Vow Renewal -Second Time Around

www.Charlestonweddingplanner.com
www.Charlestonweddingplanner.com

Staying together deserves a celebration too.Why save all the splashy, no-holds-barred wedding celebrations for the newly betrothed? When half of all marriages end in divorce, shouldn’t the committed couples that survive the wear-and-tear of a partnership deserve a heartfelt party too? So, if you and your partner are candidates for planning a well-earned recommitment ceremony, read on for the “whys” demystified for this too-rare event!

Why Do It Again? There are pretty much four good reasons for a do-over:

1. You want to commemorate a huge decade anniversary in a big way. 2. Your original wedding wasn’t as dreamy as you wanted (whether due to a mishap like a hurricane, you were young and it was your parents’ to-do or you didn’t have the hefty budget then that you have now). 3. You eloped the first time and now you want to gather your friends and family. 4. You’ve survived some tests to your marriage—from sickness to a long-distance military deployment—and it’s time to re-affirm your love.

Why It Is More Relaxed Since a vow renewal doesn’t have to be recognized by your religious or civil authorities, the sky’s the limit on who can marry you and where you can do it. Ask your oldest child to act as officiant—you don’t need a legally legit officiant to sign off on a marriage license. Do it on a desolate tropical island—the country’s rules on visitor weddings won’t apply to you.

Why It Is Hassle-Free You can skip the bachelor or bachelorette parties this time (you’re not single anymore, remember?). And you don’t need to go out and choose a gift registry either; that is reserved for first-timers who need to accumulate the basics to build a home…that you already inhabit. You also don’t need to pick attendants because their official role is as witnesses and there’s nothing official about a vow renewal.

Why Not Let Someone Else Host? While you and your fiancé hosted your first wedding, a nice touch to a vow renewal is to have a close friend, or even a child if old enough, host the celebration. Since you don’t have to do your ceremony in a traditional place of worship, you are free to marry anywhere your host suggests.

Why You Skip Some Rituals And Repeat Others When Colin Cowie recently planned the vow renewal ceremony for celebrity actress Holly Robinson Peete and former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, he made sure some traditions of their first wedding resurfaced at the renewal ceremony—and others, like involving their four children in the ceremony—were brand new. Some rituals to skip on the do-over event include the father-daughter or mother-son dance and the toss of the bouquet or garter. However, continuing the tradition of the married couple’s first dance, especially to the music used the first time around, is a nice touch.

Why Your Dress Code Can Be Creative If you still fit into your original gown and tux, go for it. But you can also slip into something festively suited for your occasion’s location from a party dress to a fitted gown. Just skip the veil—the first time was enough.

Why You Exchange Words—And Jewelry The words you speak the second time around are meant to affirm your love so many years later. It is nice to recall things you said the first time you married as well as address how your union has changed—for the better. While you already have a set of rings you’ve exchanged, it may be time to upgrade your baubles or engrave your original bands with new words. Other options are exchanging different objects: Holly Robinson Peete, for example, gave Rodney a pair of cufflinks at their 17th anniversary vow renewal ceremony.

Why The Reception Is Different The core of this event is to celebrate your enduring love. So, let your guests shower you with toasts acknowledging this feat. Other nice touches at the reception include bringing your original wedding album and juxtaposing it with photos of your married life. And don’t forget to hire a photographer again—you’ll want to have it all captured just like the first.

Why Your Invite Needs Special Attention Since this event isn’t nearly as commonplace as a wedding, your invites need to be very informative. Hosting the event yourself? Try:

The honor of your presence is requested at the reaffirmation of the wedding vows of NAME OF COUPLE DATE

Or, try:

Please join us as we renew our wedding vows and celebrate NUMBER OF years together NAME OF COUPLE DATE Having your kids host it? Say: The children of NAME OF COUPLE Request the honor of your presence at the vow renewal ceremony [or reaffirmation ceremony] of their parents on DATE

Happy Beginnings! Mike

Contact Us!

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn

Related Posts