Wedding Vows Renewal

(Serving the Amicalola Falls area in the North Georgia Mountains)

Having a wedding vows renewal is a popular tradition for many couples to do. It’s usually done on one of the “big” anniversaries, such as the 10th, 15th, 20th and so on but can be done at any time.

If you have a copy of the original wedding vows that you spoke to each other on your special day, you may use that. If not, then you can choose any of the ceremonies on this site or create your own from the different parts offered here.

This is one of the reasons that I like to give couples a copy of their wedding ceremony. Another reason is that I think some time and effort should go into both the creating of the wording and the presentation of it.

I have on several occasions had to officiate, for various reasons at a wedding that some other official had originally planned to do. Each time, when given the ceremony, not one of them had bothered to write it up in an esthetically pleasing manner.

Most were on just a plain piece of paper with the names of the couple penciled in on a pre-made and copied ceremony that was the only one used. There was no choice of wording other than what that particular officiant liked to use.

One had even written it in 12 point type with texting abbreviations (ur, 4u, etc.) so that it would fit on one side of the page in landscape style and could be held and read at the wedding. I had a very hard time following it as I have no tweens or teens at home and therefore do not understand text messaging.

Therefore, if you do a wedding vows renewal with me and you don’t have your original vows, you will get a personalized ceremony on nice paper and in a white pocket folder to keep for another “big” year anniversary. It is my opinion that this is the proper way to do a wedding ceremony.

Renewing Your Vows

Renewing your vows is really not much different from the original ceremony in wording unless you would like it to be. You can say something like, “I again take you as my wife…”, "I still take you as my husband..." or just do it as the original one was worded. There are no hard and fast rules.

Many couples opt to have a big celebration with their family and friends at a wedding vows renewal, complete with cake, champagne etc. just like the original. Others choose a private, quiet ceremony with just the two of them. Of course, there are many variations in between as well.

If doing a big celebration, a sand ceremony is a lovely way to include all of the children in the family, grown-up or otherwise. That way everyone can feel that they are an integral part of the tradition.

You can use the wording from the blended families wedding vows to get an idea of what might work for renewing your vows. One Dawson county magistrate judge does a group wedding vows renewal every Valentine’s Day, which I think is a sweet thing to do.

One of my couples was gracious enough to allow me to post what they came up with as an example so here it is:

Husband and Wife, it is a pleasure to share today’s very special occasion with you. Many people believe that entering into marriage is the final step in a romantic relationship. As they see it, a couple meets, gets to know each other, falls in love, decides they want to go through life together, and then take the final step—marriage.

But marriage is not meant to be the final step in a couple’s relationship—it is really just the beginning of a grand adventure, that hopefully, will be long and fruitful for each couple.

You have shared the joys, blessings, and yes, the challenges, of married life for three years. And, today you wish to reconfirm your commitment to working together to make your marriage grow and blossom in the years to come.

May this ceremony, renewing the vows you took to become husband and wife on your wedding day, remind you that despite the stresses inevitable in every life, your love, respect, trust and understanding of each other will continue to increase your contentment and heighten your joy in living.

Please join hands.

Husband, will you continue to have Wife as your wife and continue to live in this marriage? (I WILL)

Do you reaffirm your love for her, and will you love, honor and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? (I DO)

Wife, will you continue to have Husband as your husband and continue to live in this marriage? (I WILL)

Do you reaffirm your love for him, and will you love, honor and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? (I DO)

Reading

“Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision: You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness; it is not excitement. It is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being ‘in love,’ which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being ‘in love’ has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those who truly love have roots that grow toward each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.”

On your wedding day you exchanged rings as a symbol of the never-ending circle of love. Rings serve as a reminder of your wedding vows to each other, and your commitment to live in unity, love, and happiness. At this time, it is appropriate to reconfirm the meaning of the rings you wear.

Please join your left hands together so that husband’s hand is on top. Husband, please repeat after me…………………

Wife, I wear this ring you placed on my hand - as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.

Now, with wife’s hand on top, Wife, please repeat after me:

Husband, I wear this ring you placed on my hand – as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.

I ask that you each remember to continue to cherish each other as special and unique individuals and that you each respect the thoughts and ideas of one another. And most of all, be able to forgive each other, and not hold grudges against one another. Live each day in love with each other, always being there to give love, comfort, and refuge to each other, in good times and bad.

Wife and Husband today you have renewed the promises and vows you made to each other on your wedding day. You have symbolized the renewal of the marriage union by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and by the wearing of your wedding rings.

It is with pleasure that I conclude the ceremony of renewing the vows of marriage that joined you and binds you as husband and wife. Please celebrate this renewal of vows with a kiss!

Feel free to take whatever parts of this wedding vow renewal you prefer if any of it speaks to you.

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