Vows Renewal Ceremony
Vow renewal ceremonies are common when couples have had a destination ceremony with few or none of their friends and families present, when they are celebrating a special anniversary and want to commemorate it in a special way, or for a thousand other reasons such as the marriage has just come through a hard time and the couple wants to show each other they are better and stronger than ever. Whatever your reason is, now is the time to really celebrate your love and show how much you love being married! But how do you do it? Vow renewal ceremonies are in some ways, very much like your wedding the first time around and in other ways, very different. Find out here all the common issues that come up when planning a vow renewal ceremony.
Who and When
Technically, you can hold a vow renewal ceremony any time you want after your original wedding ceremony however, the only time it’s really appropriate to have a ceremony days, weeks, or even months afterwards is if you’ve eloped and want to celebrate with your loved ones. It’s perfectly acceptable for the couple to host the vow renewal ceremony themselves although often the children of the couple will host the ceremony as a special gift to their parents.
One of the greatest things about a vow renewal ceremony is that it’s not a ceremony that’s legally recognized; it’s simple for the enjoyment of you and your loved ones. Because of this, anyone you wish can officiate the ceremony from your best friend to your oldest son.
You can also invite whoever you would like so you can choose to have a small and intimate ceremony or a huge party, the choice is yours! It is advised that vow renewal ceremonies be reserved for very close family and friends only. It’s not considered appropriate to invite those who aren’t personal friends, such as coworkers, unless you also know them personally.
Ceremony and Reception Details
The actual ceremony will be much more unstructured than your original ceremony was. You don’t need to have a wedding party but it might be nice to ask the original party members to stand up for you in honor of the occasion. If you’ve had children since your original ceremony, you may also want them to stand up for you. Whoever you wish can also walk you down the aisle. This can also be a nice way to include your children or you could choose to walk down together! Whoever you choose, make sure you choose someone and that you don’t walk down the aisle alone.
The ceremony will be much like your original ceremony was. For the exchanging of vows, it’s especially meaningful during vow renewal ceremonies to write personal vows about how much you’ve meant to each other and how much you love your life together. You can include readings and soloists if you choose and you will exchange rings. You can exchange your original bands, but make sure you upgrade them somehow such as including a new engraving, or you can buy new bands to exchange.
Be sure to throw a reception – there’s reason to celebrate now more than ever! Include everything a traditional wedding reception would have including cake, toasts, dancing, and food! Be sure to thank everyone for all their support during your marriage.
A Word on Etiquette
It’s very important that you do not register for gifts for a vow renewal ceremony. This is a time for celebrating your love and marriage, not for redecorating your kitchen.
