Renewal of Vows Ceremony
Celebrating an Anniversary by Renewing Your Wedding Promises
Renewing your vows can be a deeply romantic expression of love and commitment. Repeating your wedding promises could be the gift you give yourselves.
A renewal of vows ceremony can be a way of saying thank you to your husband or wife, and a celebration of the good times and hard times. Each marriage has its ups and downs and when a couple manages to stay together and perhaps create a family, it is something to celebrate. The renewal of vows ceremony could be on a 10th wedding anniversary or a 25th wedding anniversary. There are no rules for when or where it should be.
For those couples who did not have the wedding they wanted the first time, the renewal of vows could be the opportunity to have it now - a gift to themselves. Some people, because of circumstances were not able to have some members of their family at their wedding, and may now wish to invite them to a renewal of vows service.
Planning a Renewal of Vows Ceremony
Date
Although the actual anniversary date appeals to many couples as the “right” time, it could be the engagement date, a birthday, or it may simply be more convenient to have a date when special guests would be available.
Time
This would depend on where the ceremony is to be held and the plans for the rest of the day. An indoor ceremony held in the morning could be followed by a "wedding breakfast", whereas an outdoor ceremony could take advantage of a dramatic sunset back drop followed by a candle lit party.
Venue
The venue could be a chapel or place that holds a special significance, or some exotic beach destination where you have longed to go on holiday. If using a wedding planner, she would provide a list of possible venues.
The Service
The service has no legal standing and therefore can follow any format you wish. Some couples prefer to have a celebrant who will bring a spiritual dimension to the day, and others choose a friend whom they feel has a flair for ritual and ceremony.
Tips for the Service
- Display an enlarged, framed photograph of the original wedding day on the altar or a small table.
- Light wedding candles for each of the years of marriage.
- Repeat the original vows and add new ones. Writing new vows can be a way of expressing love and appreciation.
- Include a song or piece of music from the original wedding, or something that has come to have special significance since then.
- Invite children to give wedding readings.
- Exchange a gift such as anniversary rings, or engraved watches.
- Include prayers of thanks.
Renewal of Vows Certificate
Some celebrants offer a certificate which states the date of the renewal of vows and mentions the date of marriage. There is space for the couples' signatures and they keep it as a memento. A larger certificate could be signed by all the guests who attend the renewal of vows ceremony.
Warning
Some couples choose to give their partner a ready-planned renewal of vows as a surprise. Before doing this, discuss it with a friend. What seems like a good idea could become a source of stress. To offer the idea is in itself a surprise gift.
