Men and woman have been pledging to spend their lives together for centuries. Over time vows have changed and many variations have arose. Some of these variations have turned into traditions said over and over again by couples throughout Ireland.
A vow originally was a simple declaration of the intent or desire of a couple to spend their lives together. Modern day vows have evolved to include romantic vows written and recited by the bride and groom. Not every bride and groom says the traditional Irish vow of unity in front of a unity candle.
The vow of unity is considered a poignant part of the ceremony where the couple not only acknowledges the life they will share together but the partnership that is created. The couple is meant to reflect that when making the promise of marriage they no longer think of themselves as individuals but as a couple. The actions of one affect the life of another.
The following vow of unity is commonly used when lighting the unity candle.
We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand to hand.
Hark, O Spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this our Sacred Vow.
If you’re having a Celtic themed wedding and are looking for some wedding favor ideas with a Celtic twist, take a look at our blog post about Celtic wedding favors.
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