What is a vow renewal?
Perhaps you are considering having a vow renewal to celebrate your lives together as man and wife. Having a vow renewal is very much like having a regular marriage ceremony. Much like a traditional wedding event, each couple will have a different reason for wanting to “go through” saying vows to one another again. Perhaps it is in celebration of reaching a certain number of years in being married to one another. A vow renewal is typically a more minor, more intimate event with close friends and family in attendance. The vows may be particular to a couple of their lives together.
Reasons to have a vow renewal?’
I am reminded of a book by Nicolas Sparks entitled “The Wedding.” Suppose you happen to be familiar with some of his other writings. In that case, the most popular of which include “A Walk to Remember” and “The Notebook,” you will know that his writings are usually both poignant and sometimes bittersweet. The Wedding is about a middle-aged couple who seem to have drifted apart now that they are empty-nesters. Both are madly in love with one another. But, somewhere along the way, they have become too comfortable in the relationship. Each takes the other for granted. As a result, the romance has faded, and their communication has been tense. Sound familiar, anyone?
One of the sweetest reasons to have a vow renewal — as a “surprise wedding” for the spouse. Oh, my! That is just swoon-worthy. So let’s combine the surprise wedding with a second reason to renew wedding vows — celebrating a special anniversary or milestone in the relationship. Indeed, recognizing the longevity of marriage — perhaps 10, 25, or 50 years would be an excellent reason for renewing one’s vows. Can you imagine a husband planning a surprise wedding for his wife of 50 years? Wedding vow renewals, such as this, have been hosted at our venue in the Great Smoky Mountains. One such couple was celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. The “groom” wore his military uniform (I think from the Korean War), and she wore an Appalachian-era bonnet and long prairie dress. So precious!
Would a vow renewal only be for the ceremony, or can there be a reception celebration afterward?
It can be as intimate or elaborate as they would prefer. In front of a minister, this might be just the two of them at their favorite place in the mountains or the beach. A party or celebration follows many vow renewal ceremonies, but it’s not required. Most traditional weddings include food and beverage, so in all likelihood, the “re-married” couple would enjoy sharing this special occasion with family and friends. It might be held during a family reunion or on vacation (such as in the Great Smoky Mountains), complete with finger foods or a meal — even a potluck of the family’s favorite dishes. Then, of course, there could be some flowers, and a wedding cake, and a first dance by the couple. The couple probably won’t need a wedding planner, and definitely, there isn’t a need for a marriage license.
There are other reasons that a married couple might want to have a vow renewal. Perhaps they have faced challenges as a couple — severe illness or injury, surviving cancer, or having been through a difficult time in their relationship. It might indeed be a time of a needed recommitment and renewal.
Forever Young and In-Love
And then there are those crazy-in-love couples who want to do it again and celebrate their romance. They want to spend time with their family and friends and share their joy of being together. The book I mentioned before, The Wedding by NIcolas Sparks, reflected a combination of a few of these reasons. The husband recruited his children to help him pull off the most fantastic surprise wedding, aka vow renewal. And I just remembered, if you happened to be familiar with “The Notebook” by Nicolas Sparks, this is actually a continuation of the love story which began with Noah and Allie. Read The Wedding if you are interested in doing a vow renewal — it’s a wonderfully sweet story that might inspire you to do the same for your spouse.
Nicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most beloved storytellers. His books have been New York Times bestsellers, with over 105 million copies sold worldwide in more than 50 languages, including over 75 million copies in the United States alone. For more information about this beloved author, please visit https://nicholassparks.com/about/.
