The Legal Vows

As a registered Celebrant, the Monitum and the Asking must be included in your ceremony to make your marriage legal in Australia.

The Monitum
I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. Before you are
joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the
solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.
Marriage, according to Law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others,
voluntarily entered into for life.

The Asking
Partner A:
I call upon the people here present to witness that I, (full name), take you, (full name), to be my lawful wedded husband/wife/partner.

Partner B:
I call upon the people here present to witness that I, (full name), take you, (full name), to be my lawful wedded husband/wife/partner.

Many couples choose to add their vows after the Asking. Here is an example of the vows of a ceremony with that:

Celebrant:
I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.
Marriage, according to Law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.

(face each other and hold hands)

Partner A:
I call upon the people here present to witness that I, (full name), take you, (full name), to be my lawful wedded husband/wife/partner.

To be my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.
I will trust you and honour you.
I will laugh with you and cry with you.
I will love you faithfully.
Through the best and the worst.
Through the difficult and the easy.
Whatever may come I will always be there.
As I have given you my hand to hold.
So I give you my life to keep.

Partner B:
I call upon the people here present to witness that I, (full name), take you, (full name), to be my lawful wedded husband/wife/partner.

To be my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.
I will trust you and honor you.
I will laugh with you and cry with you.
I will love you faithfully.
Through the best and the worst.
Through the difficult and the easy.
Whatever may come I will always be there.
As I have given you my hand to hold.
So, I give you my life to keep.