Vow Renewals
What better way to express your love for your spouse than to do it all over again? Read on for everything you need to know about renewing your vows…
When to renew?
There is hardly an inappropriate time to reaffirm your love for each other, but you might want to hold off for a bit if you are considering a vow renewal ceremony within less than a year of your original wedding date.
Why renew?
Maybe you want to celebrate a milestone such as 25 years together or to mark a new beginning after a rough patch in your relationship. Maybe you eloped or had a destination wedding when you first exchanged vows and now want to celebrate with everyone you know. Or maybe you just want to let the world know that you’d do it all over again in a heartbeat if you had the chance. There is no wrong reason for wanting to celebrate your love for each other.
Who hosts?
The couple may choose to host their own vow renewal, or the couple’s children can do the honors. Sometimes the original maid of honor and best man may choose to throw the party. Whoever decides to host the event, it should be an unprompted gesture that shows how influential your relationship has been on their lives.
What happens?
The whole reason behind the event is to exchange vows again. But because vow renewals are not legally bound, you can choose to have a close friend or family member officiate the ceremony. You can recite your original vows or write new ones to reflect your relationship as it stands today (this guide to writing your own wedding vows will help you get started). As with a traditional ceremony, you will exchange rings, whether they are your original bands or upgraded rings.
The renewal ceremony is typically followed by an after-party. Here anything goes, from a casual barbeque to a formal dinner. Decorate your site with photos from your original wedding as well as photos from your years together. And be sure to stock up on plenty of champagne for a night full of sentimental toasts.
Where is it?
Choose a location that holds special meaning for you and your husband. It could be especially symbolic to revisit the site of your original ceremony or to host your gathering at the spot of your first date or where he proposed.