How to plan a vow renewal || Expert advice and real vow renewal example

Vow renewals are a beautiful way to reaffirm your love for each other. They may be the chance to finally do things your way! Or maybe you just want an intimate ceremony or just you two to reconnect.

In this blog we are answering all the questions you might have about planning a vow renewal. We have our in house planner chelle sharing the behind the scences of how she planned a vow renewal in our hown town city centre, manchester.

What is a vow renewal? 

A vow renewal is a ceremony for married couples reaffirming their marriage vows to one another. These can be your original vows or a new updated version. There is no set time after marriage but they are popular on key milestone anniversaries. Like 10, 25 or 50 years!

Why should I renew my vows?

Why not! most people do it to celebrate a special milestone anniversary. !0, 25 or even 50 years together is worth celebrating! what better way than reaffirming your vows, reconnecting and doing all the fun things you loved about your wedding day! 

You get the chance to d it all again without the added stress. Do only the things you loved. The things you wished you did. Wear the outfit you really wanted. Invite only the ones you like! These may not apply to you but for a lot of people renewing your vows is about doing how you want this time around. 

You may have children now and want them to be part of the day. Create special memories for you all to last a lifetime. 

Lastly and our kinda style! you may just love a good excuse to party! weddings are the ultimate party so renewing your vows is the best excuse to plan another ultimate party with family and friends. 

What do you say when you renew your vows?

You can say the same vows you did when you got married. You can have new ones written up to reflect the journey you have been on as a couple and where you are in life now. Having a celebrant onboard means they will work with you to write the perfect vows and ceremony outline. 

You can go all romantic, have lots of fun and jokes or keep traditional. That is the joy of a vow renewal there are no rules so do what you want and what makes you happy! 

Image – Josey Grace Photography Organised by Birdcages & dragonflies

What happens at a vow renewal?

Vow renewals can be as formal or not as you wish. There are no legal parts to the day so you can choose anything you like. Usually, you have your ceremony, saying the vows again. then, your celebration after. this could be as simple as some photos, a meal or a party with friends. Below with have Chelle talking through how she planned a vow renewal in Manchester city centre for her couple. We figured showcasing a real vow renewal was the best way for you to understand the process. 

Just remember this is how they wanted to do it, not how you have to do it!  

How to plan a vow renewal

VOW renewal IN THE CITY

CLAYTON AND KATE ARE FROM ARIZONA USA. THEY WERE IN THE UK ON A WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TRIP AND STAYING IN MANCHESTER. THEY HAD NEVER BEEN BEFORE AND CLAYTON WAS A FAN OF MANCHESTER UNITED.  CLAYTON CONTACTED ME AS HE WANTED TO SURPRISE KATE WITH A 10 YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY VOW RENEWAL IN THE CITY! 

I REALLY HAD TO PULL SOMETHING OUT OF THE BAG FOR THIS ONE. THEY BOTH FELL IN LOVE WITH ENGLAND SOME TIME AGO BUT HAD NEVER BEEN TO MANCHESTER. ALL CLAYTON ASKED WAS THAT IT WAS OUTSIDE SOMEWHERE NICE.

I LOVED HOW RELAXED HE WAS ABOUT THE WHOLE THING AND HOW TRUSTING OF ME TO ORGANISE IT ALL.

Image – Josey Grace Photography Organised by Birdcages & dragonflies

PLANning a vow renewal 

CLAYTON LEFT THE LOCATION UP TO ME, BEING FROM MANCHESTER HE KNEW HE COULD TRUST ME AND I HAD THE WHOLE OF THE CITY CENTRE TO CONSIDER. AFTER SOME RESEARCH AND WANDERING THE CITY I SETTLED ON ST JOHN GARDENS ON LOWER BYROM STREET. THEY ARE ONE OF THE PRETTIEST GARDENS IN THE CITY AND IF YOU ASK ME A HIDDEN GEM!

LIZ FROM UNITY CEREMONIES, WHO WAS CONDUCTING THE CEREMONY, AND I MET AT THE PARK TO PICK THE PERFECT SPOT AND PREPARE THE AREA. RIGHT ON CUE AT 6.30PM CLAYTON AND KATE ENTERED THE PARK. AS THEY GOT CLOSER TO LIZ AND I, I COULD SEE KATE LOOKING CONFUSED SO I CASUALLY APPROACHED THEM BOTH. CLAYTON INTRODUCED ME, THEN TURNED TO KATE AND TOLD HER HE HAD ARRANGED FOR THEM TO RENEW THEIR VOWS, IT ALL GOT EMOTIONAL VERY QUICKLY!

WE WALKED OVER TO THE HUGE OAK TREE WE HAD DECIDED TO DO THE CEREMONY UNDER. LIZ BEGAN THE CEREMONY AND IT WAS JUST PERFECT. IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST TOUCHING SERVICES I HAVE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A PART OF. YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE THESE TWO ARE STILL SO MUCH IN LOVE 10 YEARS INTO MARRIAGE!

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