Are you planning a vow renewal and wanting to nix a bit of tradition and go your own route? You’ve already taken the leap and exchanged your promises – and rings – in front of your family, friends and had a minister make it “official,” so it’s okay to go at this alone.
But the question is, how? How do you stand alone and create a ceremony that’s heartfelt while also playing the “MC” role? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Taking the Lead
There are plenty of ways to take the lead and head up your own vow renewal ceremony. And the first way is rather simple, just gather your closest friends and family and have them witness your promise and vow renewal. All you have to do is set the stage – whether that’s the backyard of your family home or your favorite hiking spot – and go for it!
Wine Box Ceremony
One way to incorporate some flow to the event is to have smaller bits of “special” hidden throughout the celebration. And our first idea is a rather new one.
Including a wine box ceremony can be a fun and memorable way to say, “I love you,” all over again. You’ll pack a box with a bottle of wine, two wine glasses and letters to one another to open again in 5-10 years. A vow renewal is also a great space to unpack the box and share the words hidden inside.
Invite A Friend
Of course, another way to have the day’s events flow nicely is to appoint a person to “host,” or facilitate the renewal. Since this isn’t a legal ceremony, you don’t have to have an officiant appointed. A friend or family member can do all the talking in between the exchange of new – and old – vows.
At the end of the ceremony, the guests can also bestow some personalized wishes and toasts, throw petals, blow bubbles and get involved!
Grab A Book
Fortunately, there’s a lot of literature out there to help us with the appropriate wording. It’s more than okay for you and your spouse to take the lead of the big day but do a bit of research on how to adapt the language of the vows and the service in a way that works for the event.
