Renewal of Vows Ceremony

What is the Renewal of Vows ceremony?
A renewal of vows ceremony is an opportunity for a couple to renew the vows they shared when they first were married. It is a time of celebration and commemoration for the love that binds them together and how it may have matured over the years.

It is your chance to re-declare your love for one another in front of your family and friends. You might repeat the same vows you originally had in your wedding ceremony or perhaps even use totally new words to express your love.

It’s a time to reflect, celebrate and look forward to your future life together.

Why should I renew my vows?
There are many reasons why a couple may choose to renew their vows. Some decide to renew their vows to celebrate a significant milestone in their lives, such as a wedding anniversary. Others will do so after a period of struggle in their relationship; a period that they have risen from stronger and more in love than ever before.

Whatever your reason, a renewal of vows ceremony is an unforgettable way to show your commitment to one another in a bespoke and personal way.

When can I renew my vows?
You can renew your vows at any time following your wedding; the next day if you choose! Some couples choose to celebrate 10-, 20- or 50-years of marriage together. Then there are occasions where a couple have been married just a short time, but due to changes in their life it has meant they have chosen to recommit their vows to each other once more.

Can a Celebrant lead my renewal of vows ceremony?
Yes, they can. Our Celebrants will help you to tailor a personalised ceremony to suit you as a couple and deliver it on the day in any location. Through regular contact with your Celebrant, adding, reviewing, or tweaking any content, you can ensure your Renewal of Vows Ceremony will be exactly what you wanted.

Is a Renewal of Vows ceremony legally binding?
No, the ceremony is not legally binding it is purely for celebratory purposes for those who take part. Which means, you can organise the day free from any of the restrictions from a formal, legal wedding ceremony. It’s a recognition of the love you have for each other and entirely up to you how you design this special day.

How long is a renewal of vows ceremony?
It depends on the content you wish to have in your ceremony. Some couples feel uncomfortable being the centre of attention and may wish to have a short ceremony, while others may want more content. Hence, the actual ceremony could be anything between 15 to 45 minutes long.

Will we meet our celebrant before the ceremony?
Yes, you will. We believe this an important part of creating your perfect day and something we strongly recommend. We like to meet couples for an initial free consultation, preferably via video phone (e.g., Google Duo, Facebook Messenger, Microsoft Teams, Zoom or WhatsApp) with no obligation to continue, allowing couples to decide whether we are the ‘someone’ they wish to design and perform their ceremony.

Will our celebrant help us to write our vows?
Yes, they will help you write your vows. Our celebrants have had vast experience helping people just like you craft their perfect vow, and they will be happy to help.

If you wish to try and write your own vows, they can provide some guidance on how to go about writing your vows. They can even supply you with some suggestions for you to choose from.

Will our Celebrant stay with us for the whole of our wedding or civil partnership day?
From a booking point of view our Celebrants are normally only booked in for one ceremony per day.

You will receive their full attention during the time they are with you, and they will stay for a short while after your ceremony to ensure everything goes smoothly. If you wish the Celebrant to arrive earlier and/or stay longer this must be agreed with them prior to your ceremony day. The only exception would be if a Celebrant has been asked to cover for a fellow Celebrant who has been taken ill, or for unforeseen circumstances beyond their control were no longer able to officiate at a ceremony on the same day.

Will my Celebrant help plan what the renewal of vows ceremony will include?
Yes, they will. Your Celebrant will talk you through all the options to personalise your service from start to finish and through ongoing, regular communication, you can ask them to include important aspects to you or remove others from the ceremony script. You have total freedom with a Celebrant to ensure the words spoken on the day are exactly what you wanted.

Will our Celebrant help with wedding planning like sorting the venue or the food?
No, we are only there to ensure that your ceremony is delivered in accordance with your wishes and ensure the content you have chosen to incorporate into your ceremony script is delivered correctly. We do not take part in any other forms of planning or preparation for your ceremony.

Can a renewal of vows ceremony be religious?
Yes, it can if that is your wish. A renewal of vows ceremony is not legally binding and therefore you can craft the ceremony in whatever way feels meaningful and important to you. This could include holding a religious, non-religious or partially religious service.

However, if you opt for a Humanist Celebrant, you may not be able to include religious content in the ceremony; this will be at their discretion. It is also important to check with the venue whether they are happy with the religious (or non-religious!) format of your ceremony.

Where can we have our Renewal of Vows ceremony?
You can have your ceremony wherever you wish. There are no legal restrictions for this type of service and, as such, you have complete freedom to choose your venue.

You may want to hold your ceremony in a meaningful place that is important to you as a couple, such as where you first met, where your partner proposed or the place you shared your favourite holiday. You could even take the ceremony outdoors in a place of outstanding beauty, or to a place that was important to someone special in your life who is no longer with you.

Your options are endless; and if you don’t know where to start, our Celebrant can help you.

We would like an evening ceremony, is that okay?
Yes, we are more than happy to conduct an evening (twilight) ceremony.

