A vow renewal ceremony is a special event where couples get to publicly restate their love and reaffirm their commitment to each other.
The ceremony can look and feel like a first-time wedding as couples use wedding venues, dress in wedding attire, buy wedding rings, and even hire wedding catering. Of course, some people make theirs more intimate and casual.
But why do you renew your vows? Is it just a vanity affair? We’ll cover all the details and more in this post.
When Is the Right Time To Renew Your Wedding Vows?
Wedding vows do not expire. Therefore, there’s no right or wrong time to renew your wedding vows. Some couples renew their wedding vows during their wedding anniversary. Others do it every decade or in line with certain milestones in life. The bottom line is that it’s up to you and your partner.
The Top Reasons for Vow Renewals
Below are some of the top reasons to renew your vows with your partner.
Rediscover the Butterflies
Do you still remember how your wedding felt all those years ago? Most people don’t. Memories (good and bad) will fade as we get older. A vow renewal ceremony is the perfect way to refresh your memory and feelings. It’s the perfect event to remind yourself how you felt all those years ago.
The one major difference is that the vows will feel a bit more special now. Many couples carefully choose the words they use in the vows in line with their current realities.
Mark a Special Milestone or Celebrate an Anniversary
Many couples want to make every anniversary or milestone a special anniversary. A vow renewal ceremony is a perfect way to do so. The event will allow both of you to take your time and express your love to each other in an intimate setting.
Most people slate wedding vow renewals for major milestones like 10 years of marriage or 25 years of marriage. You can use the anniversary to remind yourselves why you got married, recognize the challenges you’ve come through, and celebrate what the future holds.
Get Your Ideal Wedding
Did your first wedding feel like it wasn’t truly yours? Maybe you had a few dreams for your special day that you couldn’t quite accomplish due to financial or time constraints. A vow renewal ceremony is the perfect excuse to bring those dreams to reality.
Whether you want a smaller, more intimate event like a City Hall Wedding in San Francisco or a destination wedding, you can plan your vow renewal ceremony to align with those goals.
If you’re going with the first option, learn more about how you can get married in San Francisco.
Share Your Love With Your Children
“Sharing your love with your children” is one of the best answers to, “Why do you renew your vows?”
Your children are the most important people in your life. However, many people get married before they have their own. Others get married when the kids are still too young to understand what’s going on and truly take part in the momentous occasion.
A wedding renewal allows you to share your special occasion with your grown-up children. It’s a fantastic way to re-emphasize your love for each other in their presence. Many children feel loved by just watching their parents exchange their vows.
It can also give them peace of mind that their parent’s relationship (and the family in general) is stronger than ever as a unit.
Start Over After a Rough Patch
Have you just come through a trying time in your marriage? A vow renewal is an excellent way to reaffirm your commitment to each other. Some couples renew their vows after a period of separation and coming back together or after halting divorce proceedings.
The vow renewal ceremony is a fantastic way to cement the fact that you and your partner have decided not to give up on one another.
Connect With Friends and Family
Maybe your original wedding day was a small event with just a few close family and friends in attendance. Perhaps you didn’t invite anyone to the first wedding because you only completed the formalities of marriage in a magistrate’s office.
The vow renewal ceremony is the perfect time to celebrate your love publicly with your family and friends.
Even if you had friends and family around for your original wedding, how long ago was it? Five, 10, or 20 years? A vow renewal ceremony is a fantastic way to bring everyone together again in one venue. Think about all the fun to be had reconnecting with siblings, extended family members, old schoolmates, and former colleagues.
An Excuse To Unwind
Everyone loves a great party. Few parties are better than a vow renewal ceremony where two people have come together to celebrate their love for each other and re-emphasize their commitment to doing life together.
Renewing your vows is a great chance to dress up and create fresh memories.
Get New Wedding Pictures
It may sound superficial, but few things are more annoying than not having good wedding pictures to look at around your home. Did your wedding photographer fail you during the original wedding?
Perhaps you don’t have wedding pictures because you never got around to doing a proper wedding. A vow renewal ceremony is a perfect time to get those perfect pictures you can frame up for your living room.
Of course, you probably look slightly different now compared to five or 10 years ago, but it’s the memories that matter!
Are you still wondering, “Why do you renew your vows?” Do you need help planning your vow renewal ceremony? City Hall Wedding can help. We are fully committed to helping couples in San Francisco navigate marriage ceremonies.
We are always happy to answer all your questions. Whether you want to find out the reason behind the white wedding dress or want extra help with choosing your wedding menu, we are happy to hear from you.
Contact City Hall Wedding to schedule a consultation today.