Why have a vow renewal ceremony?

Why are vow renewals on the rise? I’m a celebrant who officiates a number of vow renewal ceremonies in Spain every year so I’m going to tell you why my couples choose to redeclare their love and commitment for one another! But first of all, what is a vow renewal ceremony? Well, it’s normally more relaxed than a wedding, often with less guests and there are no legalities, couples have a symbolic ceremony where they exchange vows.

As a celebrant in Spain I hear from lots of couples, all whom have many different reasons for wanting to renew their vows in Spain and to recommit. Some want to rekindle their romance a little, renew their dedication after overcoming an illness or rough patch, others want to celebrate an anniversary or have the dream wedding celebration they didn’t have in the past.

Your way

Firstly, lots of couples renew their vows because they had an arranged marriage first time around or (a) religious ceremony/ies. Perhaps their parents made most of the decisions, renewing their vows means having a ceremony where they make decisions on every little detail and a ceremony that is completely personalised and couple focused. Read here for more on elopements. Besides the ceremony, this time around couples can choose the décor, the venue, music and how they will celebrate with their guests.

A chance to celebrate

Some couples who eloped may now want to celebrate their love with guests. For instance, one couple I am officiating a ceremony for in February married 10 years ago in a registrar’s office with no guests. I’ve crafted a beautiful, bespoke ceremony for them and their three daughters are going to be included in the ceremony, and they will say their vows in front of all of their friends and family this time.

A vow renewal ceremony to reaffirm your love

Secondly, life is not easy at times. For instance we can experience illness, loss and ups and downs in our marriage, reaffirming our love for one another and walking down the aisle can therefore help bring us into a positive place and is a chance to start afresh and mark a new stage of your lives and in your relationship. My couples often find new joy in renewing their vows either publically or in an intimate setting.

Changing times

As times change, we change as people along with our circles of friends and the family we have, so the vows that you wish to make could be very different to the vows you made when you first got married. Futhermore, perhaps your love for one another has matured and deepened and you have new ideas of how you want to celebrate.

Children

If you have children, then it can be lovely to involve them if they were not present at your previous wedding. As a celebrant my couples’ often like to involve their children or loved ones in their ceremony for example in a handfasting or sand ceremony. Nowadays as we change jobs or move house we make new friends, so a vow renewal ceremony is a beautiful moment that you can experience alongside them and any extended family.

Renewing your vows in Spain

Finally, lots of couples opt to renew their vows abroad because they want guaranteed warm weather or a change of scenery. With it’s blue skies and beautiful landscapes, Spain is a great destination for renewing your vows. You can choose to have your ceremony on a beach, a mountain, by a pool, anywhere you want! Read reasons to celebrate abroad here!! I’m a celebrant in Spain and would love to talk to you about your vow renewal ceremony.

Featured Image: Amber Varghese Photography