Is a Vow Renewal right for you?

As a Celebrant I have the absolute joy of meeting, marking, and celebrating all kinds of rites of passage. The Vow Renewal ceremony is currently proving to be very popular. Couples renew their vows for many reasons and in this article I would like to examine some of them and I hope you can relate to some of these couples I have worked with over the years. Remember this thought - Each ceremony is unique to the couple and will be designed with their character, personalities and values at the heart of the ceremony.

There are many reasons for a Vow Renewal - in fact you don’t even have to have a reason, you can just choose to have one because you want to share your love with your partner all over again. Below are a few reasons I have been asked to create a vow renewal ceremony.

The Covid Marriage. As you know many weddings had to be postponed during the lockdown period, and even afterwards there were limits on numbers and how far everyone had to sit apart!! And no singing or dancing!!

Even with these restrictions, some couples decided to go ahead and hold their weddings, but now are regretful that they didn’t get the wedding of their choice. A vow renewal for this couple is perfect as their love story has moved past the courting and proposal stage and has embraced married life. There is more to talk about in terms of how they now see their marriage and their hopes and dreams for the future. One such couple I worked with were overjoyed that I could conjure up the romance of their love for their vow renewal and that their vows and promises, although changed, meant so much to them both. They also had the photographs they had longed for and a new second date in their calendar to celebrate each year.

The Special Anniversary. Many vow renewals are written and delivered to couples who wish to celebrate a number of years of married happiness. This can be as few as 5 years, and is really popular with the Silver, Ruby and Gold Wedding Anniversaries. This gives us so much ‘happy material’ to be woven into the ceremony, as there may be children and grandchildren to include in the ceremony; there may be special holidays or family events to recollect; and there may be symbolic rituals to enhance the ceremony such as planing a ruby red rose tree for a ruby wedding anniversary. Photos of the original wedding may be included along with any original guests. This can be a joyful occasion of celebration that everyone can enjoy.

The Reunion after an Estrangement. As we know marriages go through difficult periods, which can lead to the estrangement of the couple. Fortunately, many successfully overcome these difficulties and decide to stay married, and in some cases the marriage is stronger than ever. What better way then to celebrate this success then a vow renewal, where two people can look at each other and know that together they can face adversity and evolve stronger than before? This type of vow renewal may be just for the two married people, or could involve the friends and family who helped them through this journey. This is a wonderful thing to celebrate and can be included in the love story if the couple so wishes, or gently passed over with the focus on the future. Each ceremony is unique to the couple and their choices.

The Recovery from Illness. We all know someone who has had a life threatening illness - that is true.

And isn’t it the most joyous news when you discover that they are going to be alright? When one half of a couple nearly loses their partner, it has the effect of heightening the love between the couple, of putting aside any petty arguments or differences, and of highlighting what is important to them. What better way then to celebrate their continuing marriage and love then with a vow renewal ceremony? There is so much to celebrate and the vows can really reflect their journey to this moment of renewal. Each story is different and will be bespoke to the couple.

If you would like to discuss a vow renewal - for whatever reason, please contact me or a nearby Celebrant who will make this one of the most important days of your lives.