These are also referred to as the "declaration of intent" or the "charge to the couple." Basically, it is a time when the officiant says something like, "Groom is it your intention to take Bride as your wife?"  The bride is asked the same question.  Each person replies by saying "I do" or "I will" and then the officiant goes on to the vows. The Statement of Intention occurs early in the ceremony so that, if one person said "I don't," the service would conclude at that point.  It was established as a traditional part of wedding ceremonies in the past to insure that couples were marrying of their own free will and it remains a part of most wedding ceremonies today.

The selections below include traditional as well as contemporary Statements of Intention. Although most of them are secular in nature, they can be slightly modified to include a religious or spiritual element. The Statement of Intention may be used in place of the Vows if a couple chooses, although the vast majority of wedding ceremonies include both (with the Vows immediately following the Statement of Intention).

1.        _________, will you take __________ to be your husband/wife?

2.        ________________, do you take _______________ to be your wife/husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her/him, forsaking all others and holding only unto her/him forevermore?

3.        Do you, _______, take ________ as your wife/husband, joining with her/him today in spirit, offering your friendship and loving care? Do you promise to honor her/his growth and freedom as well as your own, to cherish and protect her/him, to love and embrace her/him in times of challenge, as well as times of joy?

4.        Do you, ___________, take _________ as your wife/husband, joining with her/him today in spirit? Do you promise to care for her/him and share with her/him, to love her/him and learn with her/him, to laugh with her/him and listen to her/him? To grow with her/him in times of challenge as well as times of joy?

(Note: Some couples have us ask the groom #3 and then the bride #4 above; together they make for a beautiful statement of intention)

5.        Will you, ________, take _______ to be your wife (husband). Will you be her/his constant friend and her/his partner in life? Will you love her/him without conditions, honor and respect her/him, protect her/him from harm, comfort her/him in times of distress, and grow with her/him in mind and spirit?

6.        Do you ____________, knowing this woman/man's love for you and returning it, realizing her/his strengths and learning from them, recognizing her/his weaknesses and helping her/him to overcome them, take ____________ to be your wife/husband?

7.        ____________, will you take ____________ as your wife/husband, in happiness and with patience and understanding, through conflict and tranquility?

8.        Will you, _______, have _____ to be your wife/husband? Will you love her/him, comfort and keep her/him, and forsaking all others remain true to him/her as long as you both shall live?

9.        _________ will you take __________as your wife/husband? Do you promise to share your life openly with her/him, to kindly speak the truth to her/him at all times. Do you promise to tenderly care for her/him, honor her/him, cherish her/him and encourage her/his fulfillment as an individual throughout all the changes of your lives?

10.        ______________will you have this woman/man to be your wedded wife/husband, to live together in marriage? Will you love her/him, comfort her/him, and honor her/him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, so long as you both shall live?

11.        ______, will you take this woman/man, whose hands you hold, choosing her/him alone to be your wedded wife/husband? Will you live with her/him in the state of true matrimony? Will you love her/him, comfort her/him, honor her/him at all times, and be faithful to her/him?

Note: These last two are ideal if the couples prefer the officiant to ask the question only once. The couple would respond together as opposed to individually)

12.        Today your separate lives with their individual memories, desires, and hopes merge into one. Will you bring to this new life each for the sake of the other, the best that you have in you, seeking to express your life together with mutual respect, kindness and unconditional love?

13.        _______ and _______ will you both honor each other's happiness, respect each others differences and hold each other in your hearts remembering always to be each others best friend?