Vow Renewals 101: Ultimate Guide & Tips 2024

Your wedding day was magical; why not celebrate that romance every year? A vow renewal ceremony is a great way to mark your anniversary, and it’s also a way to share your love with friends and family. If you’ve ever thought about renewing your vows but didn’t know where to begin, here’s everything you need to know: what it is; why it’s important; who hosts it; when the best time for a renewal of vows would be; where the ceremony should take place…and more! Let’s dive in!

What Is a Vow Renewal?

A vow renewal ceremony is a special event for couples who are married and want to reaffirm their commitment to each other. It can be a way to celebrate an anniversary or simply involve renewing vows at any time in your marriage. Vow renewals have become more popular over the last decade, but they’re not just for older couples. Couples of all ages can have the same experience and enjoy themselves!

Why Does a Couple Have a Vow Renewal?

There are many reasons why couples choose to renew their vows. Some of these include:

• To reaffirm their commitment to each other
• To celebrate their love for each other
• To mark a special occasion (such as an anniversary)

Do You Need a License for Vow Renewal?

• From the perspective of each state in the union, a vow renewal is purely ceremonial. You are not required to obtain a marriage license or use a registered church minister or officiant. There are no legal documents involved, and it can be held anywhere at any time. This means:
• A vow renewal is not the same as a marriage renewal ceremony—and while they can overlap and be part of one big celebration together, they’re different things!
• You don’t need an officiant to host your vow renewal ceremony; anyone you choose can lead it!

When Should You Do a Vow Renewal?

You can renew your vows any time after your actual wedding, from the next day to 30 years later. Some couples don’t want to renew too soon or too often, while others do it every year. Ultimately, the choice is completely up to you!

It may be more common to have a vow renewal for a milestone—like an anniversary (10, 25, or 50 years) or a birthday—but you can host a vow renewal for any anniversary or any time there are no rules that govern when vow renewals should take place.

Consider reaffirming your wedding vows on one of these momentous dates:

• 5-year wedding anniversary
• 10-year wedding anniversary
• 25-year wedding anniversary
• 50-year wedding anniversary
• Whenever you want to!

Who Hosts a Renewal of Vows?

Some married couples host their own renewals, while others have their children do the honors. Alternatively, a close friend or family member (like one who served as the original maid of honor or best man in the couple’s wedding party the first time around) can also take over planning duties. As with prewedding events like a bridal shower or a rehearsal dinner, the host is generally responsible for funding the event and providing food, drinks and entertainment. Take this into consideration when thinking about hosting a vow renewal party. (And, if your kids are going to host, consider helping with some of the more advanced planning details.)

Where Can I Host a Vow Renewal?

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to choosing a venue. If you have a favorite spot, or one that holds special meaning for you, then it’s probably best if you revisit that location. If not, here are some questions to consider:

• What do both of us feel comfortable with?
• Where will our friends and family want to attend?
• Is there any significance behind this place (e.g., “We met here,” “We were married here,” etc.)?

If none of these criteria apply, think about what kind of location would be fun! Perhaps explore a new restaurant or bar in town that serves good food and drinks. Or maybe try something different by hosting an evening at an indoor waterpark or amusement park. You could even rent out a space at the local bowling alley (if those things still exist).

Popular Wedding Vow Renewal Destinations

As you get started planning your vow renewal, consider one of these popular destinations:

• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Destin, Florida
• Maui, Hawaii

How to Plan a Vow Renewal

• Decide the details.

Whether you’re celebrating at an international destination, a restaurant, or your home, feel free to choose the level of formality that suits you best. While vow renewals are not considered a sacrament in organized religions, you might still prefer to hold the ceremony in a place of worship. Consider reaching out to local churches or consider hiring a nondenominational chapel.

• Hire a photographer and any other key vendors.

Just like you would for a wedding, it’s crucial to determine which vendors you’ll need to bring your vow renewal to life. At the very least, hiring a photographer to capture all the special moments is highly recommended. Depending on the complexity of the celebration, you may also consider working with a wedding planner or coordinator, florist, musicians, and caterers.

• Choose a date and send invitations.

Once you have selected the location and date, it’s time to send out invitations that reflect the tone and formality of the event. Since vow renewals can be personalized to your preferences, the invitation will inform your guests about what to expect, whether it’s a meal, cocktail hour, or a champagne toast and cake.

• Pick your outfit.

Remember, there’s no strict dress code for vow renewals. You have the freedom to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and reflects the formality level you desire. If you prefer, you can still opt for a more formal attire such as a wedding dress, veil, or tuxedo—it’s entirely up to you.

• Meet with your officiant.

Prior to the ceremony, it’s important to meet with your chosen officiant. They can deliver a warm welcome speech that highlights some of your cherished married life experiences. You may also include readings and well wishes from your guests before exchanging vows. It’s ideal to read your vows aloud to each other, followed by a blessing from the officiant, a joyful kiss, and a walkout to “your song” as you personally greet each guest.

