The Complete Manual for Changing Your Wedding Vows

In a joyful ceremony known as a vow renewal, a married couple confirms their devotion to one another. There is no restriction on when you may have one, although milestone anniversaries—10, 25, or 50 years old—are very popular for them. A vow renewal is an emotional opportunity to honor your love and repeat the commitments you made to each other when you first said “I do,” regardless of how long you’ve been married—a year, a decade, or fifty years. If you’re considering organizing your own vow renewal ceremony, know that with a little help from the pros, you can quickly and confidently organize a joyful celebration of your marriage.

“The most crucial thing to keep in mind is to avoid getting sucked into the ‘wedding planning’ cycle once more,” advises American Marriage Ministries’ Natasha Anakotta. “Renewing your vows should be a special and meaningful occasion where you fully commit to one another.”

American Marriage Ministries is a nonprofit ministry and wedding authority that offers free officiant ordinations, advocacy, and support to friends and family who want to perform legal wedding ceremonies. Natasha Anakotta is the outreach and operations manager of the organization.

Here are some expert-approved suggestions for organizing the ideal vow renewal, along with guidance on how to modify your wedding vows for this unique event.

Table of Contents

What Makes a Couple Renew Their Marriage?

Renewing a vow is held for a variety of reasons. Maybe the couple wants to invite more people because they were only allowed to have a modest wedding or elopement. Perhaps they wish to recommit to one other after overcoming an illness, adultery, or other circumstance in their marriage. It’s possible that some couples are so incredibly in love that they want to say “I do” repeatedly. Arranging a surprise vow renewal for your significant other can be a beautiful way to reignite the romance. It could also be a means of farewell. A couple had a really touching vow renewal at a hospice, replete with cake and flowers. The woman died quietly two days later, having promised to meet her husband in paradise.

When Are Vows Renewed in a Couple?

In the end, it’s difficult to say for sure when you should—or shouldn’t—renew your vows. While some couples find it romantic and pleasant to celebrate their anniversary earlier, others choose to wait until a significant milestone, such as ten or twenty years of marriage. Renewing vows is often the choice made by couples who have overcome a difficult period in their partnership, such as a personal setback or sickness, or who have enough money to host the celebration they previously couldn’t afford.