The Ultimate Guide to Renewing Your Wedding Vows
True love, like a fine wine, only gets better with time, and what better way to savour its richness than by renewing your wedding vows?
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone anniversary, overcoming life’s challenges, or simply wanting to step forward together with a renewed sense of commitment, renewing your vows is a beautiful and symbolic way to reaffirm your love and recognise the journey you’ve shared with your partner.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out our ultimate guide to renewing your wedding vows. We discuss everything you need to know about marriage vow renewal. This includes the practicalities, what to wear, and how to go about planning your special day 2.0!
What is a vow renewal?
Renewing your wedding vows is a ceremony where already-married couples reaffirm their commitment to one another by reading vows. Think of it as a top-up to your wedding ceremony.
Couples can choose to re-read their original vows or come up with completely new vows. This is nice if it’s been a long time since your original wedding day or if you’ve overcome significant challenges together that you want to recognise.
Renewing your vows is the opportunity to reflect on the journey you’ve shared, celebrate the growth in your relationship, and express your enduring love for each other.
Why do couples renew their vows?
There are a number of reasons couples might choose to renew their vows. These include:
1) To celebrate a milestone
Couples might renew their vows to celebrate a special anniversary or milestone. For example, after 10, 25, or 40 years of marriage, or the birth of a child.
2) To celebrate overcoming challenges
Couples who have faced significant challenges in their relationship may want to renew their vows as a symbol that they’re moving past these challenges together. For example, illness, financial difficulties, or other obstacles.
3) Reaffirming commitment
Sometimes, the chaos of everyday life gets in the way, and couples can become distant. Vow renewal can act as a powerful reminder of the commitment they’ve made to one another and help reignite the spark between them.
4) To have the wedding of their dreams
Some people just can’t wait to get married. As a result, they may have tied the knot young and might not have been able to afford the wedding they always wanted. A vow renewal provides another opportunity for couples to plan and experience their dream wedding.
5) To include more family
Families grow and develop over time, and couples might choose to renew their vows to include those who couldn’t be there the first time around. For example, children, step-siblings or parents, or even a new brother or sister-in-law.
6) Just because
There’s no better reason to renew your vows than simply because you want to. Couples may choose to renew their vows as a celebration of the everyday moments, the laughter shared, and the small victories that sometimes go forgotten but contribute immensely to their shared journey.
When do couples renew their vows?
The great thing about vow renewals is that there’s no set time or rules for when a couple can renew their vows. In fact, couples can choose to renew their vows as frequently as they’d like.
However, generally, couples don’t renew their vows until they’ve been married for a few years and have weathered the initial stages of marriage. This gives them the chance to deepen their connection, accumulate shared experiences, and navigate the ups and downs of marriage before renewing their commitment.
How much does it cost to renew your vows?
The good news is that there’s no strict need to shell out for the ceremony itself. That’s because legally you aren’t obliged to hire an officiant when renewing your vows. But, if you fancy, you could invite a priest, rabbi, celebrant or even judge to add a sense of occasion to your ceremony. If you would prefer a more personal touch, having a friend or family member officiate is also a great option.
That said, you may have to pay to rent a space for the ceremony. This cost will depend entirely on how elaborate you want your vow renewal to be. For a simple ceremony in your local place of worship or town hall, you can expect to pay a modest fee only. However, something more elaborate in a boutique hotel or grand stately home will understandably come with a higher price tag.
Just like with a wedding ceremony, there are lots of things you can do to keep the cost down if a full-blown celebration is what you’re after. Check out our wedding saving tips for how to save on everything from your venue to your florist.
What should you wear to a vow renewal
Good news — you can wear whatever you’d like to a vow renewal! However, if you’re looking for some guidelines, try following the below tips:
Things to know for spouses
- White isn’t a must. Don’t feel the need to wear white if you don’t want to. Instead, you should feel free to wear any colour that suits you, represents your relationship, or matches the theme of your ceremony. Pastels and neutrals are both popular options for vow renewals.
- Accessorise thoughtfully. Try incorporating aspects of your original wedding day into your vow renewal through thoughtful accessories. For example, sewing a small part of your veil inside your renewal outfit, wearing the same cufflinks, or even the same perfume or aftershave can all bring back memories of your special day.
- Dress for the weather. Nothing will ruin your special day 2.0 like not being prepared for wind or rain. Make sure your outfit is suitable for the predicted weather conditions, and keep a spare umbrella to hand (just in case!).
Things to know for guests
- Consider your footwear carefully. As great as they look, try not to wear heels that are too high or wear brand-new shoes. Both will cause you discomfort throughout the day and might distract you from fully enjoying the celebration.
- Check the dress code. The dress code should be listed on the invitation, so make sure you respect the wishes of the celebrants. If no dress code is listed, you can’t go wrong with semi-formal.
