One of the most heartfelt ways for a couple to reaffirm their love for each other is by renewing their wedding vows. While wedding ceremonies come with quite a big to-do list planning a vow renewal can be as simple or extravagant as you desire. If you’re ready to relive or upgrade one of the most meaningful moments of your life and remind your significant other how much you love them, here are several ideas to make the day extra special.
Use the Originals
If possible, try to find the original vows you promised to each other. Not only is it a romantic throwback to your original wedding, but it shows that your love for each other is still as strong as it was that day. And don’t stress about using them in their entirety; it’s, it’s also perfectly acceptable to write entirely new vows to signify how much you’ve grown together.
Re-Create Your Wedding Day
Rather than reminiscing about your wedding day, why not simply recreate it? Your wedding day was special, so it’s no surprise that you think back to that remarkable day. Why not arrange a smaller scale version of your special day? You don’t have to execute everything exactly the same way. For example, you don’t have to include guests if you don’t want to. Visit the same venue, wear the same dress, buy the exact cake, and feel the magic reverberate from within. If your wedding didn’t meet all of your expectations, your vow renewal ceremony could be your outlet to make things even better than before. Arrange the same wedding but do things better this time. Make necessary tweaks if necessary.
Upgrade Your Wedding Band
The act of renewing wedding vows symbolizes a couple’s rededication to each other, and the celebration of their marriage and the new wedding rings reaffirms that intent. What a fantastic opportunity to upgrade your wedding bands or have them engraved with a special message. If you choose to have your current rings engraved, you can re-exchange them after reciting your vows. You might consider purchasing new rings to wear along with or in place of your original wedding bands as a visual reminder of your continuing love and commitment.
Include Your Children
Do you ever look through your wedding photos and wish your children could have been there a part of your big day? Renewing your vows allows you to have them be a part of your ceremony. Perhaps your young son or daughter can participate by being the ring bearer or flower girl. If your children are older, ask them to give you away or stand alongside you as you say, ‘I Do.
Capture This Chapter of Your Lives
A vow renewal is an excellent opportunity to get some updated photos of yourselves together. Chances are, the last time you took non-selfie photos together was at your wedding, and your picture frames could use an update! Plus, capturing yourselves at this special moment in your lives and in your relationship can be incredibly meaningful. Maybe you’re rocking a new signature hairstyle, perhaps you’ve added children to your family, or you just want to show off those shiny new wedding bands. There is something so special about this chapter of your lives; don’t let it pass you by without capturing the little things that make it worth remembering.
Plan the Honeymoon That Never Happened (or have another!)
It’s not always possible to include a honeymoon in your first wedding plans. Maybe it was over your budget, you couldn’t get time off from work, or it just wasn’t the right time. So, here you are years later; you have enough money saved up, and you want to renew your vows, getaway to relax, and sip a frozen cocktail next to a palm tree. Plan the honeymoon that never happened, or heck go on another one if you can. Be sure to tell the hotel so they can give you that special “newlywed” treatment!
Throw a Party
It may have been 10 or 20 years since your big day, and you have a lot more friends and family members now than you did back then. Why not throw a big party after renewing your vows and let everyone come as they please? No dress code, no gifts, just bring your dancing shoes and celebrate the love of you and your spouse. If you want to make things easier on yourselves, you can ask everyone to bring a dish, so you won’t have to worry about the food. However, you may want to provide drinks and music!
