When to have a vow renewal 

While wedding season is typically late spring through early fall, vow renewals don’t have a set season of the year or a season of life. We get a lot of questions about when to have a vow renewal, and there are so many answers. First, let’s get into what qualifies as a vow renewal. According to Wikipedia, a wedding vow renewal ceremony is a ceremony in which a married couple renews or reaffirms their marriage vows. Pretty straightforward, yet there are a lot of questions, so we are here to walk you through them all.

Milestone anniversaries to have a vow renewal 

When most people think of vow renewals, they think of a “milestone year,” which is definitely worth celebrating. There is no specific year when most couples renew their vows. I’ve had three recent vow renewals, and they were at five years and two at twenty years, but all three couples really emphasized that it was not about the year. It was about the season of life they were in, which made them know it was the right time. If you’re wondering how soon is too soon to renew vows, the answer probably is not too soon! If you’re asking the question, that probably means you want to do it. So you should! If you want to recommit yourself, then do it! There is never a bad time to proclaim your love.

Vow Renewals with Real Couples

Five Years: Greg and Alyssa had a big wedding, and five years and two kids later, they were at a point where they wanted to recommit themselves to each other.

Adventure Vow Renewal in Glacier National Park 

Twenty Years: For Kristina and Mason, Iceland isn’t just a vacation. It’s a chance to reclaim all the milestones they never had. When Mason was serving in the military, there wasn’t time for an engagement, wedding, or honeymoon. Two decades later, they decided to celebrate everything all at once in the land of fire and ice.

Iceland Vow Renewal – with PRO TRAVEL TIPS! 

Twenty Years: After 20 years of marriage, three daughters, and a journey that reshaped their relationship in the most real way, Martha and Steven chose to celebrate not just longevity! They chose to celebrate their growth, resilience, and a completely new chapter together.

Vow Renewal in Montana – A Wild, Meaningful Celebration at Heritage Ranch 

A New Chapter

For all of our couples, a vow renewal isn’t about repeating old vows. It is about standing in a completely different place than where they started. It reflects not just where you’ve been, but where you’re choosing to go moving forward. The energy of a vow renewal is grounded, real, and deeply intentional.

Brides makes the point, “The most important thing to remember is not to get caught up in ‘wedding planning’ again,” says Natasha Anakotta of American Marriage Ministries. “Vow renewal ceremonies should be unique and meaningful while wholly re-committing yourselves to each other.” 

What do you Wear

I’ve had so much fun seeing what our couples wear for their vow renewal. Martha chose a classic wedding dress style gown with a deep V, bringing the sexy back to weddings. For Alyssa’s renewal dress idea, she opted for a silky, snake-colored dress with a high slit. Kristina wore a white-and-tan dress with Icelandic fur over the top. Once again, these three brides (again!) proved that there are no rules for a vow renewal.

Some Reasons to Have a Vow Renewal

After becoming parents. It’s so easy to lose yourself in parenting, and maybe along the way you feel like you’ve lost each other. Renew your vows and say, this is way harder than I thought it would be, but I’m so happy to have you with me.

Maybe you had a COVID wedding, and while you tried as much as you did, it did not feel right to you. This is the time to enjoy the day you initially dreamed of without having to replan 200 times as the government continues to flip the script on you. 

Perhaps there was a really challenging time where you thought you wouldn’t make it. Yet you battled it together, and you are now stronger and more committed than ever before!

How about milestones (besides years) in life! Did you and your partner move states, change careers, go back to or graduate from school? All of these things can have a very real effect on your marriage. If you moved, what about having a vow renewal nearby and recommitting to this new life in this new place together, even if it looks different than the one you had before?

Maybe you want to include your family this time around! If they’ve been super supportive in your relationship through the hard times, this is a way to celebrate together.

Maybe you made a lot of concessions at your first wedding and regret not doing things your way. Now is your opportunity to have the ceremony you always wanted.

What about wanting to combine romance with adventure in a once-in-a-lifetime destination? To do something intentional. Not performative. Not expected. Something that felt like them.

Everything You Need to Know About Vow Renewals – *Ultimate guide 

The Knot says it beautifully: “Over time, life changes and brings new challenges, wins, losses, obstacles, and moments of joy. These experiences shape and strengthen the bond between partners. A vow renewal allows couples to reaffirm their commitment, celebrate their enduring love, and revisit the promises made to each other.”

How to Have a Vow Renewal

Vow renewals are completely up to you, which I understand can be overwhelming. Here are some aspects to consider, according to SANDALS, when planning your day. “Vow renewal ceremonies are usually held to celebrate and reaffirm wedding vows. Typically, couples would exchange vows, and maybe even read their old vows again to the one they love. Some people choose to write new vows, or just add some things to their old vows which better reflect where they are in the present day. After that, rings are usually exchanged, whether they be new or the original rings with new engravings. Readings are sometimes done by friends, relatives, or children, with music chosen specifically for sentimental value playing in the background, helping everyone recall those precious moments of the past.”

Again, you did it your way, but hopefully this gets the ideas flowing.

Epic Adventure is Calling

Make your vow renewal more than just a few hours. Experience a second honeymoon or vacation or even a weekend getaway. This is a beautiful chance to reconnect with your partner! Whether you go somewhere completely foreign or stay somewhere close to home – this time is something special. While Honeybee Weddings will help you plan the ceremony and location matchmaking, our friends over at The Modern Traveler can help you plan the most romantic and adventurous travel experience before and after!

Can we also shout out to the ACTIVITIES you can have during your vow renewal experience! Take an ATV to a secluded location to share your vows, then get back on and continue exploring. Exchange your renewal promises on the beach… on horseback! How do you feel about skydiving? Make your promises 10,000 feet in the sky. Let’s go chasing waterfalls and recommit in a cave in Iceland. A vow renewal gives you absolutely permission to live out your dreams together!

Average cost of a Vow Renewal

There is not enough data on vow renewals to determine an average cost. Again, my three couples all chose such different renewals. Alyssa and Greg renewed their vows just the two of them in Glacier National Park, which was only a state over from where they lived. Kristina and Mason opted for Iceland with a small group, and flights and accommodations will increase that budget. Martha and Steven went local but also made it a full celebration with a larger guest list of friends and family, along with details like invitations, flowers, hair, and makeup. 

The good news is that the budget is completely up to you. Book an officiant again (or don’t!). Buy some flowers (or don’t!). Eat pizza and have an ice cream party! (Definitely do this).

No matter when you want to have a vow renewal, we will be there to support you every step of the way! Fill out the contact us form below to get started. Can’t wait to celebrate your love with you, since I had serious FMO missing the first one.