Discover the traditions and meanings behind the wedding vows from around the world! Let this inspire you to create your own promises that reflect your love!
Love might be universal, but wedding vows? They speak of love in countless tongues, each carrying the weight of tradition, hope and solemn promise. From soul-stirring shlokas to poetic promises, these vows are more than a ceremony!
With Wedding Affair, know more about the intimate and auspicious vows from various cultures around the world!
Hindu Wedding – The Soulmates of Seven Steps
Hindu weddings – a grand affair of varied rituals, sacred traditions, and diverse cultures – are surely a vibe to remember. The Hindu wedding vows or Mangal Pheras, transcending the years of historic lineage, carry an essence of sacred values that ties the bride and groom in togetherness under the blessings of the holy fire, a representation of the Agni God. The Mangal Pheras along with the seven vows or Saptapadi, finalise this union, blessing the couple with a happy married life!
But, what are these seven sacred vows that the couple take?
Vow 1: The groom vows to fulfill his role as the guide and the provider of the family while the bride vows to stand by him through thick and thin as they both contribute to building their life together.
Vow 2: The couple pray for strength of mind, body, and spirit as they pledge to take on their life as a team.
Vow 3: During this Phera,The couple pray to Goddess Lakshmi for her blessings and the groom vows to provide a comfortable life to his bride. Meanwhile, the bride vows to manage their home with prudence and utmost care.
Vow 4: After taking the blessings, the couple vow to cherish their love, to offer respect to each other and their families, and to create a nurturing environment for their future.
Vow 5: As the ceremony moves on, the couple as the 5th vow, pray for the presence of happy and healthy children in their future and vow to be loving and supporting parents to them.
Vow 6: During this vow, the couple promises to be each other’s companions, create balance amongst themselves and find joy with each other.
Vow 7: This final wedding vow seals the union of the couple and they vow for eternal love, friendship and loyalty to each other.
Read Also: The meaning behind Hindu Pheras
Muslim Wedding: The Poets of Promises
In a poetic union of Muslim weddings, called a Nikah ceremony, the couples do not traditionally exchange vows. Instead, a Muslim officiant, the Imam, reads the verses from the Quran and preaches the holiness of their union as the couple accept each other following the principles of their holy teachings.
In a Muslim wedding, the bride and the groom convey their desire to marry each other by announcing the acceptance of their union a total of three times with “Qabul”, meaning “I accept”. Following this, they sign their Nikah Nama, a muslim marriage contract that binds their union legally.
Christian Wedding: The Classic Rom-Com Vowers
Christian weddings are known for their romantic setups and heartfelt vows, all across the world. Their marriages are centred on a promise of lifelong companionship, love and faithfulness amidst the chaos of the world. Traditionally, the Christian wedding vows go as follows:
I (Name), take you, (Name), to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow.
Along with this, the couples are free to make changes to their vows as they like and promise their eternal love to their partners!
Sikh Wedding: The Warriors of Oneness
In Sikh wedding vows, the couple take four nuptial rounds as the four hymn of Laav plays. Each Laav describes a different spiritual stage of married life and binds them, in a lifetime of togetherness by spirit, mind, and body. The hymns are recited from the scriptures of their holy book Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the couples go around it.
The first Laav preaches of the initial stages of love and encourages the union of marriage. The second Laav conveys the bride’s feelings of love and the beginning of a new life of partnership. The third Laav speaks of the couple’s detachment from the world and outside influences, and preaches of a life of devotion. The last and the fourth Laav declares the spiritual union of love and devotion where no feeling of separation is possible.
Read Also: The Beauty of Traditional Punjabi Weddings!
Surprise Tidbit: The Buddhist wedding vows preach shared growth, compassion, and personal development instead of romantic love.
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