The official SF City Hall Marriage Vows


We are gathered here in the presence of witnesses for the purpose of uniting in matrimony NAME and NAME.


The contract of marriage is most solemn and is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. NAME and NAME, no other words of mine or any other person truly marry each of you to the other. That is done when you exchange your promises and commit yourselves to this marriage and each other.


By entering into this marriage, you are pledging yourselves to a lifetime in which each will enrich the life of the other. You will be partners standing together to cushion the difficulties of life. Rejoice in your partner’s graces. Nurture your marriage carefully and watch it grow gracefully. Please face each other and join hands.


QUESTION FROM THE OFFICIANT:


Do you NAME, take NAME, to be your lawful wedded (wife/spouse)? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish as long as you both shall live?


You should say: "I Do".


QUESTION FROM THE OFFICIANT:


Do you NAME, take NAME, to be your lawful wedded (husband/spouse)? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish as long as you both shall live?


You should say: "I Do".


Ring Ceremony (optional) NAME (OR WHOEVER HAS THE RINGS), the ring please.


Place the ring on (her/his) left finger and repeat after me, “I give you this ring, in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With this ring, I thee wed.” NAME, the ring please. Place the ring on (her/his) left finger and repeat after me, “I give you this ring, in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With this ring, I thee wed.”


The paragraph above repeats one more time for the second ring.


You have joined yourselves in solemn matrimony. May you strive all your lives to meet this commitment with the same love and devotion that you now feel. For love is truly the greatest gift we are given to share: love’s compassion is the glory of life. Delight in each other’s company and never take the other for granted, for you are destined to enjoy the blending of your two lives. And now, in as much as you, NAME and NAME have given and pledged your love and faithfulness, each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of California as Deputy Marriage Commissioner, I now pronounce you (husband and wife/spouses for life).