it has something to do with saying you believe you can legally marry and that of your own free will you agree to be married but can anyone be more specific than that? Please only answer with wording for England/Wales and please don't suggest that we make up stuff - this is for legal purposes the romantic one comes next year.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi - if you contact the registrar thats marrying you then they should be able to help out. when I got married in Aug, our reg put her own slant on everything and it was lovely, she talked about friendship etc, really special. The vows themselves, the legal stuff, we chose in a kinda 'pick and mix' way from the 3 options given by the reg office. :O) xx

Answer 2

It's along the lines of "I do solemnly declare that I know of no reason in law why I Jane Smith may not be lawfully married to John Brown." and then "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I Jane Smith take you John Brown to be my lawful husband."



Anything else is pure decoration but some places let you make up extra fancy bits to express what you feel. Then the registrar declares that you're married and you and your witnesses sign the register.

Answer 3

Telephone the registrar that will be marrying you and they will either send you a copy of the words or email you them. Some registry offices have a couple to choose from.

Answer 4

My friends wrote their own and agreed them with the registrar...



The actual minimum vows for it to be legal are quoted on the website below, reproduced here:



The Statutory Words

The minimum vows required for your marriage to be legal are as follows. 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 the statutory words:



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]."



In Scotland the couple say:

"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]. I accept [and [or wife]."



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]."

Answer 5

the registrar gave us copies of a traditional and alternative set of vows to choose from.

Answer 6

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