You have been married for 5, 20, 30, or even 50 years and now want your family and the whole world to know you still love each other? There is no better way to reaffirm your feelings than to say “I still do” in front of your nearest and dearest! Yes, I’m talking about a vow renewal ceremony! After all, in the world where divorces have become increasingly common, to celebrate your love after years of marriage is a great example to set for your kids. Let them see the true love – love that can surpass time and last forever! In fact, there is no wrong reason to renew your romantic wedding vows. However, there are still several things you should know about. Consider the following vow renewal ideas and tips that may come in handy for such a meaningful ceremony!
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1. Legalities
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A vow renewal ceremony is not a formal event, which means that you do not need any paperwork, as well as you do not require a license. It is a personal, touching ceremony intended to celebrate your love, commitment, and good times you spent together. However, if you want to renew your romantic wedding vows in a chapel or a public place, most likely you will need to confirm that you are really married, so prepare your marriage certificate beforehand.
2. Vows
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One of the most compelling vow renewal ideas is certainly to write the vows yourself. It is probably the most romantic and memorable part of the whole vow renewal ceremony, so it is important to make sure that your vows don’t sound generic or ridiculous. The best way to avoid this is to let words flow from your heart and use phrases that capture your feelings. If you don’t know where to start, you can always use some romantic wedding vows examples for inspiration.
3. Officiates
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Since a vow renewal ceremony is not a legal event, you can ask virtually anyone to lead it. Maybe you want your closest friend or adult child to officiate? No problem! Even though to become a wedding officiate is not that difficult, they don’t need a marriage license for a vow renewal. Moreover, you can even renew your romantic wedding vows without any officiate at all.
4. Clothes
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You can certainly wear anything you want, but it is always better to dress up. One of the really good vow renewal ideas is to wear the same wedding dress and suit you wore to say “I do” for the first time. However, if you are not comfortable with them, there are also many other options. For example, you can opt for a beautiful evening gown or a fabulous cocktail dress, while you husband can choose a new – more informal – suit for your vow renewal ceremony.
5. Reception
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From a large reception to a family dinner or backyard barbecue, feel free to choose any style and party you want. You can even have your vow renewal ceremony and reception aboard a ship or cruise liner if you wish this day to be even more special. Invite as many guests as you want and can comfortably accommodate or make your vow renewal intimate, with only children, family members, and closest friends in attendance. It’s up to you what to choose!
Along with all these vow renewal ideas and tips you can use for your ceremony, there are also several things you should avoid when planning such an event:
- a gift registry;
- bachelor and bachelorette-style parties;
- a bridal shower;
- a multi-tiered wedding cake;
- a bride’s walk down the aisle;
- wedding attendants.
In general, don’t forget that a vow renewal ceremony is not your second wedding, so keep it more casual and simple. Do it for yourself, not your guests! After all, it is your celebration of love and commitment for one another. Moreover, if you organize it the way you want, you will be surprised how romantic and meaningful it all can be, not to mention that your vow renewal will become a great love lesson for your kids. Make that your focus!