Crafting Heartfelt Wedding Renewal Vows: A Guide To Writing Your Own

Writing wedding renewal vows is a chance to celebrate your enduring love and recommit to your spouse. There are no rules, but couples often renew their vows to mark a milestone anniversary or to include their children in the ceremony. It can also be a chance to have the wedding you couldn't afford the first time around.

Your vows can be as creative, funny, romantic, or traditional as you like. You might want to reflect on your original wedding vows, recalling the promises you kept and adding new ones. You could also include readings, blessings, rituals, and your love story.

You are my best friend, confidant, lover, and partner. Together we have created a safe haven in our marriage from the chaos of the rest of the world, and in you, I have found comfort, joy, and peace.

You make my joys greater, my sorrows more bearable, and my spirit known. I promise you nothing less than the rest of my life. This is what I mean when I tell you I love you every day.

You’re my best friend – the best company I could ask for on this journey. We’ve created an incredible life together, full of surprises and magic and love, and I’m so excited for what our tomorrows will bring.

I love you, with everything I have. Each and every day I am so proud to call you my husband/wife. Words will never be enough to show the love I have for you. When I’m with you, my heart beats so fast. I feel like it may explode if I let myself feel just how much I love you.

You know me better than anyone else in this world, and somehow still you manage to love me. You are my best friend and one true love. There is still a part of me today that cannot believe that I’m the lucky one who is married to you.

How to make your vows funny and romantic

Don't Swim in the Shallow End

Avoid gimmicky one-liners that only really work in movies. Instead, stick to more meaningful promises and sprinkle humour into your vows with more depth. For example, you might talk about how your fiancé has always supported you, and add humour to it by noting a funny memory of their support.

Embrace Humour as a Theme

Well-written wedding vows have clear and chosen themes that the vows are rooted in. If you want to talk about your fiancé's sense of humour, you can sprinkle in a bit of your own. For example, you could say:

> Your sense of humour has been my saving grace. Whether it’s helping us pass the time during our long road trips by doing your best Barbra Streisand impression, or how you manage to make my tears fade away when you make our dinner rolls do stand-up that would most definitely require a two-drink minimum—you always put a smile on my face. I vow to always find the humour in your jokes and to find the humour in the more challenging moments of our marriage.

Include Nicknames

Kick off your vows by addressing your fiancé using their nickname. You can also close your vows with the nickname. Be sure to stick with names that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to say in front of your guests and future grandchildren!

Be True to Your Personality

If you're the entertainer in your family, or the person who's always making people laugh, your wedding vows should sound like you. To capture your personality, record yourself talking about your relationship, fiancé, and how you envision your future marriage. Then transcribe the recording and use this as material for your vows.

Include Family Jokes

Choose funny family anecdotes that have been talked about for years. Stick with playful points and your funny wedding vows will likely bring a bit more joy to your guests.

Rely on an Expert

If you’re challenged with how to write funny wedding vows, you might consider hiring help. An expert can help capture what’s in your heart and articulate those feelings into wedding vows that you’ll be ecstatic to recite on your wedding day.

How to write vows for a secular ceremony

Writing your own secular vows for a vow renewal ceremony is a beautiful way to celebrate your enduring love and recommit to your spouse. Here are some tips on how to write vows for a secular ceremony:

Keep it Personal

The most meaningful vows are those that sound like you and are spoken from the heart. Use words and phrases that you would use in your everyday life and that reflect your unique relationship. Be honest and authentic in your expression of love and commitment.

Reflect on Your Marriage Journey

Think about the experiences and lessons you've learned during your marriage. Speak to the joys, challenges, and milestones you've shared. You can also mention specific memories or anecdotes that hold a special place in your heart. Consider how your spouse has impacted your life and the ways in which you've grown and changed together.

Make New Promises

In addition to reaffirming your original vows, take the opportunity to make new promises for the future. These could include how you'll continue to support and love your spouse, how you'll face challenges together, or any new goals and dreams you have as a couple.