Who Officiates a Vow Renewal Ceremony?

Because a vow renewal isn’t a legally binding ceremony like a wedding is, virtually anyone can act as an officiant.

When it comes to vow renewals, there is no strict requirement for an official officiant since the ceremony is not legally binding. You have the freedom to choose someone you know and love, such as your minister or rabbi. Another option could be a judge who has presided over one of your weddings and with whom you share a close connection.

Alternatively, the two of you could opt to have children officiate the renewal ceremony and read their mother’s or father’s vows aloud.

For a unique and heartwarming touch, you and your spouse can consider having your children officiate the renewal ceremony. They can lovingly recite your vows and also serve as witnesses during this special occasion.

If possible, try to avoid having friends and family members serve as the official officiants; though they may mean well, no one wants to listen to “It Is Thereby Ordered” in place of sweet words spoken by parents or grandparents!

While friends and family members may have good intentions, it is advisable to avoid having them serve as the official officiants. Their role is better suited for providing support and being present to witness the renewal ceremony. After all, it’s much more meaningful to have the sweet and heartfelt words spoken by parents or grandparents rather than hearing formal legal jargon like “It Is Thereby Ordered.”

Should I Have a Wedding Party for Renewing Vows?

As far as who walks you down the aisle, it’s totally up to you. If you want your original attendants to be there and/or give readings or perform other roles, great! But that’s not required; if they’re busy or otherwise unavailable, don’t worry about it.

One thing to keep in mind: in some states and jurisdictions, guests at a wedding vow renewal must know both parties personally (and not just by reputation). To prevent this from being an issue when inviting friends of yours who are also friends with each other but haven’t met yet—or if one of them is not invited because of this rule—feel free to let them know about each other ahead of time so that they can say hello at the event itself.

Who Should Be Invited to a Vow Renewal?

As with your original wedding, the vow renewal guest list is completely up to your discretion. You might choose to have an intimate reaffirmation, inviting just close family and friends who’ve known you through the years. But, you can definitely throw a large party for your extended family and a wider circle of friends. As long as there are enough seats at the reception venue to accommodate everyone, there’s no set-in-stone rule about who gets invited (though it’s never a bad idea to keep an eye on their RSVPs).

What Should I Wear to a Vow Renewal?

If you’re not sure what to wear to your vow renewal, just about anything goes. A full tuxedo isn’t necessary—though you can pull out all the stops if you’d like. A simple suit-and-tie combo with a boutonniere or button-up and slacks would also suffice.

If you’d like to repurpose your original wedding dress or tux, you can definitely do so. Or, opt for a simple vow renewal dress, like an evening gown, cocktail midi or trendy jumpsuit. If you want a dress that’s similar to a wedding dress, but feels different and fresh, feel free to have some fun with a shirt hemline or even a ready-to-wear dress with a sexy silhouette (think backless backs).

What Actually Happens During a Vow Renewal Ceremony?

The ceremony begins with the couple and their guests seated. The officiant welcomes everyone and then asks the couple to stand. The officiant reads a statement about the couple’s history together, which can include information about how they met, an anecdote about one of their first dates or even a poem that expresses how much they love each other.

The actual vow renewal ceremony is, of course, the most important element of the party. Since a vow renewal isn’t a legally binding event, there’s no need to get another marriage license. Instead, along with your officiant and witnesses (which may be just your parents), you’ll exchange vows recalling what you said when you were first married. You could also vary the verbiage and write original vows for this occasion if it feels right for your relationship now—this is an opportunity for both of you to really think about how you feel about your relationship today! Children (if any), close relatives and special friends can do readings if they wish; music may be played during these moments too—just as in any wedding ceremony!

Vow Renewal Ceremony Script Examples

If you’re looking for sample vow renewal ceremony wording, let these example scripts inform your plans.

Officiant: [Couple], when you were first joined in matrimony ___ years ago, you did not know what life had in store for you.

You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through life’s highs and lows. You’ve persevered through the blessings and challenges that have come your way over the years, and today you’re here to reaffirm your vows of love and respect for each other.

As you celebrate your marriage and reflect on your shared journey,, do you now wish to reaffirm the marriage vows you committed to ___ years ago?

Couple: We do.

Officiant: Please face each other and join hands.

Officiant (to be repeated to each partner): [Name], will you continue to have [Name] as your wedded spouse and continue to be committed to this loving marriage?

Partner: I will.

Officiant: Do you reaffirm your love for your partner, and will you love, honor and cherish them in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to them for as long as you both shall live?

Partner: I do.

(insert optional reading here)

Officiant: [Couple], on your wedding day you exchanged rings as a symbol your unending love and commitment to each other! May these rings always serve as a reminder of your vows to each other as long as you live together in love. To remind you of your commitment to one another, it is appropriate for you now to exchange rings once again.

