Vow Renewal Tips, Tricks and Suggestions

[newtodis]

Since it seems that everyone on the DIS boards knows everything, I thought this was the best place to start my search! Alright, I googled and couldn't find a whole lot too so I'm really hoping you can help me out here!!

DH and I would like to renew our vows on our 5 year anniversary April 16. We're planning on getting a 1 bedroom villa at the HHI Disney resort, doing the ceremony at their beach house on the beach and heading back to the villa for the cake and such. Ceremony would take place about 7, a few pictures afterwards at the beach and possibly at the resort, then cut the cake, have some food and party or do whatever.

Here's where I need help. I'm a list maker by nature and here's what I've got. What am I missing? Where am I way off base? What have I totally forgotten about??

*Colors - no clue here! Maybe chocolate brown and something spring - ish?
*Invites - no idea again. Won't need many and noticed Michael's and Target had a bunch on clearance last time I was in there so I'll probably get them there. No idea about the wording though.
*Theme - Obviously beach - ish since we're doing it on the beach and something Disney without being too over the top.
*Guests - we're only going to invite a few close friends. Our family all lives about 1000 miles away
*Cake - Have someone doing this but need to give her an idea as far as the disign...guess I need to figure out the colors and theme before I can do this.
*Photographer - have someone committed to doing this for about an hour then leaving the rest up to those who are there for "candid" shots.
*Flowers - I love tulips so I'm thinking those...I don't know.
*Food - we're going to have cake but this will be in the evening with people coming pretty much from work to get there. So, do I serve "real" food (it would have to be some kind of take out catering), appatizers or get something super easy like pizza?? What do people expect??

I just want something small and very casual. I just don't feel like I have a lot of time and need to get these details wrapped up. In case of rain, we'll just have to do it at the villa instead of on the beach. Since this isn't legal, we're just going to have a friend do the ceremony since they would have been invited anyways. To "thank" those who are standing up this time (a friend of his and a friend of mine) I'm just planning on sending them a picture from the ceremony (I've asked the photographer to take a picture of each of the families before or following the ceremony). I also need to find a way to play music at the beach....

I don't want to stress over this. My "real" wedding was far from my dream wedding so I want this to be more what I was thinking without much cost or stress. Right now we're way under what I thought it would cost which is awesome! I always seem to go "over the top" which is great but I don't want to go crazy either. I'm in need of thoughts and suggestions here please!

 

[amyy]

You might also want to post on the wedding board. Happy planning

 

[Rora]

Hey there!! I just planned my wedding and spoke to so many ladies who were planning their vow renewals- maybe I can help! BUT- I definitely recommend posting on the Wedding board- those girls are Wedding planner extraordinaire!

Although you're not a new bride, check out www.theknot.com and www.brides.com for color inspiration!

Since you're having a beach wedding, I would choose beach-y or bright colors. If I were you, I'd probably choose pool or coral. These pictures are just color ideas!

Pool:

Coral:

Check out www.davidsbridal.com for lots more color ideas!

Invitations: Go with Michaels!! They have beautiful, inexpensive invites.

Theme: Beach theme is perfect since it's at the beach.

Cake: I'd look through some cake galleries on the websites I listed or maybe even just search for wedding/ vow renewal cakes on google.

Flowers: if you like tulips go with tulips! That's the rule: do whatever you like! Isn't that the best rule ever? Seriously. Don't feel that because you're doing this at the beach it has to be beach themed or even colored like a beach-- do what makes you happiest!

Food: I'd serve dinner, but that's me. You could get pizza or a local restaurant to cater it. Doesn't need to be fancy. Picnic on the beach or at a pavilion sounds perfect.

Again, don't stress and do what you like! There are no rules to follow!!

Since it seems that everyone on the DIS boards knows everything, I thought this was the best place to start my search! Alright, I googled and couldn't find a whole lot too so I'm really hoping you can help me out here!!

DH and I would like to renew our vows on our 5 year anniversary April 16. We're planning on getting a 1 bedroom villa at the HHI Disney resort, doing the ceremony at their beach house on the beach and heading back to the villa for the cake and such. Ceremony would take place about 7, a few pictures afterwards at the beach and possibly at the resort, then cut the cake, have some food and party or do whatever.

