Let's face it: beyond the first couple of anniversaries, many of us have completely run out of new and creative ideas when it comes to ways to celebrate. If you've been married for a number of years and have kids, the idea of your anniversary doesn't seem quite as special as it used to.
Lots of people think that renewing their wedding vows is something that is only appropriate on a milestone anniversary, such as your twentieth or later. The fact is, though, that renewing the vows you made at your wedding is an incredibly romantic gesture that is appropriate to any anniversary (including your first one!). Consider the following:
* Beyond a shady idea that they promised not to cheat and something about sickness and health, not many people can really remember what they said on their wedding day. This is not because the vows were not meaningful; most of the time the wedding is a bit of a blur for both the bride and the groom, so neither are likely to remember even important details.
* Renewing vows will take on a whole new perspective in the context of your marriage. You are no longer the two idealistic individuals who entered into a marriage contract; instead, you are a united couple with a better understanding of exactly what those vows mean. Every year of marriage brings a better understanding of your mate and your relationship, and repeating your vows will show them in a whole new light.
* Even if you recall your vows, the odds are that there are a few that you miss. Renewing vows can be a great way to remember exactly what you promised.
In order to renew your vows, you might want to start by finding out what you said in the first place! If you took part in a standard wedding ceremony then this part is actually pretty easy. Find the text that the officiator used; standard vows are usually the same no matter what faith or justice you used.
If you wrote your own vows, the task could be a bit more difficult. First, check to see if you kept copies in your personal mementos. Odds are pretty good that you did. If not, check your wedding video and with relatives to see if you can track down what you said.
Remember that the renewal of vows is not just a romantic notion, it is actually a renewal -- of vows! Aside from the act itself indicating "you'd do it all over again" it also offers you the opportunity to reflect on your duties and commitments and even improve the relationship through the "if I knew then what I know now" factor. You've learned a lot about each other since getting married, here's the perfect opportunity to use that information to make the relationship even better.
Renewing wedding vows on your wedding anniversary also allows a couple to add parts to the contract that they had not thought of at the time of the wedding. If we're honest, most of us can admit that we had no idea what we were in for when we first tied the knot. Adding some vows that are relevant to the experiences of time will add an even greater feeling of commitment to your marriage.
Alex consults for a gift shop offering
cheap wedding favors and
gifts for her. Alex is recently married.