Include a Touch of Humour

If it suits your style and personality, don't be afraid to add a touch of humour to your vows. You can share funny anecdotes or quirky things you've learned about your spouse over the years. This will not only make your vows more engaging but also reflect the light-hearted moments in your marriage.

Keep it Concise

While there is no set length for secular vows, aim to keep them concise and heartfelt. As a guideline, your vows should be between one and two minutes when read aloud, translating to roughly 100 to 200 words. This ensures that your message is clear, impactful, and memorable for you and your spouse.

Sample Secular Vow

"Today, I reaffirm my promise to love and honour you all the days of my life. I promise to be loyal, faithful, patient, and kind. I will continue to support you and stand by your side as a friend and lover. I celebrate my love for you and am excited for the adventures that lie ahead."

How to write vows for a religious ceremony

Writing vows for a religious ceremony can be a meaningful way to celebrate your enduring love and recommit to your spouse. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you craft your vows:

Selecting Your Vows

For a religious ceremony in a house of worship, your vows will typically be dictated by the officiant and may be similar to the words spoken during your wedding. However, some places of worship allow you to write your own vows. Be sure to consult your officiant about what is appropriate within your religion.

Modern Religious Vow Renewal

If you're looking for a more contemporary approach, here's a sample of modern religious vows:

Wife: We are here for a celebration. Husband: We are here to celebrate love. Wife: We are here to celebrate marriage — our own marriage, which has endured for X years. Husband: Today we celebrate those X years. We rejoice that the world/God brought us together, and we had the good fortune to marry one another X years ago. Wife: We have celebrated each other's successes and comforted each other's sorrows. For X years, we have lived and loved. Husband: Today we celebrate the memory of all those years and the hopes and dreams we hold for the years ahead. Most of all, we celebrate now, today, this special occasion which our love has earned for us. Wife: It is a day of days, a time of times, a dream come true. Like all the other days of our lives, we celebrate it together. Husband and Wife: I celebrate my love for you.

Traditional Religious Vow Renewal

For those who prefer a more traditional approach, here's a sample of traditional religious vows:

"X years ago, I pledged my loyalty to you, (name), as your wedded husband/wife, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony. I promised to love you, comfort you, honour and keep you, in sickness and in health. I further pledged that, forsaking all others, I would keep myself only unto you, so long as we both shall live. During these X years, I have been faithful to those pledges. Now, again, at the beginning of the X year of our life together, in the presence of God, in the presence of our family, and in the presence of friends who have gathered for this happy occasion, I renew these vows, pledging myself to continue my devotion to you as long as we both shall live."

Personalising Your Vows

To make your vows truly yours, you can include reflections on your original wedding vows, your favourite memories from your marriage, and the humour that has carried you through difficult times. You can also make new promises for the future. Here are some additional samples to inspire you:

"You’re my best friend – the best company I could ask for on this journey. We’ve created an incredible life together, full of surprises and magic and love, and I’m so excited for what our tomorrows will bring."

"Thank you for taking a chance on me and for taking me as your (husband / wife / partner in life), because it’s changed my life. Loving you and being loved by you has been the best part of every day for the past (number) years. Thank you for showing me what true partnership can be."

"Today, I reaffirm my promise to love and honour you all the days of my life, to be loyal, faithful, patient, kind, and worthy of your trust. Today, I renew my commitment to stand beside you, as a friend, lover, and (husband / wife/ spouse)."

"There are some things it’s impossible to learn about a person before you marry them. [...] But (name), the thing is, the more I learn, the more I love you, and I can’t wait to see what else I learn about you in the next forty years."

Involving Children and Family

If you wish to include your children or other family members in the ceremony, there are many ways to do so. You can have them stand with you during the ceremony, include them in your vows, or have them perform a reading. Here's an example of how you might acknowledge the role of family in your marriage:

"One of the great blessings of marriage is the joy and responsibility of raising a family. (Names of couple) have truly been blessed to be the parents of (names of children). As (they) renew their vows today, they also renew their commitment to being loving and caring parents, recognising with gratitude the happiness and fulfilment that (names of children) have brought to their marriage and family life."

