The Wedding Vows

These are our wedding vows. They mean so much to Katherine and I. 

Wedding vows are a significant thing. I sought to incorporate much of the language of the traditional vows to remind us that we follow a long history of followers of Jesus who want to adhere to God's creation ordinance of marriage. It gives a sense of continuity with church history. But I also sought to include some personal convictions we have regarding what we see as biblically significant in marriage and what we feel should be communicated in the ceremonial vows. So these vows are thoroughly our own. (I'd like to acknowledge Kameron and Olivia Pugh for shaping Kat and me; we learn so much from them and mirrored our ceremony and vows after theirs.)

I specifically wrote them to reflect the view that marriage is a permanent institution established by God. Therefore, what God joins together, let no man separate. Because God joined Kat and I together on July 19, 2014, there is nothing she nor I can do to dissolve our covenant. God alone breaks the marriage covenant, and He does that through the death of one of the spouses. So, there are no exceptions in our vows. They are absolute because the gospel is absolute. Just as Christ will never abandon his church, and just as no true believer will ever be lost by Christ, we believe that marriage is permanent, until death, with no loopholes. 

Feel free to share these with whomever you want. 

Because He Lives, 
Garrett and Katherine Walden

Garrett, do you take Katherine to be your lawfully wedded wife? And do you promise before God and these witnesses that you will love, honor, and cherish her and that forsaking all others, you will perform unto her all the duties that a husband owes his wife until God by death shall separate you or until our King returns?

I Do!

Katherine, do you take Garrett to be your lawfully wedded husband? And do you promise before God and these witnesses that you will love, honor, cherish, and obey him and that forsaking all others, you will perform all the duties that a wife owes to her husband until God by death shall separate you or until our King returns?

I Do!

The Wedding Vows

I, Garrett—Take you Katherine—To be my wedded wife—To have and to hold—From this day forward—For better or for worse—For richer or for poorer—In sickness and in health—To love and to cherish—For all of my days.—It is my joy to give myself to you—till death parts us—or until our King returns.—Through any affliction or adversity—I will never divorce you.—I covenant to love God supremely by loving you unconditionally—by providing for you before myself—by honoring you—by leading you—by slaying sin in myself—and by building you up daily in the Scriptures.—I accept my role as your spiritual head and leader—and I do not take this role lightly.—And through the grace of our Sovereign God—I desire to advance His Kingdom with you—for the rest of our days on this earth.—Katherine, you are my helpmate in this life—And I give you my heart—All that I am—and all that God intends to make me.

I, Katherine—Take you Garrett—to be my wedded husband—to have and to hold—from this day forward—for better or for worse—for richer or for poorer—in sickness and in health—to love and to cherish—for all of my days. It is my joy to give myself to you—till death parts us—or until our King returns.—Through any affliction or adversity—I will never divorce you.—I covenant to love God supremely by loving you with my words and deeds—by trusting you—by respecting and honoring you—by slaying sin in myself—and by submitting to your authority—as the head and leader of our home.—I accept my role as your helpmate.—Where God leads you, I will follow—where you serve, I will serve by your side—Your people will be my people—and Your God, He is my God—Garrett, you are my partner in this life—And I give you my heart—All that I am—and all that God intends to make me.

Vows of Unity

For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.

Garrett, repeat after me these vows of unity:

You are now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh -- May He make our joy complete -- By being of the same mind -- Maintaining the same love -- United in spirit -- And Intent on one purpose – And even if you should fail in your covenant obligations to me—I will still keep mine to you—Because I am commanded by the Lord -- to always love you as Christ loves the Church -- That we might, with one voice, proclaim His excellencies -- Until He comes.

Katherine, repeat after me these vows of unity:

I am now bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh.--May He make our joy complete -- By being of the same mind -- Maintaining the same love -- United in Spirit -- And intent on one purpose -- And even if you should fail in your covenant obligations to me—I will still keep mine to you—Because I am commanded by the Lord -- to always honor and submit to you-- as the Church does to Christ-- That we might, with one voice, proclaim His excellencies -- Until He comes.