When looking for a way to express yourself at the altar, wedding vows from famous poets can be the perfect place to start. After all, crafting your wedding vows can be an intimidating task. You’re instilling a short monologue with a whole relationship’s worth of love, in-jokes, and anecdotes — no pressure!
Taking a leaf out of the book of professional wordsmiths is a perfect place to gather inspiration for expressing your own unique sentiments. Likewise, the addition of a line or two from your fiance’s favourite poem is a beautiful way to draw from the words of lauded verse writers. Grouped by author, here are our favourite wedding vows sourced from famous poets.
Lord Byron
Often described as darkly comedic and satirical, Bryon’s verses might not be your first thought when looking for a writer to seek out for vow inspiration. That said, a Bryon line can make a perfect inclusion to the vows of a couple who gravitate to the moody and dramatic side of love.
There is no instinct like that of the heart.
Friendship may, and often does, grow into love, but love never subsides into friendship.
Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey.
William Wordsworth
Intimate and deeply emotional, the works of William Wordsworth are a treasure trove of inspiration for couples seeking romantic vow inclusions. Wordsworth was an expert at self-expression — a skill that lends itself perfectly to declaring your promises to your spouse while surrounded by loved ones.
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.
Come grow old with me. The best is yet to be.
Love betters what is best.
Emily Dickinson
With rich imagery and complex themes, Emily Dickinson’s works speak to the enduring and enveloping nature of love. Dickinson’s appreciation of the natural world makes her the perfect inclusion in the vows of an outdoorsy, observant couple who are deeply in love.
Morning without you is a dwindled dawn.
Till I loved I never lived.
For love is immortality.
Edgar Allan Poe
Gothic and prone to melancholia, Edgar Allan Poe’s work explores love and human connection in a stirring, emotive way. That said, you unfortunately won’t find many lines particularly well-suited to wedding vows. The exception is, of course, the haunting line below from Annabel Lee — as lovely as the words are, be conscious that they were written about the death of a beautiful woman.
We loved with a love that was more than love.
Dr Maya Angelou
Acclaimed for her prolific writing created across mediums, Dr Maya Angelou is loved by readers for her distinctive voice and use of rich metaphors. Outside her published works, Dr Angelou has also spoken of the resilience and importance of love in interviews. Admirers of her work are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to vow inspiration.
it is only love which sets us free.
Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
I know for sure that love saves me and that it is here to save us all.
William Shakespeare
What would a list of famous poets be without the mention of Shakespeare? Lauded as the greatest writer in history, Shakespeare’s works cover a broad range of themes — including, of course, love. Fun fact: did you know that the word “love” is used 2,146 times in Shakespeare’s works. Here are some of our favourite lines, each one perfect for your wedding vows.
“And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods,
Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.”
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.”
“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain.”
“I do love nothing in the world so well as you—is not that strange?”
William Butler Yeats
Lyrical and romantic, the works of WB Yeats are a popular and natural choice for couples looking for vow inspiration. The words of Yeats are instilled with Irish charm, with hints of the mystical and references to the rolling countryside. Yeats is an ideal choice for couples who enjoy their romance with lots of symbolism, longing, and lore.
“How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true;
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face.”
“Hearts are not had as a gift, But hearts are earned.”
“I have spread my dreams under your feet.
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”
John Keats
A key figure in the generation of romantic poets, Keats’ work speaks to themes of sensuality, love, and passion. His poetry is a perfect match for the head-over-heels couple whose bond can conquer all. Fall into Keats works, and you’ll also delve into themes of the transience of human existence and the grief of love lost — that is to say, choose your Keats vow quotes carefully.
“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.”
“Love is my religion — I could die for it.”
“I love you the more in that I believe you had liked me for my own sake and for nothing else.”
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A master of expressing love, longing, and romance, Elizabeth Browning’s words pop up in the vows of lovebirds all over the globe. Readers admire Barrett Browning for her humanistic and liberal outlook, as well as the passionate words she wrote for her husband, Robert Browning — an acclaimed poet in his own right.
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”
“You’re something between a dream and a miracle.”
“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.”
“You were made perfectly to be loved and surely I have loved you in the idea of you my whole life long.”
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