Planning To Renew Your Wedding Vows: A Guide

Planning to renew your wedding vows is a chance to reaffirm your commitment to your partner and celebrate your enduring love. It is an opportunity to revisit the promises you made to each other and honour your relationship. There are no strict rules for vow renewals, and they can be as intimate or grand, simple or elaborate as you like. They are typically smaller affairs, but you can invite as many or as few guests as you like. You can also choose to have an officiant or not, and they can be anyone from a local pastor to a friend or family member. The location can be anywhere from a vineyard to a beach, and you can dress up or down. Vow renewals are often held on milestone anniversaries, but they can be held whenever you like.

Choosing a location

When it comes to choosing a location for your vow renewal, the world is your oyster. You can do it anywhere, anytime, in any way you want. The key is to make sure you choose the right location. Understanding your 'why' will help with this.

If you had a small wedding, you might want to pick a venue that can host a large number of guests and vendors. Or, if you had a big wedding, you might want to skip the venue and go for an intimate ceremony with just a few friends and family members. Consider whether you want to travel or have a ceremony close to home. If you're doing something intimate, you could even host the celebration in your new home.

If you're looking for a tropical ambiance, consider a destination ceremony in the Caribbean, perhaps on a beach or in another picturesque location. Sandals has several resorts in beautiful Caribbean islands like Jamaica, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Curaçao, and Antigua.

While vow renewals are not a sacrament in organized religions, you may still want to hold your ceremony in a place of worship. Or, if you're after something a little more adventurous, you could travel somewhere epic and do it on top of a mountain.

Remember, there are no strict rules, so you can make your vow renewal as intimate or as grand as you'd like.

Who to invite

When it comes to who you should invite to your wedding vow renewal, there are no strict rules. It's up to you whether you want to keep things intimate or go big. Many couples choose to renew their vows in front of their closest family and friends, while others decide on a heftier guest list.

If you're planning a small ceremony, it's best to include only close friends and family. You could even fly somewhere cool with your nearest and dearest and have an intimate, private ceremony. On the other hand, if you're planning a larger event, you can invite extended family and more friends. You might even want to include your children in the ceremony.

If you're doing something intimate and want to show off your new home, consider hosting the celebration there. If you want to get everyone together in a venue, you could choose somewhere with romantic appeal or sentimental value, such as a vineyard, a church, or a beach. If you have a particular venue in mind, remember to take the venue's capacity into account when deciding on numbers.

While vow renewals are a chance to celebrate, it's important to remember that this is not a wedding. Some people may not be enthusiastic about a big, fancy event, so it's a good idea to talk to the people you really want there (parents, siblings, closest friends) and see what they're up for.

What to wear

When it comes to what to wear for a vow renewal, there are no strict rules. It's entirely up to you whether you dress up or dress down. Some people try to recreate their wedding as much as possible, while others go for a more simple or unique look and style.

If you're the one renewing your vows, you might opt to wear your original wedding dress, especially if it holds a special place in your heart. Alternatively, you could go for a non-traditional look, a formal gown, or a simple white gown. You could even lean into the "something old, new, borrowed, and blue" trend.

If you're attending a vow renewal, it can be challenging to decipher the appropriate attire from the invitation. Look to the style of the invitation and the location to guide you. A casual dress code indicates the vow renewal will likely be held outdoors or at a casual indoor venue. Common outdoor venues include beaches, parks, campsites, or backyards, and common indoor venues include hotel suites, theatres, libraries, gyms, restaurants, or the couple's home. These locations indicate a more casual and relaxed celebration, especially when it comes to guest attire. However, ultra-casual attire like jeans, shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, or tennis shoes are probably not appropriate unless expressly noted as acceptable. For a casual vow renewal, a classic suit and tie, or a cocktail dress, elegant pantsuit, dressy jumpsuit, or a dressy skirt and top paired with heels, wedges, or formal flats would be appropriate.

For a more formal vow renewal, a dark suit and tie would be appropriate for most locations. A tuxedo is not required, but it is formal enough to be appropriate. Women could wear a floor-length gown, a fancy cocktail dress, or a dressy pants suit. Satin, silk, tulle, and lace are all appropriate fabrics. For an evening vow renewal, darker, more formal colours are perfect.

The most formal attire possible for a vow renewal would be a black-tie event, with a formal floor-length evening gown, elegant jewellery, heels, and a clutch for women, and a tuxedo with tails, a formal white shirt with a standing wingtip collar, white vest and bow tie, white or grey gloves, and formal footwear for men. However, this level of formality is not common for a vow renewal.

The ceremony

The first thing to consider is the location. The ceremony location can influence everything from the food to the decor and the ambiance. You can renew your vows in a house of worship, at home, on a coastal beach, in a lush garden, or on a mountaintop. The location can hold sentimental value, or you can choose a scenic destination like Hawaii or Las Vegas. Some venues even offer vow renewal packages, which can include catering, entertainment, private space, and a cake.

Next, you should consider who will be in attendance. Vow renewals are typically smaller affairs, but you can invite as many or as few people as you like. Many couples choose to renew their vows in front of their closest family and friends, while others opt for a larger guest list. If you have children, you may want to include them in the ceremony. They can play special roles, such as walking you down the aisle or reading a heartfelt poem.

During the ceremony, you will exchange vows. You can recall what you said when you were first married while adding new promises. You can also incorporate elements from your original wedding vows or create entirely new ones that reflect the growth and depth of your relationship. If you wish, you can include symbolic gestures, such as lighting a unity candle, planting a tree together, or exchanging new rings.

After you've both spoken, you can exchange rings. You may choose to have your original wedding rings polished or reimagined, or you may opt for new rings with personalized engravings. Finally, after the ceremony, you can thank your loved ones for supporting your marriage over the years.

Food and drink

If you're hosting your vow renewal at a venue, they may offer catering as part of a vow renewal package. This can be a convenient option if you don't want to spend a lot of time planning. You can also hire a wedding venue to host your celebration, especially if you're planning an after-party or expecting a large number of guests.

If you choose to host your vow renewal at a spot that has significance to you and your partner, such as your backyard, a local park, or your favourite pub, you'll need to organise food and drinks yourself. You can make this as casual or formal as you like, from an intimate barbecue to a large and indulgent dinner.

Consider whether you want to offer a full meal or just snacks and refreshments. If you're having a small ceremony, you might want to provide a more intimate dining experience, while a larger guest list might call for a buffet-style meal or heavy hors d'oeuvres.

Don't forget to check for any rules or restrictions regarding food and drink at your chosen location, especially if you're planning on consuming alcohol. Also, keep in mind that food and drink can be a significant expense, so it's essential to plan and budget accordingly.

Whether you choose a catered event or a more DIY approach, food and drink will undoubtedly play a crucial role in creating a memorable celebration as you renew your wedding vows.

Frequently asked questions