9 Romantic Love Poems for Elopement Wedding Vows
IMAGES BY ROHIT JHAWAR PHOTOGRAPHY + FILM
Introduction
Eloping is about stripping away the noise and choosing a love story that feels deeply personal. Whether you’re exchanging vows on a mountaintop, by the ocean, or in the quiet corners of a city, words carry incredible weight in that intimate moment. For couples planning an elopement wedding, finding the right words for vows can be both exciting and overwhelming. One beautiful way to express your feelings is by borrowing from some of the greatest poets in history. Their words transcend time, culture, and language—just like true love.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen how vows become some of the most emotional, photographable moments of the day. When couples weave poetry into their promises, the atmosphere shifts—it feels timeless, soulful, and incredibly romantic. Here are 9 amazing love poems by iconic poets, from Rumi to Rupi Kaur, that are perfect for elopement wedding vows.
1. Rumi
"The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you,
not knowing how blind that was.
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.
They’re in each other all along."
Rumi’s words remind us that love is eternal, existing long before two souls meet in this life. Perfect for couples who feel their story was always meant to be.
2. Rabindranath Tagore
"I seem to have loved you in numberless forms,
numberless times, in life after life,
in age after age, forever."
Tagore’s timeless verse beautifully suits vows spoken in an elopement, celebrating love across lifetimes.
3. Pablo Neruda
"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving."
One of the most heartfelt wedding vow inspirations—Neruda’s poetry captures the simplicity and purity of love.
4. T. S. Eliot
"What we call the beginning is often the end.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from."
For couples starting their new life together in an elopement, Eliot’s lines mark a beautiful transition.
5. Rupi Kaur
"i do not want to have you
to fill the empty parts of me
i want to be full on my own
i want to be so complete
i could light a whole city
and then
i want to have you
cause the two of us combined
could set it on fire"
Minimal, modern, and deeply intimate—perfect for vows in small elopement ceremonies.
6. E. E. Cummings
"I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it…
here is the deepest secret nobody knows."
Cummings’ verse has been spoken in countless weddings—timeless, tender, and unforgettable.
7. Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach."
Romantic and lyrical, this sonnet feels made for vows in an intimate wedding setting.
8. Hafiz
"Even after all this time
the Sun never says to the Earth,
'You owe me.'
Look what happens with a love like that,
it lights the whole sky."
This Hafiz verse is often used in weddings—it captures the essence of unconditional love, which is perfect for elopement vows.
9. Kahlil Gibran
"Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls."
For couples who value freedom, respect, and growth within love, Gibran’s wisdom is a perfect vow inspiration.
Final Thoughts
Elopement weddings are about authenticity, intimacy, and choosing words that reflect your deepest truth. Poetry gives couples a language that feels bigger than themselves—a reminder that love has always been sung, written, and celebrated. Whether you choose Rumi’s mystical lines or Rupi Kaur’s simplicity, these poems can help you craft vows that feel timeless and true.
As an elopement wedding photographer, I’ve seen how words and images work hand in hand. When vows are spoken with such depth, they create moments that are not only unforgettable but also beautifully captured in photographs that last a lifetime.
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ABOUT RJ PHOTO + film
RJ has established a Melbourne based Wedding and Elopement Photo + Film studio and he and his team passionately documents love stories in the most intimate, fun and candid way. He enjoys being in nature and looking at things with wonder and new eyes each day. His photography is primarily driven by a deep sense of adventure, alchemy and being present. He aspires to capture the true essence of your intimate love story and to present it in a raw and candid manner.
