Marriage Vows with Children

On your wedding day, as you trade vows,
No ordinary moment hurries by.
You partake, as far as time allows,
Of something more than time and Earth and sky.
Unknowable, invisible, yet there;
Resplendent to the heart if not the face;
More than both of you, yet less than air;
A transcendental act conferring grace.
Reason might say, How can this be true?
Return then to the heart, for this is love.
In making vows, you make one out of two,
A mystery beyond what words can prove.
Go then as one flesh, one home, one heart.
Each still a whole, yet also now a part. - Nicholas Gordon

In today's society where blended families are quite common, couples do wish to include children born prior to their marriage in their present wedding. Kids are often put in the roles of the wedding ceremony but are always left out of the vows of the marriage. Exchanging wedding vows with children involved is a great way of letting your children know that they are an integral part of the newly formed family. Wedding vows including kids will give them a feeling of love and belonging towards the new family. There are different ways of making marriage vows with kids, like you can simply add few lines to the traditional marriage vows, or prepare your own vow by referring different websites or books, or can pen down something solely from your heart.

How to Use Marriage Vows with Children

Here are some points that have to be kept in mind before including children in the marriage vows.

• The decision on making wedding vows with kids entirely depends upon your circumstances and the ages and personalities of the kids involved. Depending upon how comfortable the kids would be, their level of involvement in the marriage should be decided. Some kids enjoy a starring role while others may take time to adjust to the new changes in the family dynamic, and hence should not be forced to play an active role in the ceremony.
• If more than one child is involved, remember, they will each feel individually about the ceremony, so make sure that the vow ceremony you come up with is decided unanimously. The child's marriage vow should blend into the love, care and commitment that you all will have as a family.
• Considering the age, personality, and ability level, your child can compose a poem or words, or can even read a quote of affection and love from his/her favorite story.
• Another point to be considered is to decide at what point in the wedding ceremony you'll like to say the vows to the children, i.e., whether before,during, or after the vows between the bride and groom.
• After this, you need to decide whether you want them to stand at the alter with you for the entire ceremony or they should come forward only at the time of vows. Like if they are older, they'll be able to stand at the alter, but if they are quite young, you may have to ask a family member to bring them up at the right time.

Marriage Vows Including Children

Since there are no traditional marraige vows that include children, you may probably need to make your own vows. Therefore, following are some wedding vows including children that may help you in writing personalized wedding vows.

(Bride's name) and (groom's name), in joining your lives together, you also take the responsibility of your child who makes up your family. Do you vow to give your child a peaceful, protective and loving family home, to continue to care for (child's name), and to always have (child's name) best interest at heart? - Celebrant

(Bride), as we become one on this our wedding day, not only do I promise to be a good and faithful husband to you, but also a loving and responsible father to (names of the children), caring for them and loving them as my own. - Groom

(Child’s name), I vow to be always there as a father to you, to protect you, to support and care you and our family, and to love you for rest of my life. - Groom

I love you (bride's name), and I love your children as my very own. Not only do I vow to be a good and faithful husband, but I also solemnly promise to be a patient, loving father to (child’s name), caring for them and providing for them as my own. - Groom

Read more on:

• Original Wedding Vows
• Write Your Own Wedding Vows

These were just few out of many marriage vows with children that can be said to your kids, ensuring them that you are not replacing a parent, but now they'll have several people in their lives who love them and will be there for them always. Try to keep the vow simple and sweet, and for this you can ask your fiancé/fiancée to help you while making vows that the child will understand and appreciate.