Unique Words/Phrases To Include In Wedding Vows And Toasts

Weddings are all about joy, love, and celebration, but that doesn’t mean any two wedding ceremonies are the same. Your wedding, just like your relationship, should be unique to you, and that includes finding the perfect words to set the tone for your special day.

The word love was first recorded in English before the year 900, but the words and phrases we use to talk about love are varied and complex.

Whether you’re trying to capture your feelings in handwritten vows, or you’re a member of the wedding party trying to pen an unforgettable speech or toast, here are some helpful words and phrases you might need to truly get at those significant feelings weddings hold.

enchanted

Love is a wonderful feeling, but saying you’re enchanted adds an element of magic.Enchant commonly means “to delight to a high degree,” but it’s historically associated with the influence of magic—and being charmed. It’s the perfect word to enrich wedding vows or toasts to show what that special someone means to you.

treasure

If you want a word that brings the ooh‘s and ahh‘s, go with treasure.When it’s not describing the shiny riches hoarded by pirates, the word treasure means “any thing or person greatly valued or highly prized.” It calls to mind something or someone truly irreplaceable.

Telling someone they are treasured is a way of conveying not just love, but also how much value that relationship holds.

cherish

Cherish means “to hold or treat as dear” or “to care for tenderly; nurture.”

It’s a word that embodies the standard marriage promise: to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse. It’s an endearing addition to vows or a toast that’s sure to give everyone the feels.

enamored

Enamor means “to fill or inflame with love.” It’s similar to love, but the word infuses even more passion into the description of your feelings.

The word comes from Old French enamourer, literally “to inspire love,” from the Latin root amor, “love.” It’s an ideal word to turn to when the standard L-word just won’t do.

mad

Some words convey passion more than others, and mad can definitely be one of them.

While, yes, it’s often used to convey anger, the word can also mean “overcome by desire, eagerness, enthusiasm, etc.; excessively or uncontrollably fond; infatuated.”

You might even recall a certain 1990s sitcom about a married couple called Mad About You, which is why your wedding day is the perfect time to tell your partner you’re mad about them—just not mad at them!

WATCH: How Does The Word "Mad" Have So Many Meanings?

delight

Love makes people happy. They feel joyful at the thought of spending their lives with their beloved. You might even say they feel delight, or “a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture.”

This word, from French and Latin roots that are related to the English delectable, captures pure elation from finding that special person and from the prospect of thinking about the future. Guests will share in that delight when they hear this word dropped in a toast or at the altar.

eternal

No offense to forever, but an eternal love sounds even more infinite, doesn’t it.

Eternal means “without beginning or end; lasting forever; always existing.” You might say “My love for you is eternal” or “I will love you eternally.”

Often, wedding rings are used to symbolize this concept, as the circle is considered a symbol of eternity.

evermore

Evermore is a word showered with a sense of old-school romance. It means “at all times; all the time; forever, eternally.”Evermore t’s also seen frequently in the works of Shakespeare, including in his ever-romantic Romeo and Juliet and Sonnets. It’s a word that is sure to add a bit of poetry to any toast or handwritten vows.

captivate

Captivate means “to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or excellence; enchant.”

It’s lovely to say you’re captivated by your bride or groom, but the phrase is also a good one for a best man or maid of honor who wants to talk about how they knew from the very start that the newlyweds were captivated by each other.