Hi Bloggers,
I recently came across an online guide that talked about the why, where, and when to renew wedding vows. I thought it would be pretty useful for us who don’t have a clue on where to start with wedding renewals.
The Why, Where, When To Renew Wedding Vows Guide
by Rev. Susanna Stefanachi Macomb, interfaith minister
www.idotaketwo.com
A renewal of wedding vows ceremony can be a meaningful, touching, revivifying ceremony for you and your children, family and friends. As a married couple, it is a time to pause and reflect on where you have been and where you are going. It is also a wonderful example to set for your children and grandchildren. Can you imagine a more beautiful scene than children watching their parents joining hands and hearts as they affirm the magnitude and strength of their enduring love? What greater life/love lesson? I often say at these ceremonies: ” True love does not wither and die. It merely ripens.” Afterwards many couples comment as to how surprisingly romanitic it all felt!
Vow renewal ceremonies can be as creative and personal as you want them to be. Walk down the aisle to classical music and walk out to “your song”. Let the cover of your invitation feature your grandchild’s favorite drawing of Grandma and Pop Pop or even your first wedding portrait. Play your original wedding videoat you reception. Buy new wedding bands for the occasion and have them specially engraved. Your ceremony should be less formal than a wedding- more casual and fun. It can completely reflect the two of you.
Significant anniversaries are especially appropriate times for renewing your commitment and love. I have conducted vow renewals for couples married as little as ten years and as much as fifty years.
Some couples choose to renew their vows after a particularly difficult crisis in their lives, say for example, the overcoming of a serious illness or a period of estrangement. They want to make it new again! Others simply want to reaffirm the tremendous love that has matured and deepened with the passing of years.
Vow renewals are usually conducted by clergy since they are generally more spiritual and not official in nature. However, if you have a warm hearted friend who is a judge or a ship’s captain– that could work nicely as well. Unlike weddings, no legal paper is needed for a vow renewal. The ceremony can be conducted in churches, chapels, temples, banquet facilities, on yachts, out doors or in the privacy of a couples home- with a room full of guest or in an intimate setting with just the couple. Consider reaffirming your vows in some far off, exotic destination! The couples themselves host the celebration because it is so very personal. It is a decision that only you as a couple can make. There are no shot gun vow renewals!
A couple can end their vows with a poem, for example, this verse by James Weldon Johnson:
“The world for me, and all the world can hold is circled in your arms, for me there lies within the lights and shadows of your eyes the only beauty that is never old.”
Vow Renewal Sample Vows
Mnisters may state the following “Declaration of Intent” before the couple takes the standard wedding vows:
” When you first joined hands and hearts 40 years ago, you did not know where life would take you. You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult tribulations. Therefore, you have fulfilled your promise. And God is smiling! So, as you come here today to reaffirm your wedding vows and as you reflect back over all the years as husband and wife, do you now reaffirm the vows you took 40 years ago? If so, repeat after me. (insert personal vows)
Wedding Vow Renewal Sample Vows
- “Once before, I have stood with you before family and friends; once again, I take your hand as my partner. (name), I take you this day, and for all days, as my husband/wife.”
- ” I am proud to marry you on this day. I promise to wipe away your tears with my laughter and your pain with my caring and compassion. We will wipe clean the old canvases of our lives and let God, with His amazing artistic talent, fill them with new colors, harmony and beauty. I give myself to you completely, and I promise to love you always, from this day forth.”
- ” I believe in this marriage more strongly than ever. (Name), it is with joy born of experience and trust that I commit myself once again to be your husband/wife.”
- I, (name), give to you, (name), a new promise, and yet not so new; a new husband/wife, and yet not so new; and a new affirmation of love from the heart that has loved you for (_) years and will love you for as many more as God allows.