Here's where I need help. I'm a list maker by nature and here's what I've got. What am I missing? Where am I way off base? What have I totally forgotten about??

*Colors - no clue here! Maybe chocolate brown and something spring - ish?
*Invites - no idea again. Won't need many and noticed Michael's and Target had a bunch on clearance last time I was in there so I'll probably get them there. No idea about the wording though.
*Theme - Obviously beach - ish since we're doing it on the beach and something Disney without being too over the top.
*Guests - we're only going to invite a few close friends. Our family all lives about 1000 miles away
*Cake - Have someone doing this but need to give her an idea as far as the disign...guess I need to figure out the colors and theme before I can do this.
*Photographer - have someone committed to doing this for about an hour then leaving the rest up to those who are there for "candid" shots.
*Flowers - I love tulips so I'm thinking those...I don't know.
*Food - we're going to have cake but this will be in the evening with people coming pretty much from work to get there. So, do I serve "real" food (it would have to be some kind of take out catering), appatizers or get something super easy like pizza?? What do people expect??

I just want something small and very casual. I just don't feel like I have a lot of time and need to get these details wrapped up. In case of rain, we'll just have to do it at the villa instead of on the beach. Since this isn't legal, we're just going to have a friend do the ceremony since they would have been invited anyways. To "thank" those who are standing up this time (a friend of his and a friend of mine) I'm just planning on sending them a picture from the ceremony (I've asked the photographer to take a picture of each of the families before or following the ceremony). I also need to find a way to play music at the beach....

I don't want to stress over this. My "real" wedding was far from my dream wedding so I want this to be more what I was thinking without much cost or stress. Right now we're way under what I thought it would cost which is awesome! I always seem to go "over the top" which is great but I don't want to go crazy either. I'm in need of thoughts and suggestions here please!

 

[Ember]

You have all the important parts here! The most important part of a vow renewal is that gifts aren't expected. So in your invitation make no mention of them (which shouldn't happen for any invitation!) and don't register. You also shouldn't really expect the same fuss or attention from your friends and family. This is a special event for you and your DH, but 5 years isn't really that long and most people will still remember your wedding. For this reason, you also don't have a shower or stag/ette party. You also skip attendants (their job is to legally witness a wedding) and, I believe, traditionally, you don't wear a veil.

Other than that, there are no rules. Do whatever your hearts want. From simple and casual to all out and fancy. Invite wording could be something like:

The honor of your presence
is requested at
the reaffirmation of the wedding vows of
Sharon and Martin Jones
Saturday, March 25 etc.

Or

Please join us
as we renew our wedding vows and celebrate 5 years together
Sharon and Martin Jones
Saturday, March 25 etc.
Or

Because you have shared in their lives
by your friendship and love
the honor of your presence is requested
at the reaffirmation of the wedding vows of
NAMES
on DAY
YEAR
at TIME
LOCATION
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE
RSVP DEAILS

Or


A life of caring, sharing
A love of endless giving together . . .
The honour of your presence is requested
at the reaffirmation of wedding vows of
NAMES
on DAY
YEAR
at TIME
LOCATION
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE

There's lots of ideas if you type "vow renewal invitation wording into Google.

Most importantly, have fun!

 

[Desnik]

We had a vow renewal, but it was like a wedding since we never had a big wedding the first time. You can see pictures and read all about it by clicking on the link in my signature. On that link there is another link to my planning journal where you can read about all the planning and such before the vow renewal.

I love vow renewals and I think you have some great ideas! I love the beach/Disney theme and love that you will do it on the beach at HHI. I would make sure you contact them to make sure you know all the rules for doing that. Last thing you want is to be chased off the beach that day!

I think you should go with Michaels or other craft stores for your invitations. They have some great options and great prices. If you want to be more hands on or creative you can take a look at cardsandpockets.com and you can order all the supplies to make your own invitations. We used them and it was really simple to put them together. For the wording on our invite we had it say that our children were inviting our guests for the reaffirmation of our vows.

As for colors I love that pool color a previous poster posted! I love it for a beach theme.

I think you have some great ideas and I would also suggest going over to the weddings board and asking opinions over there. Also try the website disneymooner.com their forums have lots of great info and very helpful people who have had Disney weddings and vow renewals.

 

[newtodis]

Thank you all so much for all of your suggestions and tips! I really appreciate it!