Why Renew Your Wedding Vows?
Renewing your vows is simply a way to celebrate your marriage and your partner. Unlike wedding ceremonies, there’s no legal paperwork involved in vow renewals, so it’s your opportunity to have fun with your spouse and plan an event that’s meaningful to you.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been together, either. Some couples renew their vows on a special anniversary (think: the 10-year mark), while others renew every year. Some decide to reaffirm their commitment to each other after an especially trying time, such as after a serious illness or family loss.
The moral of the story: there’s no wrong reason or way to recommit to your partner.
With that in mind, let’s look at some easy ways you can recognize how your love has deepened throughout your time together. These five ideas can help you start planning a celebration that honors your relationship.
1. Get the Family Involved
You don’t need a minister to officiate your ceremony, but you can! If you want to branch out and make the event more informal, though, you can always ask a family member, friend, or spiritual advisor to lead the vow exchange.
If you have children, get them involved, too. Ask them to stand with you while you and your spouse exchange vows, or invite them to give a toast during the reception or after party.
2. Make It a Surprise
Usually, both you and your partner will be involved in planning the vow renewal ceremony. But if your spouse is a romantic at heart and enjoys surprises, maybe the unrehearsed, spontaneous route is the way to go.
Consider a surprise weekend getaway or an intimate ceremony with just the two of you. This might be an especially good option if you’re recently married.
To kick up the romance on a regular basis, check out “22 Date Ideas for Married Couples.”
3. Host It at Your Favorite Restaurant
As we mentioned, you can host your ceremony anywhere – in churches, chapels, banquet hall, outdoors, or in your living room. But if you’re looking to elevate the occasion without breaking the bank, consider hosting the party at a restaurant that’s important to you and your spouse.
Maybe it’s your go-to Friday night burger joint. Maybe it’s the place where you two went on your first date. Be creative, and invite your family and friends for a memorable day.
4. Break Out Your Wedding Accessories
You don’t have to don your wedding threads to renew your vows, but adding a piece that you wore on your special day can bring back happy memories. Jewelry, cufflinks, ties, or wedding shoes are easy to incorporate with most outfits. That romantic touch is bound to get your partner’s attention.
5. Upgrade Your Wedding Band
Upgrading your wedding bands is a beautiful way to commemorate the time you’ve spent together. Perhaps it’s something as simple as engraving your former wedding bands with the date of your vow renewal ceremony. But maybe it’s also a good time to pick out new wedding rings that match the lifestyle you and your partner have developed over the years.
For example, if you and your spouse enjoy the great outdoors and regularly hike or run, a silicone wedding band may be more your speed. You don’t have to take this ring off when you work out, and it’s flexible enough to accommodate swollen fingers or fluctuating ring sizes.
And if you and your spouse work in a labor-intensive field, you don’t have to worry about taking off your flexible wedding band. It’s designed to break if it gets caught, which can prevent ring avulsions and other hand injuries. To learn more, check out “What Is a Rubber Wedding Band?”
Already have a silicone wedding ring? Smart. In that case, you can switch up the ring color for your vow renewal. Because these rings aren’t made of metal, you can choose any color that appeals to you and your spouse – purple, white, black, silver, gold, or even pink. Check out the variety of metallic silicone wedding bands here.