Can I hold the renewal of vows ceremony in a church?
It may be possible. Most celebrants will be happy to host your ceremony in a church. However, you would have to check with the church first. Also, if you have chosen a humanist celebrant, this may not be possible.

What can be included in a renewal of vows ceremony?
Virtually anything can be included; a significant piece of music, readings, singing, re-dedicating your rings, the exchange of important gifts, incorporate a symbolic act, even plant a tree in celebration. It’s entirely up to you what to include in your ceremony.

Can I involve guests in the renewal of vows ceremony?
Yes, you can. The ceremony can involve guests taking part e.g., reading poems, reading meaningful words, writing special words for the occasion, taking part in symbolic gestures, singing, basically anything!

Do we exchange rings and vows again during the ceremony?
That’s entirely up to you. Many couples decide to re-dedicate the same rings, but some couples choose to add new ones. Some prefer just to renew vows and promises to each other, and some like to exchange gifts. It’s your choice and what you feel most comfortable with; what best suits your style as a couple.

Can we involve our children in the renewal of vows service?
Yes, there’s no better idea than to include your children in your ceremony. By including your children, you help to demonstrate your family’s commitment to each other and make the occasion more special for everyone.
How can we involve our children in the renewal of vows ceremony?
There are so many ways to involve your children in the ceremony and personalise your experience if you want to. For example:

Walking Down the Aisle

Instead of being escorted down the aisle by parents, let your children escort you. You could have all your children walk down the aisle together with you or have half walk down with dad and half walk down with mum.

Bridal Party Members

as an alternative to groomsmen and bridesmaids, if you have children, let them be part of your ceremony instead. You can have your son(s) stand with dad in matching suits and have your daughter(s) walk down the aisle and stand with you.

Unity Candle

You could have a unity candle ritual built into the ceremony, giving each of your children a lit candle and then all of you use your individual candles to light one large pillar candle as a symbol of your family unity.

Family Treasure Box

You could have each of your children bring something to the ceremony that represents their favourite memory of the family. They can each say a few words about what the memory is and what it means to them. Once everyone takes their turn the items can be placed inside a box that then becomes your family treasure box.

This is a great memory to have, that you can take out on each anniversary and reminisce about what each item means.

Other options to consider are:

• • • Having the children as ushers
    • Mentioning them in your vows
    • Include them in ring warming & handfasting
    • Planting a tree
    • Presenting your children with a special gift

There are many options available to you. Your celebrant will guide and inspire you with your choices to make the ceremony memorable and perfect for you and your family.

What does a renewal of vows ceremony typically include?
It depends on the type of ceremony you select. We offer two options:

Our bespoke ceremony, which includes the following

• • • Working closely with you to create a unique and meaningful ceremony which has special meaning for you.
    • Preparation and writing of ceremony script.
    • Guidance on vows and promises, readings, exchange/rededication of rings or exchange of gifts.
    • First draft review of ceremony script via email or video phone call.
    • As many additional reviews of the ceremony script as necessary via email or video phone call.
    • Final proofread of ceremony script via email or video phone call.
    • A commemorative certificate
    • Pre-ceremony checks on the day – 5 minutes with each partner.
    • Conducting your ceremony on the day

The ceremony comprises:

• • • Announcement of arrival of the couple (individually or together)
    • Celebrant welcome and introduction
    • Welcome and acknowledgement of any children (optional choice)
    • Celebrant Opening Words
    • What commitment is… (read by celebrant)
    • First reading. For example, a poem, a popular reading, or a religious extract.
    • Blessing
    • Recommitment Words
    • Vows and additional promises (optional choice)
    • Second reading
    • Rededication of rings or exchange of gifts
    • Meaningful symbolic ritual (optional choice)
    • Pronouncement of your commitment to one another
    • The signing of a commemorative
    • Closing words

Our prewritten ceremony includes the following

• • • Working closely with you preparing and writing your ceremony script.
    • Guidance on vows and promises, readings, rededication of rings or exchange of gift words.
    • Two draft reviews of ceremony script via email or video phone call.
    • Final proofread of ceremony script via email or video phone call.
    • A commemorative certificate (if desired). this is an additional cost.
    • Pre-ceremony checks on the day – 5 minutes with each partner.
    • Conducting your ceremony on the day

The ceremony comprises:

• • • Announcement of arrival of the couple (individually or together)
    • Celebrant welcome and introduction
    • Celebrant Opening Words
    • One reading. For example, a poem, a popular reading, or a religious extract
    • Blessing
    • Recommitment Words
    • Vows / Promises
    • Exchange/rededication of rings or exchange of gifts
    • Pronouncement of your commitment to one another
    • The signing of a commemorative certificate (if ordered)
    • Closing words

Optional extras –

• • • A commemorative certificate for prewritten ceremonies is available at an additional cost of £5
    • For an additional commemorative certificate – £5 each
    • Pre-ceremony rehearsal in your own home or at your chosen venue – £50 plus travel and accommodation (if applicable)