Your wedding anniversary is a time to reflect on the love you share and the journey you’re taking together.  Sometimes gifts fall short when you’re expressing your love for your spouse. This year, a romantic way to honor your marriage and love might be to renew your promise to love and cherish each other.

Vows are an important part of every wedding ceremony. You can recite the same vows you originally made at your wedding, or choose to make it even more personal by writing your own updated vows together.  Some couples mix a little of the traditional vows in with some of their own. It’s about the two of you, so make it your own.

Not sure where to start with renewing your vows? Here are a few hints to you get started:

  • It’s important to understand that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to do a vow renewal or reaffirmation. It is completely up to you and your spouse.
  • There is never a wrong reason to have a renewal ceremony. Some couples renew to reaffirm their love to each other as often as every year – others may have a renewal ceremony after a rough patch in their marriage – while many renew their vows after a substantial amount of time has passed such as the 20th or 50th-year milestone.
  • To invite guests….or Not? This is a personal decision and can be romantic either way. A renewal ceremony with guests can be great. This gives you the opportunity to profess your love to on another in front of those you love and then celebrate afterwards. At the same time, intimate can be very romantic.

Picture just the two of you, the minister, and a breath-taking view. This intimate option allows a memorable, romantic experience.  With no guests, there’s no one to make happy but the two of you.  After the ceremony is complete, you and your spouse can enjoy entertaining no one but each other.

  • What should I wear? Today, what the bride and groom “should” wear during a ceremony is very personal, so don’t stress over tradition during your renewal. The bride doesn’t have to wear white. The groom doesn’t have to wear a Tux. What you wear may be influenced by the type of ceremony you plan to have. If it’s a family affair with wedding parties, you may want to wear formal attire. If it’s just the two of you, you may wish to wear more casual dress – especially if you’re on the beaches of an all-inclusive Jamaican getaway. In either case, the bride may consider wearing her wedding gown again. In addition to the sentimental value it holds – it’s always good to get a second use out of that expensive dress!
  • To Write my Vows or Not? Having a vow renewing ceremony doesn’t necessarily mean you must write them yourself. You can recite traditional vows after a priest or minister.

Should you decide to write your own, you have the opportunity to express your love directly from your heart. Not sure what to say or feel you are not the best with words? There’s help for that! You can research wedding vows online and customize them as you see fit.  It’s easier to start with something than nothing. Here are a couple vows to get you started:

  • I see these vows not as promises but as privileges: I get to laugh with you and cry with you; care for you and share with you. And most importantly, love you every single day.
  • You make my joys greater, my sorrows more bearable, and my spirit known. I promise you nothing less than the rest of my life. This is what I mean when I tell you I love you every day.
  • Because of you, I laugh, I smile, I dare to dream. Each day, I look forward to sharing my life with you, caring for you, nurturing you, being there for you. I promise today, as I did on our wedding day, to love and cherish you through whatever life brings.

More vow suggestions.

If you have a photo of your wedding cake, the cake designers at American Dream Cakes can make a small replica of the cake or cake top for your vow renewal ceremony.

Taking the time to renew your promise to love and cherish your spouse demonstrates commitment.  There’s nothing more romantic than a time-tested commitment to love, honor and cherish each other.