Officiant (to be repeated to each partner): [Name], please place the ring on [Name’s] hand and repeat after me: “With this ring, I pledge my renewed love and commitment to you.”

(insert optional blessing to the couple here)

Officiant: [Couple], today you renewed your marriage vows and reaffirmed your shared love for one another. With pleasure, I now conclude this vow renewal ceremony. You may now share a kiss as a sign of your enduring affection.

Do Vow Renewals Just Include a Ceremony, or A Reception Too?

As we’ve said before, a vow renewal is all about celebrating your love with family and friends. But if you want to go above and beyond the usual ceremony-and-reception formula, you can turn your vow renewal into an entire weekend away or even an extended vacation!

For example, if your wedding was in New York City but now both of you live in California, why not get married again at Disneyland? Or maybe you’re still living out of state from where the first ceremony took place (or from where one or both of you grew up). You could consider getting married at home for those people who couldn’t make it to the original wedding—you’ll already have a built-in guest list!

Another unique twist on renewing vows is having a party that’s more casual than formal. You might consider having everyone over for dinner at home: Your kids can run around outside while everyone eats together on blankets around the fire pit. Or maybe instead of hosting one big event, why not just invite all your friends over for an afternoon cookout? Of course this doesn’t mean there’s no room for some extra fun details—here are some ideas:

• Invite guests via email (so they don’t waste their paper invites) plus send out save-the dates months in advance so they’ll know when they should RSVP.
• Have each couple bring one dish so food prep will be easy on yourself; ask everyone not to bring alcohol since it’s unlikely that many people would have leftovers worth bringing home anyway! If someone wants iced tea instead of lemonade with their meal then put ice cubes in individual cups so they won’t dilute anything else nearby when pouring themselves drinks afterward too…

Should You Register for a Vow Renewal?

If you’re considering renewing your wedding vows, don’t feel like you have to register for anything. A vow renewal isn’t the time to upgrade your kitchen or china collection. We recommend browsing this list of vow renewal gift ideas to find a special present for your spouse, parents or close friends.

What Are Some Unique Vow Renewal Ceremony Ideas?

There are no rules when it comes to renewing your wedding vows. You can incorporate anything into the ceremony that speaks to you or reflects the relationship you’ve built together. Here are some ideas for a unique vow renewal ceremony:

• Write your own vows. Or, write your partner’s! If there’s something specific that you’d like to say but can’t find the right words, try writing them down first before sharing them with each other during the ceremony. This way, they’ll have time to let the words sink in and really feel what they mean before reciting them aloud; this could be especially helpful if one of you is nervous about speaking publicly (and everyone gets nervous!).
• Include children in some way. For couples with kids who want their little ones involved in their renewal of vows—but don’t want them involved in every part—consider having one child escort each parent down aisle by holding hands before sitting with family members during main components such as exchanging rings and saying traditional marriage vows again (with new meaning). Or maybe even just making sure all kids know about their parents’ upcoming re-commitment so they can attend if interested!
• Add something new into old traditions like cake cutting or dancing together after dinner ends; these types of small touches make big impacts without being overwhelming!

If you’re having a hard time settling on the perfect way to renew your vows, let these creative vow renewal ideas inspire you:

• Sunset sail on a dinner cruise
• Visit a winery
• Plan a destination vow renewal that doubles as a family vacation
• Theme the event around your anniversary’s traditional gift, like silver for 25
• Recreate a memorable moment from your wedding day

Renewing your wedding vows can be as special as that first day.

This guide is for you if:

• You’ve already tied the knot and want to make your wedding day even more special.
• You’re renewing your vows because it’s an anniversary of some kind (e.g., 5 years, 10 years, etc.).
• You’re celebrating another important milestone in your relationship (e.g., having children or adopting).

---

FAQ

What does a vow renewal ceremony entail?

A vow renewal ceremony is very similar to a traditional marriage ceremony. The wedded couple will enter through a short processional, exchange vows, and share a kiss before continuing on to the celebrations. Some may include blessings from a presiding officiant. A wedding party is typically not present in a vow renewal unless the couple chooses to include their children.

How long is a vow renewal ceremony?

The length of a vow renewal ceremony depends on the elements you choose to include like readings, blessings, and the length of the vows themselves. Typically, a vow renewal ceremony will last between 20 and 30 minutes.

Is it legal to renew wedding vows?

A vow renewal has no legal standing or implications as it is purely ceremonial in nature. As such, you are free to orchestrate it as you wish without any legal or religious matrimonial restrictions to adhere to.

---

Conclusion

The most important thing is to make sure that your vow renewal ceremony reflects who you are as a couple. It should be an intimate experience, where the focus is on you and the vows that mean so much to you both. If you’re looking for some ways to make your ceremony more unique, think about incorporating elements of culture or tradition from your past lives together into it. Or maybe have a friend or family member perform a reading as part of their speech during the reception! Even though there are so many things that can go wrong on wedding day, remember: The power of love will prevail—even after all these years!