This is a question I’m seeing couples ask more frequently. Some couples never had a wedding celebration and other couples didn’t have the wedding experience they wish they’d had (it’s okay to admit this – I’m a part of this group too!) The truth is that your wedding experience is so incredibly important. It’s a day dedicated to you, your partner, and the journey you’re about to embark on. So, for some a vow renewal is the perfect way to relive the day you truly wanted!
So what do you do if you’ve already signed the papers but haven’t had the celebration?
Vow renewals are a great way to celebrate your growth as a couple and reminisce on the life you’ve built together. They’re a way to show who you’ve grown into both as a individuals and as a couple. While you aren’t saying “I Do” or signing the papers – it’s pretty dang special to not only celebrate your marriage but also reflect on your marriage so far. You’ve grown as a couple since signing the papers wether it’s been a few months, a few years, or even a few decades.
And that’s absolutely something to worth celebrating.
What is a Vow Renewal or Commitment Ceremony?
A vow renewal ceremony is an opportunity for a married couple to reaffirm their commitment to each other. It’s a chance to look back at the life you’ve built together and look forward to what’s to come.
What does a Vow Renewal look like?
What does a vow renewal look like? Just like eloping, there’s no “right way” to have a vow renewal. You can be surrounded by your closest family and friends or you can spend the day with only your spouse and the sound of the wind.
Ideas for your Vow Renewal
Sunrise Vow Renewal
Your vow renewal can look like waking up before the sun and hiking 5 miles into Mount Rainier National Park wilderness where you share personalized vows in front of an alpine lake while the mountains behind you glow a florescent reddish orange and you feel the warmth of first light wash over you.
Vow Renewal with a Romantic Picnic
Your vow renewal can look like having a picnic brunch on the bank of a river where you spend the warmest hours of the afternoon basking in the sun and going swimming. After you finish your afternoon at the river, you change into your dress and suit then head into Redwood National and State Parks to spend the evening wandering through towering old growth trees and chasing rays of filtered golden light on the forest floor. Once the light hits just right and the Redwoods are filled with a soft golden haze, you exchange personal vows and finish your evening with a private dinner by the glow of lantern light while being serenaded by the wind whistling through the tree tops.
With your closest Friends & Family
Your vow renewal can look like having a morning ceremony where you exchange vows in front of your closest family and friends. Once you finish your ceremony, you and your spouse set out on an off-roading adventure into Moab, Utah’s back country where you spend the rest of your day exploring unnamed canyons and hiking trails where you don’t see another soul. You finish up your day watching the sun set over a remote canyon with your spouse while reminiscing on the life you’ve built together.
When should you have your vow renewal?
There’s no “right time” to have your vow renewal. While most couples have their vow renewals at 2, 5, 10, 25, or 50 years – couples can have their vow renewal whenever they want.
The “right time to have your vow renewal is whenever the time feels right. Maybe you want to wait until after your relationship has hit an important milestone like moving into your dream home or maybe you want to wait until your kids are old enough to watch you reaffirm your commitment to each other. Some couples even decide to do it after working through a rough patch in life that made you stronger but changed you both as individuals and as a couple.
The truth is that you deserve the wedding experience you dream of and deserve – even if that means waiting a few months or a few years.
Additional Resources
- How to Include Loved Ones when Eloping with Family
- Check out more of my work!
- Inquire HERE to work with me