How to write short and sweet vows

Writing your own wedding vows can be daunting, but it's important to remember that there are no rules! Vows can be long or short, funny or serious, traditional or unique—it's up to you. Here are some tips for writing short and sweet vows for your wedding renewal ceremony:

Keep it simple

There's beauty in simplicity. Short vows can be just as meaningful as long ones, so don't feel pressured to write a novel. Focus on what's most important to you and your partner, and don't worry about the length.

Include a reference to how long you've been together

This may seem obvious, but it's an important detail that your guests will appreciate. It gives context to your ceremony and is a great way to start your vows. For example, "Today, we celebrate 25 years of marriage..."

Recall your original wedding vows

Think back to the vows you made on your wedding day. You don't have to repeat them verbatim, but reflecting on how you've kept those promises or how they've evolved over time can be very meaningful.

Be honest and authentic

Don't be afraid to get real. Relationships take work, and everyone knows it. You can acknowledge the challenges you've faced and how you've grown as a couple without airing your dirty laundry. For example, "We've had our share of ups and downs, but our love has endured and grown stronger."

Look to the future

While it's important to celebrate your past, remember that you're recommitting to your partner. Make new promises and look forward to the future. For example, "I can't wait to see what the next chapter of our love story brings."

Sample short and sweet vows

"You are my best friend and one true love. There is still a part of me that can't believe I'm the lucky one who gets to be your wife. I love you more than words can say, and I feel your love in return every day."

"I promise to be your navigator and sidekick in all of life's adventures. I promise to be your best friend and your husband. I promise you myself completely."

"You make me laugh, you make me think, and above all, you make me happy. I love you with all my heart."

"I give you my heart. I promise to encourage your kindness and optimism because they are what make you unique. I will nurture your dreams and support your goals. I will help shoulder our challenges because we are stronger together. I will fill our home with laughter and joy, and I will love, respect, and cherish you."

How to write vows for a bilingual ceremony

Writing your wedding vows is a very personal process, and when it comes to writing vows for a bilingual ceremony, there are a few extra things to consider. Here are some tips to help you craft meaningful and inclusive vows for your special day:

Include Both Languages in Your Vows

If you're learning your partner's language or your partner's family speaks a different language, consider incorporating both languages into your vows. You can either alternate between the two languages or deliver your vows first in one language and then in the other. Providing a translation in your ceremony program is also a great way to ensure that all your guests can understand and follow along.

Work with a Bilingual Officiant or Translator

If you have a large number of guests who speak different languages, consider hiring a bilingual officiant who can repeat key parts of the ceremony in both languages. Alternatively, you could hire a translator to provide a live translation. This ensures that all your guests can understand and participate in the ceremony.

Keep Your Readings Concise

Whether your ceremony is monolingual or bilingual, it's important to keep the readings and sections relatively short to maintain your guests' attention. You can also provide printed translations of your readings or vows so that guests who aren't fluent in one of the languages can follow along easily.

Translate Key Moments

Even if your ceremony is primarily in one language, ask your officiant to translate significant moments, such as "With this ring, I thee wed" or "You may now kiss the bride/groom." Translating these phrases will make your guests feel included and create a sense of unity during the celebration.

Include Both Languages in Your Wedding Website and Signage

Start by including both languages on your wedding website so that your guests feel welcomed and informed from the very beginning. During the ceremony and reception, use bilingual signage to help guests navigate the event and feel included. You can include translations or design signage with easily recognizable symbols that transcend language barriers.

Remember, the key to writing vows for a bilingual ceremony is to embrace the unique blend of languages and cultures. By incorporating these elements into your vows and ceremony, you'll create an inclusive and memorable celebration that honours both you and your partner's heritage.

Frequently asked questions