Honouring Children

The Parent Vows to Children Ceremony is one way to celebrate and acknowledge the new family
constellation, while including the children. Adding this element to the ceremony demonstrates to
the children that they are a real part of the new family that’s being created. It’s also a way to
embrace the parent/spouse, by embracing their children. These vows are typically spoken after the
Vows and Ring Exchange.

Example 1

Celebrant
This ceremony marks not only the union of our newlyweds as husband and wife, it also celebrates
their joining together with, (children’s names) to form a new family.
Three daughters (ages 5, 7 & 10) both the Groom and his Bride spoke their vows to his daughters,
after which they gifted them with a necklace.

Bride
(Children’s names) I want you to know that I love your Dad very much.
I promise you that I will love you and care for you as if you were my own.
I promise to be a committed listener.
I promise you my trust, my support, what knowledge I can share,
to be fair, to be your friend, and to give you a shoulder to cry on.
I promise to be available to you as I am to your father.

Groom
(Children’s names), (Bride) and I both promise to be patient and support each of you, to love you,
guide you, to give you strength and room to grow,
We promise to always be there for you.
We promise to take you to cool places and get lost trying to get there, giving you wonderful
memories and adventures and fun along the way!
You are my girls and I will always love you and be there for you!
The couple place necklaces on each girl.
Everyone hugs and kisses and the girls return to their places.
The girls were delighted and there were tears and laughter as their guests looked on with joy. The
necklaces will always remind the girls of their honoured place in the family, as well their special part
in the wedding ceremony.


Example 2

Celebrant welcomes the children up and then stood in a circle holding hands altogether with the
Bride and Groom as the vows were read. Not many dry eyes after this ceremony!

Bride to Groom’s son (5 yrs of age)
(Child), I promise to not only love and protect your dad but also to love and protect you. I promise to
always be there for you and to help you grow into a polite and handsome young man.
I feel honoured to be a part of your life and look forward to being there for your future. I hope you
can accept me and the girls to be a part of your family. I love you.

Groom to Bride’s daughters (6 & 4)
(Children’s names), I promise to not only love and protect your mother but also to love and protect
you. I promise to help you grow and help you become the beautiful amazing young women I know
you can become.
I feel honoured to be a part of your life and look forward to being there for you far into the future. I
hope along with your mother that you both can accept me and (son) to be a part of your family. I
love you both.


Example 3

Bride to Groom’s 3 teenage children. Bride and Groom have one son together
(Teenage children’s names) I want you to know that I love your Dad very much and am so proud to
be a part of your family.
You enrich both mine and (son’s) life more then you’ll ever know and I am so grateful for the
kindness and patience you have always shown me and your little brother.
I promise to always love and care for you, and I to always listen.
I promise you my trust, my support and what knowledge I can share.
To be fair, to be your friend, and someone to lean on when you need.
I promise to always be there for you no matter what, as I am for your Dad and (son).