Many couples these days like to renew their vows to remind themselves of just how special they are to each other, what they’ve achieved over the years, and how much in love they still are.
If you’re thinking of saying “I do” again, whether this year or beyond, and whether you’ve been married for five years, ten, 20, 30, or more, it’s wise to take care with the event planning so you enjoy the occasion as much as possible. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
Pick Your Guest List and Give Attendees Plenty of Notice
The first step is to pick your guest list for the special occasion. This will likely be quite different from when you first said “I do” since you may now have children and grandchildren (or even great-grandchildren!) to invite, along with new friends, colleagues, neighbors, and more. On the other hand, your vow renewal can also provide a lovely opportunity to catch up with loved ones you might have lost contact with or just not had the chance to see for quite a while.
Ensure you send out invitations ASAP so that all those you care about can schedule in the event and you can increase the number of people who can make it. It also pays to send out “save the date” messages before you have invitations ready, especially if you’ll be exchanging vows again at a very popular time of the year, such as New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, the Fourth of July, or in the height of summer vacation time, etc. If people need to travel from afar, giving them enough notice is vital, too.
Select an Appropriate Person to Handle the Proceedings
Another choice to make early on when planning your vow renewal is whom you want to preside over the proceedings. You may want to ask the person who married you in the first place, if they’re still available and practicing, such as a priest, rabbi, officiant, etc. Alternatively, you could ask someone close to you that you’d simply love to have say the special words since you’re already wed, and there isn’t official paperwork involved this time.
For instance, you might have a close friend handle the honors or your child, an original best man or bridesmaid, a trusted mentor, or the like. Or, you might like to mix things up by hiring someone famous to be the MC of the event or choosing a comedian to create funny vow renewal proceedings. You could arrange for an Elvis or other celebrity impersonator to handle the job, or have a fun theme, such as Star Wars, Marvel, or Lord of the Rings, etc., and have someone dressed in an appropriate costume preside over the event.
Choose a Meaningful Spot in Which to Exchange Vows Again
Your choice of venue for your vow renewal is also essential. You might like to say “I do” again in the same spot where you said those memorable words originally, as that will bring a lot of meaning to the occasion. Alternatively, you could pick somewhere new with meaning for you and your beloved. For instance, you might exchange vows where you first met or got engaged, in the backyard of your family home, or at the spot where you love to vacation or dine for special events.
Another idea is to choose a venue that will allow you to create the atmosphere and have the party you’ve always wanted to have, if you couldn’t afford that the first time around. You might want a venue with stunning views, that will hold a large number of guests, or that will enable you to celebrate with an impressive show such as Roman candles and other fireworks or a huge band or dance or other display.
You might go all out on an elaborate marquee, gain permission to have a vow re-enactment in a public domain, or hire out a divine space in a museum, library, five-star resort, or more. The options are endless, but just make sure you choose somewhere that has meaning for you as a couple and will provide you with memories for the next part of your lives together.
Other tips for your vow renewal are to select outfits with care, choose a theme for the event, and take time to write some beautiful words to exchange at the altar. Do all of these things, and you’ll create a wonderful event that will bring a happy tear to the eye of all involved.