- Coordinate with your partner. Vow renewals are a great opportunity for a cute couple pic. To stand out (without overshadowing the married couple) consider matching your partner’s tie to your dress colour or wearing matching suits.
Where should you renew your vows?
The good news is that you can renew your vows anywhere you like. Potential options include locations that are also popular wedding destinations.
- A beach or seaside
- A destination/overseas location
- In your own home or garden
- At a historical location
- In a church, temple or mosque
- In an art gallery
- In the forest or a woodland
You’ll need to consider the cost, practicality, and size of each venue before making your decision. For example, planning a forest wedding when both you and your partner suffer from hay fever probably isn’t the best idea.
How to plan a vow renewal
Ready to start planning your vow renewal? How exciting! Try following these 7 steps to help you plan your perfect vow renewal ceremony.
1) Pick your date
First things first — you need to set the date. Consider meaningful dates such as your original wedding anniversary or a relationship milestone. Take into account factors like the season, weather, and any personal or cultural preferences. Once you have your date set, you can move on with the rest of your planning.
2) Choose your location
The next step is picking where you’ll hold your ceremony. This will act as the backdrop to your whole day, so choose a location that not only resonates with your love story but also sets the tone for your celebration. Whether it’s somewhere that’s sentimental to you, a formal affair, or even just your favourite beach — all that matters is that it’s special to you and your spouse.
3) Decide what you’re going to DIY
Not only does DIY’ing parts of your vow renewal ceremony help keep costs down, but it also adds a personal touch that makes your celebration uniquely yours.
Check out some of our posts on creating DIY elements for your wedding celebration, which you can apply to your vow renewal ceremony too:
4) Pick your vendors
Once you’ve decided what you’re doing yourself, it’s time to pick which vendors you’d like to work with. You’ll most likely want a photographer and a celebrant at the very least. However, you may also want a caterer, cake maker, florist, entertainment, stationery provider, or even a wedding coordinator, depending on how elaborate your celebration is.
5) Send your invitations
The next step is to send your invitations to your guests. You’ll need to include details like the date, time, location, and dress code. It’s also a good idea to include a run down of the day so attendees can dress accordingly. For example, will there be a sit-down meal or a cocktail hour, or will the ceremony be on the beach? These are all important details that your guests need to be made aware of.
6) Pick your outfit
The next step is to pick your outfit. As above, you can wear whatever you’d like to your vow renewal ceremony. Our recommendations are that you consider the weather and dress with the formality of the occasion in mind.
7) Optional: Buy your rings
Some couples like to upgrade their wedding band or engagement ring for a vow renewal. Alternatively, you might like to treat your spouse to an eternity ring to wear with their wedding and engagement rings. If you’re not ‘ring people’, you could try a watch, a nice bracelet, or even a necklace. Check out our post on 30 unique alternatives to engagement rings for a little more inspiration.
Examples of traditional vow renewal wording
When planning what to say in your wedding vow renewal ceremony and how to word your vows, you can take inspiration from your own original wedding vows, whether you repeat the same ones, or lightly adapt them. We’ve got dedicated articles on the above to help you get started:
Plan your vow renewal with Bridebook
Vow renewals are a beautiful way to reaffirm your love for your partner and celebrate the journey you’ve shared and continue to share. It’s a chance to reflect on the highs and lows and the laughter and tears, and to express your enduring commitment in a new or continued chapter of your love story.
So, whether you’re commemorating a significant milestone or simply embracing the joy of the present, vow renewals offer a unique opportunity to deepen your connection and rediscover the magic that brought you together.
However, trying to keep on top of everything can be tricky. If you’re struggling to stay organised, we’ve got all the tools and tips you might need to plan your big day 2.0 right here at Bridebook.
FAQs
Do I need to be given away at a vow renewal?
No, you don’t have to be given away. However, it can be a nice gesture to express your feelings and show appreciation to a special person in your life. Plus, it’s always nice to have someone to hang on to as you walk down the aisle (again!).
Do I need a licence to renew my vows?
No, renewing your vows doesn’t typically require a licence. Since the ceremony doesn’t establish a new legal marital status, there’s no need for a specific licence. However, depending on where you’re holding your renewal, you may need a permit to hold an event at the location.
Do I need to wear a wedding dress to renew my vows?
No, you don’t have to wear a wedding dress to renew your vows. In fact, you can wear anything you want on your special day 2.0 We recommend that you dress appropriately for the weather and consider the formality of the occasion.
You Might Also Like…
- What Are the Traditional Wedding Vows?
- How to Write Wedding Vows: Structure, Examples and Top Tips
- Introduction: Writing Personalised Wedding Vows
- How Long Should Wedding Vows Be?
Happy Planning!
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