What is your opinion of vow renewals?

[Handbag Lady]

Oh, and we renew our vows every time we happen to walk near our wedding gazebo at the Disneyland Hotel. If it isn't in use, it is open, so we walk up and say we'd do it all over again!


And then our friends make fun of us and we buy them all drinks at the Lost Bar.

I LOVE being a Disney Bride!

 

[crz4mm2]

I happen to think that a vow renewal is quite special. BUT I would sure not sign up for a gift registry (although that is a great idea! just kidding).
We are renewing our vows later this month on a cruise ship. Both of our kids will be with us, our DIL and my BFF and her DH.

I hope everyone has a great time!

 

[Colleen27]

I like the idea, but not as a second wedding with a registry and the whole nine yards.

DH & I have talked about a Disney vow renewal for our 10th anniversary, and that feels quick to me but still rather appropriate given the things we've come through in the past couple years. We don't want it to be a big thing, though, just a private ceremony for us with the kids, my mom, and my inlaws. Our wedding was a fairly simple affair because we had a limited budget and decided including the entire family (200+ guests - we're both from BIG Polish families) was more important than all the bells and whistles. I don't regret that for a second, but if we renew our vows I want just the opposite - a very small gathering with a violinist and lush flowers and an amazing photographer and the Disneymoon that we couldn't afford the first time around. And certainly no gifts and no registry!

 

[SamRoc]

We told everyone to make sure they didnt bring any gifts to our 25th beach renewal! we have enough stuff to last forever! we just wanted to have a fun party with our family and friends.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't have a problem with vow renewals. A renewal of a gift registry is another matter.

 

[Stephanie218]

We're having a vow renewal this June. We eloped with only my sister and DH's best friend before he deployed. I didn't want the stress of planning a big wedding pre-deployment (which was also my spring senior semester of college). We are also stationed cross-country from all of our family.

Both of our parents really wanted to celebrate with us, along with the rest of our family. DH recently returned from deployment, so we're having our vow renewal after 1.5 years of marriage. A little odd, but there wasn't much else to do in this situation.

 

[crz4mm2]

We're having a vow renewal this June. We eloped with only my sister and DH's best friend before he deployed. I didn't want the stress of planning a big wedding pre-deployment (which was also my spring senior semester of college). We are also stationed cross-country from all of our family.

Both of our parents really wanted to celebrate with us, along with the rest of our family. DH recently returned from deployment, so we're having our vow renewal after 1.5 years of marriage. A little odd, but there wasn't much else to do in this situation.

Good for you. I am sure it will be lovely!
Thank your DH for me!

 

[OceanAnnie]

We're having a vow renewal this June. We eloped with only my sister and DH's best friend before he deployed. I didn't want the stress of planning a big wedding pre-deployment (which was also my spring senior semester of college). We are also stationed cross-country from all of our family.

Both of our parents really wanted to celebrate with us, along with the rest of our family. DH recently returned from deployment, so we're having our vow renewal after 1.5 years of marriage. A little odd, but there wasn't much else to do in this situation.

I think that's wonderful. Thank your DH for me too!

 

[Disney Doll]

Nobody ever told me it only took 5 years for the first ones to expire!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I think vow renewals are sweet, but not to fill up a registry!!

Usually they are a private affair, OR if they couple never got a true wedding initially they may like the big hoopla with friends and family the 2nd time around.

 

[FayeW]

In general, I think vow renewals are stupid. Not something I would ever consider for myself, and I probably wouldn't attend if I was invited to one, unless there were extenuating circumstances.

The good news is that nobody cares what I think, and can chose to do whatever is right for them, so it all works out.

 

[swald91]

Never been invited to anyones, but my husband & I renewed our vows (15th) in Hawaii. We along with about 11 other couples celebrating 1-60 years!!! The resort offered the ceremony -said our vows on the beach early in the morning, we gave each other special leis made by the lady that has a place there in the lobby. It was beautiful & I wish more of my family could've joined us b/c it was for anyone celebrating-no matter how many years. And very romantic...thinking of going again for our 20th & bringing our kids!

 

[MoniqueU]

I have been to two. One in the backyard of my neighbors house where the husband at the time flew into a rage because someone broke a wine glass by the pool. That kind of put a damper on the evening. Those two are currently in the midsts of one of the nastiest divorces I have ever seen.
The other was on the gondolas at Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, very touching and beautiful. Glad I went.

For me there would be no way in hell I would do that. I used to be real outgoing and bubbly and while I absolutely adore my husband in fact more now then I did when we got married I have no desire to be the center of attention like that ever again. Just the thought of standing up in front of people like that makes me start to panic. There is just no way no how I could do it.

 

[disbridemimi]

I think its tacky to mention a registry in an invite!

But I think vow renewals are awesome! I am planning my wedding right now, and think if people want to re new every ferw years more power to them!

I think that if they eloped the first time or missed out on the "wedding" experience then maybe they just want to see what that is like?

BUt I think its fine. I dont know about the gift registry though, thats a little bizarre. I dont think being married 5 years warrants another "wedding gift" I would prob just send a card.

 

[Missy1961]

My parents did it twice, for their 25th & their 50th. It wasn't a renewal so much as a "we still love each other, and would marry each other again". They had big parties both times, no gift registries. They just wanted to have a good time with people who were at their wedding, and with people who weren't there (like us kids at the 25th, and the in-laws & the grandkids at the 50th). Those parties were awesome! And when my mom passed away a short time after the 50th Anniversary, we were so happy to have those memories.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

In general, I think vow renewals are stupid. Not something I would ever consider for myself, and I probably wouldn't attend if I was invited to one, unless there were extenuating circumstances.

The good news is that nobody cares what I think, and can chose to do whatever is right for them, so it all works out.

Although I don't think they are stupid at all, I think it's awesome that we BOTH think everyone should do what is right for them!! Now, if we can get everyone else on the DIS to feel that way about some of the other threads out there.. LOL

 

[mjantz]

I don't have a problem with vow renewals in general but I probably wouldn't do it except in a very private way or very public (like the beach with lots of people). The idea of being the center of attention for something like that makes my skin crawl. Our local ren faire does a mass vow renewal every Mothers Day & we've considered doing it but something always comes up.
I do believe its tacky to set up a gift registry for a vow renewal. My personal experience with vow renewals is that they've been attached to anniversaries & 'no gifts' was requested.

 

[Keli]

My original ones are still good so I don't need to renew them.
Actually that's not my thing but I enjoy celebrating others vow renewals.

 

[Ember]

I can't help but notice the theme that those who have posted who are doing renewals are either doing them privately (either just the two of them, or close family) or have a reason for having a larger one (such as getting married in a hurry for personal reasons - in which case the renewal is their one and only "wedding.") I'm all on board for these. Just not on re-doing an entire big wedding and asking for gifts.

Ah well. I'll file it away with the other invitation I got recently that had printed at the bottom, "No Boxed Gifts." At least I'll be saving on wedding gifts this year!

 

[blondeheroine]

complete with gift registry information (TACKY!)

This is how I feel about housewarming parties so soon after a couple has been married. I just love the "We accept gifts from this registry and gift cards".

I suspect you'll accept whatever I give you or you won't get anything at all.

As for vow renewals, I always think of Everybody Loves Raymond, where he did to appease his wife because he taped over their wedding with the Superbowl.