10 Romantic Love Poems To Inspire Your Wedding Vows
There’s lots to think about when planning a wedding, from choosing a first dance song to giving a memorable engagement toast , but one of the most important parts of your ceremony is the vows that the two of you make.
The traditional wedding vows which are used by millions of couples worldwide every day date back to 1549 – from The Common Book of Prayer.
Some couples, however, prefer to personalize their vows by either writing their own or taking inspiration from a song or verse.
If you’re looking for love poems for wedding bliss on your big day, we’re sharing 10 of the best:
Poetry permissions
First things first, many people ask if you are actually allowed to recite part or all of a poem within their vows – and the answer to that is yes.
Technically speaking, the reading of vows at a wedding is a ‘performance’ and is therefore covered by copyright of the author’s work.
In reality, however, you are unlikely to get into any trouble for reading a poem as part of your vows – although, if possible, it is considered good manners to ask for the author’s permission.
Secondly, if you are not getting married in a church, you may not be permitted to have any references to religion in your vows or in your music and so you need to check this with your registrar / officiant.
Love poems for wedding vows
- “The Earth Turned to Bring Us Closer,” Eugenio Montejo
The award winning Venezuelan poet brings romance in spades with his poem ‘The Earth Turned To Bring Us Closer’.
This little known poem is perfect for wedding vows with the line ‘The Earth turned to bring us closer, it spun on itself and within us, and finally joined us together in this dream’.
- “How Do I Love Thee?” Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Written in the 19th century, Elizabeth Browning wrote this poem to honor her husband, Robert Browning (another poet).
The most famous line of the poem is ‘How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height. My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight. For the ends of being and ideal grace”
- “Love And Death” Lord Byron
While Lord Byron was known for his many lovers, one of his most romantic works was dedicated to the young soldier who nursed him through his final illness in Greece.
Love And Death is all about love and loyalty – something which is the bedrock of a marriage, making this verse perfect for wedding vows.
“I watched thee on the breakers, when the rock
Received our prow, and all was storm and fear,
And bade thee cling to me through every shock;
This arm would be thy bark, or breast thy bier”.
- “I Carry Your Heart With Me,” E. E. Cummings
E.E. Cummings is one of the world’s most revered poets and I Carry Your Heart With Me is a tearjerker which lends itself perfectly to wedding vows. If you use only one line from this poem, you’ll do no better than, “I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart. I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my). And whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling”.
- “The Wedding Vow,” Sharon Olds
Winner of a Pulitzer Prize, American poet, Sharon Olds is a modern and emotional poet and the lines “I did not stand at the altar, I stood at the foot of the chancel steps, with my beloved” are sure to tug at the heartstrings.
- Note – as mentioned in our Permissions section, you will need to check to make sure that religious references are allowed within your ceremony.
- “My Lips Have Kissed Her”, David D.Irby
If modern poets are more your bag, David D.Irby has you covered with his uber-romantic offering, “My Lips Have Kissed Her”. The first verse of this poem lends itself perfectly to a wedding:
“My lips have kissed her lips. Now I know why
the timid sun arises with each day.
I understand what moves the birds to fly
and why the trees within the breezes sway”.
- “Though Worlds May Die and Silent Be”, Roy E. Peterson
A marriage is all about the concept of forever and, as such, a poem which reflects this is a great choice for your vows.
This poem by Roy E. Peterson is a great choice for romantic couples looking for an impactful addition to their wedding vows:
“Till rolling seas cease heaving high,
The starry nights stop passing by,
The universe is wrapped in flame,
And there is no one left to blame.
Until then? … You’re my loved one”.
- Love Song”, Henry Dumas
Nature lovers will find their perfect match in this classic poem from Arkansas poet, Henry Dumas.
The line “I have to adore the mirror of the earth, you have taught her well how to be beautiful” can easily be incorporated into wedding vows or even the groom’s speech.
The couple that laughs together stays together
While we hope we’ve covered some great poems for romantics, not everyone wants anything too heavy and, so, for those looking for something a little more lighthearted, we’ve got you covered:
- “Candy Love”, Terra Mobley
Sweet, simple and cute, Terra Mobley’s Candy Love is a great choice for those looking to add a little fun into their vows:
“Fly away with me, my dove
To a forbidden place where the skittles meet the rainbow.
Lay under the Milky Way with me,
And lets gaze at the star burst together”,
- “X-Ray of My Head”, Unknown
If you want to express your devotion without all the flowery language, this one might be right up your street:
“My dear, I’ve got some important news,
Please know it’s nothing bad,
But today I had to X-ray my head,
And your picture is all it had”!
Choosing love poems for wedding vows
In this article, we hope that we’ve included something for everything when it comes to wedding vows.
You can’t, however, please all of the people all of the time so, if none of the poems in this article float your boat, why not try writing one of your own ?