Vow renewals

[Freyja]

Would love to hear from people who have renewed their vows. If you wouldn't mind sharing "why" you did it, where, how, who was present etc. I would be very grateful.

I only know 1 couple who did a vow renewal and they did it in the same church they got married in and only their children attended.

DH and I have been married 16 years and this is something that is starting to appeal to me more and more

 

[lorimay]

We did ours last January on the Disney Magic for our 25th Anniversary.

We felt it was a milestone for us. Never really thought about it for any other Anniversary.

We had our 2 children, their significant others and our 2 beautiful grand babies.
It was perfect.
7 day family vacation to celebrate.

It was very simple and so special to have our son and daughter standing next to us.

Best part was our 3 yr old grandson who made his Papa hold him through our ceremony. Loved it.

 

[Freyja]

We did ours last January on the Disney Magic for our 25th Anniversary.

We felt it was a milestone for us. Never really thought about it for any other Anniversary.

We had our 2 children, their significant others and our 2 beautiful grand babies.
It was perfect.
7 day family vacation to celebrate.

It was very simple and so special to have our son and daughter standing next to us.

Best part was our 3 yr old grandson who made his Papa hold him through our ceremony. Loved it.

Sounds incredibly romantic and beautiful! Congratulations

 

[YachtClubWoman]

My husband and I renewed ours on our 18th wedding anniv.

We were planning around our one friend finishing her divinity degree. It just so happened it was our 18th and we had a group trip with friends and family. There was 18 of us that went to the Grand Palladium an all inclusive in Riveria Maya, Mexico.

The ceremony was on the beach nothing formal but very important to us. We all had dinner together at one of the restaurants. It was a great vacation also.

 

[lorimay]

Sounds incredibly romantic and beautiful! Congratulations

It was beautiful but romantic not so much. LOL

Our 19 yr old son and his girlfriend shared our cabin. So well that kinda changed things up.

Our room steward decorated our room that night with the towel swans and rose petals. He even decorated their bunks, it was too funny.

We are sneaking away for a 4 night out of Miami in a couple weeks just the 2 of us to celebrate our 26th. But my son keeps threatening he will be there when we get off the boat in Key West.

 

[lorimay]

My husband and I renewed ours on our 18th wedding anniv.

We were planning around our one friend finishing her divinity degree. It just so happened it was our 18th and we had a group trip with friends and family. There was 18 of us that went to the Grand Palladium an all inclusive in Riveria Maya, Mexico.

The ceremony was on the beach nothing formal but very important to us. We all had dinner together at one of the restaurants. It was a great vacation also.

Sounds beautiful, theres just something about the peacefulness and beauty of the ocean that makes it even more perfect.
Congratulations.

 

[crz4mm2]

4 years ago for our 30th anniversary. DH is the one that wanted to do it first. I thought it was stupid That was about the 25th.... Sooo, we talked about it. Went on a cruise. My BFF and her DH, my kids, DIL and a friend went as well.
It was wonderful. We had a hot appetizers and an open bar for an hour. The cruise line did everything. I just told them how many people and what kind of cake
They had flowers, decorations, cake, Captain did the ceremony. Photographer.

It was fantastic! I highly recommend it.

 

[SC Minnie]

A good friend of mine and her husband had a vow renewal 3 years ago. It wasn't for any milestone or anything other than they wanted to do it. Theirs was much different than the ones posted so far. Their's was like another wedding (she even kept referring to it as 'the wedding'). They only had a small ceremony the first time with just the minister and her young children. Well, the vow renewal was big. Eight 'bridesmaids' along with a 'matron of honor', flower girls, etc. And yes, the bridesmaid dresses were big and poofy and I had to shell out $250 for one.

For ME personally it was too much.

 

[minkydog]

A good friend of mine and her husband had a vow renewal 3 years ago. It wasn't for any milestone or anything other than they wanted to do it. Theirs was much different than the ones posted so far. Their's was like another wedding (she even kept referring to it as 'the wedding'). They only had a small ceremony the first time with just the minister and her young children. Well, the vow renewal was big. Eight 'bridesmaids' along with a 'matron of honor', flower girls, etc. And yes, the bridesmaid dresses were big and poofy and I had to shell out $250 for one.

For ME personally it was too much.

You know, each to their own but I think this sounds utterly ridiculous. Eight bridesmaids? That's overkill for a first wedding. I am not a fan of big "re-do" weddings. Vow renewal can be quite nice when tastefully done and on a small scale

 

[Breezy_Carol]

My brother and sister in law had a "vow reaffirmation" for their 25th several years ago. He was very specific that the original vows did not expire or run out so did not need to be renewed.

Anyway, they had it in a church with as many of the original bridal party as could attend standing up for them. This was a command performance for me. Then they had a big reception in a country club.

For my 25th, DH and I went away for the weekend.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

I'll be honest. I kind of don't "get" vow renewals unless you have worked your way back from the brink of divorce. Even for a milestone anniversary.

 

[Mariep26]

My husband and I eloped and it was just us so we have talked about a vow renewal or something small for a milestone anniversary. It would be simple and probably limited to the other 8 people that would usually travel with us (family and very close friends) so we wouldn't be asking anyone else to come. It would probably be a quick ceremony and then a nice dinner.

 

[kimmyann]

My DH & I are planning this for this summer, it will be our 20th wedding anniversary & 25 years together. We did not have a wedding, we got married in the j.o.p's house while I was holding my DD. We've come a long way & our relationship is totally different now than it was 20 years ago (for the better).

BUT, we are not doing a normal renewal. We are taking a trip to the mountains & plan to exchange new wedding bands & say new vows (we will write our own). All of this will be done ALONE. I don't want a "wedding" at this point & would much rather sit on a rock beside a waterfall & do it. But I'm kinda weird like that.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I'll be honest. I kind of don't "get" vow renewals unless you have worked your way back from the brink of divorce. Even for a milestone anniversary.

I can see a renewal of vows if the original ones have been breached. I can also see it if someone didn't have the money for a big ceremony, got married at the justice of the peace or something but now wants one. But in that case, it should be a reaffirmation rather than a renewal because the original vows are in full force and effect.

 

[Pigeon]

I'll be honest. I kind of don't "get" vow renewals unless you have worked your way back from the brink of divorce. Even for a milestone anniversary.

I'll take it one step further. I don't "get" vow renewals, period. My wedding vows didn't come with an expiration date.

 

[phorsenuf]

I don't have any experience with vow renewals, but wanted to say how nice to see you again. I was just thinking of you the other day. How have you been?

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I say go for it! Call it what you would like and enjoy! Celebrate and be proud of your successful marriage and don't give a second thought to anyone who says they not get it or see the point of a vow renewal. Enjoy!!

 

[LSmith]

I'll take it one step further. I don't "get" vow renewals, period. My wedding vows didn't come with an expiration date.

I agree.

Also, who besides the couple would want to be subjected to a vow renewal?

 

[minkydog]

I agree.

Also, who besides the couple would want to be subjected to a vow renewal?

Isn't that the God's honest truth!

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Well, I have been to a couple of vow renewals. Some were tacky while others were quite nice. I think while a wedding can be about other people besides the couple, a vow renewal (or affirmation) can be just about the couple and they don't exactly have to invite anyone except the closest of family members.

I say go for it!