Vow Renewals
I know weddings are probably on your mind, but let’s think a little further down the line.
We do like – and need – rites of passage. These include baptism, confirmation, marriage, 21st birthdays, and death. They can also include Vow Renewals.
Vow renewals may seem remote to you, especially if you’re just marrying or a newly-wed, but you may know people who might be more interested in this – and it’s good to be aware of it yourself, as your turn may well come!
The Wedding Day and beyond
You’ve made it through all the tribulations that can precede the wedding day and have become part of a couple. You’ve rightly marked this event with a lovely ceremony.
That wasn’t easy; married life isn’t easy, either. It certainly has its ups and downs. Sticking at it deserves its rewards too. And a Vow Renewal is a reward. For one thing, there’s no legal side to worry about.
Why consider a Vow Renewal?
- You’ve got through a whole year of marriage. You’ve learned how to share, compromise and live together. Well done! Why not mark this achievement in some way?
- You’ve managed five or ten, fifteen or twenty (you get the picture!) years together. Now that’s a real achievement! You could certainly mark that in company with your friends and relatives.
- Maybe your marriage has been rocky, but you’ve come out on the other side, and you want to re-commit publicly.
- Maybe you married abroad, and would like to share the occasion with your friends over here.
- Perhaps you have acquired a new set of friends and even relatives since marrying.
- Maybe the vows you took have become irrelevant and need reformulating and restating.
These are some of the good reasons to consider having a public ceremony, or Vow Renewal.
Advantages
You can have your ceremony wherever you choose (depending on permission, etc.).
You can invite whoever you want. It can be a small, personal ceremony or a medium or even large one.
You can include whatever you wish in the ceremony – readings, ritual, music, readers, etc. Your civil celebrant can advise and guide you (but you will have the final say).
The tone of the ceremony (light-hearted, serious) is up to you.
You can have whatever elements matter to you – eg ring blessing and/or rewritten vows.
It needn’t be an expensive ceremony: at a basic level, you will need to pay for the venue (if you’re booking one), the civil celebrant, refreshments, if you’re having any, ( a new set of clothes, possibly) and not much else.
Examples
I have officiated at venues as different as a Mayfair hotel and a Canal Centre. The Shard has been suggested as a venue, as has Waterloo Bridge and even on a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth. For a handfasting Vow renewal, the inner circle at Stonehenge is an option. And so it goes on …
If you can think of anybody who might appreciate a ceremony of this kind, I’d love to chat to them about it.
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Michael Gordon
As a former languages teacher for twenty five years and lay preacher for almost as long, I have considerable experience in presenting to large gatherings, as well as putting together sermons that do not send people to sleep! I gained my Diploma in Marriage Celebrancy from the FOIC (and also my Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy). I am friendly and accessible, yet professional. I am well-connected with suppliers and have excellent presentation skills. Most importantly, my passion is to turn clients' dreams into reality.
