Renewal of marriage vows

__________________ (his first name) and ________________ (her first name), have requested that
you give them the opportunity to renew their wedding vows on the occasion of their _______
wedding anniversary. Therefore, in the presence of God, your family, and all of you, your friends,
we are pleased to honor your request.

We know that the commitment that _____________________ (his first name) and
__________________ (her first name) made to each other on their wedding day has been an
enduring commitment. No doubt they have renewed their commitment in their hearts many times in
the years they have spent together.

The marriage union is an honorable state, instituted by God, in which a man and a woman leave all
others to become one. For those who commit themselves in love and loyalty before God, there is
blessing, peace and fulfillment.

(Addressing the man and woman, the minister says)

__________________ (his first name) and ____________________ (her first name), in the
scriptures we are reminded that Christ's love for his church is an example for their devotion to one
another. The apostle Paul describes such love saying: “ Love is patient, it is kind. Love is not
envious or boastful or proud. He does not behave rudely, he is not selfish, he does not get angry
easily, he does not hold grudges. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. He excuses
everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything. Love never goes extinct. ” (1
Corinthians 13:4-8).

Since the vows you renew today are fulfilled in your marriage, you will demonstrate the true nature
of love as described by the apostle.

(Then the minister says to the man)

______________________ (his first name), this woman next to him is his wife. Her happiness lies
in her life, character and conduct. She has given you her life and her love. It is in your power to give
her great joy and happiness. Will you continue to live with __________________ (her first name)
in the holy state of marriage? Will he love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and
in health, and will it be hers alone as long as they both live?

(The man answers) Yes

(Then the minister says to the woman)

______________________ (her first name), this man next to her is her husband. His hopes and
inspiration lie in her life and love. He has looked to you for encouragement, joy and confidence.
Because of your faithfulness to him and your faith in him, you have been and will be his greatest
blessing. Will you continue to live with __________________ (his first name) in the holy state of
marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him, and care for him in sickness and in health,
and will it be his alone as long as you both live?

(The woman answers) Yes

Since it is your wish to renew the marriage covenant today, please join hands and repeat your
promises.

(The man repeats after the minister)

I __________________________ (his full name), will continue to take you, __________________

(her first name), as my lawful wife, from this day forward, in plenty and in want, in joy and in
sadness, In sickness and in health, to love you and cherish you, until death do us part. I promise
you.

(The woman repeats after the minister)

I _________________________ (her full name), will continue to take you, _________________

(his first name) as my lawful husband, from this day forward, in plenty and in want, in joy and in
sadness, in sickness and in health, to love you and cherish you, until death do us part. I promise you.

(If a ring ceremony is desired, the minister asks the husband to put the ring on his wife's finger and,
holding the ring, says after the minister)

This ring that I give you is a symbol and promise of our constant faith and love.

(The minister asks the wife to put the ring on her husband's finger and, holding the ring, says after
the minister)

This ring that I give you is a symbol and promise of our constant faith and love.

Then the minister says a prayer for happiness and love for each other.

Since _____________ (his first name) and ______________ (her first name) have renewed their
marriage vows and have testified the same before God, their family and their friends, and have
pledged their continued faithfulness to each other, (and as a reminder of your vows have exchanged
rings), therefore, by the authority given to me as a minister of Jesus Christ, I reaffirm that you are
husband and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. What God joined together,
let no man separate. Amen.

Renewing your vows and reaffirming your commitment is an important and meaningful
celebration. Each couple may have different reasons for reaffirming the commitment made when
getting married.

Our life had taken unpredictable turns, like everyone's life. Facing these changes made it
important for us to remind ourselves of the constancy of our feelings for each other and the
permanence of the promises we made to each other. Furthermore, five years of marriage
seemed like a good time to reread our vows, recognize our triumphs and failures, and
propose to improve. On the other hand, we had finally found a new community of faith that
supported us in our marriage, and we wanted to reaffirm our commitment to each other in
front of them...
Now that we are planning to renew our vows on our 10th wedding anniversary next year, I
want to expand our original promises to include new things that I now consider important
to a good marriage. I have learned a lot about what honor, trust, understanding, and
respect means, and how difficult it can be to keep these promises. So, I'm not going to
eliminate any of these, but rather add: the promise to listen more and argue less; support
the couple in their work, their spiritual life, and community work; talk about your feelings;
set aside time to have fun together... Next time I want to also include promises for our
children.

Ideas for vow renewal and remarriage ceremonies

Ideas for renewal of vows

With divorce statistics these days, staying married deserves as much celebration as getting
married . Renewing your vows and reaffirming your commitment is an important and
meaningful celebration. Each couple may have different reasons for reaffirming the
commitment made when they got married, so some couples repeat the same vows they
exchanged at their wedding, for the benefit of friends and family who were not present at
the wedding; others renew their vows to celebrate an important anniversary. This couple
felt the need to renew their vows after experiencing major changes in their lives. Karen H.
Geiger explains to us:

Our life had taken unpredictable turns, like everyone's life. Facing these changes made it
important for us to remind ourselves of the constancy of our feelings for each other and the
permanence of the promises we made to each other. Furthermore, five years of marriage
seemed like a good time to reread our vows, recognize our triumphs and failures, and
propose to improve. On the other hand, we had finally found a new community of faith that
supported us in our marriage, and we wanted to reaffirm our commitment to each other in
front of them...

Now that we are planning to renew our vows on our 10th wedding anniversary next year, I
want to expand our original promises to include new things that I now consider important
to a good marriage. I have learned a lot about what honor, trust, understanding, and
respect means, and how difficult it can be to keep these promises. So, I'm not going to
eliminate any of these, but rather add: the promise to listen more and argue less; support
the couple in their work, their spiritual life, and community work; talk about your feelings;
set aside time to have fun together... Next time I want to also include promises for our
children.
If you are considering renewing your vows, discuss the importance of this act to you. If you
want to have a ceremony, discuss the type of ceremony you envision. Use the following
checklist as a guide during planning:

1. A reaffirmation ceremony can be either a church service or a picnic. They can

recreate the original ceremony, including the location, music, readings, etc. They
can also create a whole new celebration.
2. Reaffirmation may include a few people, such as old friends, immediate family, or it
may include a larger group of people. They may wish, like Karen Geiger, to
reaffirm their commitment in the presence of new friends, or a new community of
faith.
3. You can repeat the original vows, or write new vows -- depending on what is most
important to you. Review your original vows and ask yourself: Do these include the
promises our marriage is currently based on? Would new vows better express our
feelings?
4. Include special music and readings, either the same ones you used at the wedding,
or some new ones that have now taken on meaning in your relationship.
5. Some couples use the same wardrobe they used at the wedding; others select special
dresses; others wear dresses that they have worn on many occasions. Will it be more
meaningful to wear the same dresses from the original ceremony, or will wearing
different clothes better reflect your reality?
6. While some couples ask the people who participated in their wedding to do so again
at the vow renewal ceremony, there are others who include their children and new
friends. Recognizing the importance of family, many couples with children decide
to include them in some way in the ceremony. It is very emotional to include
children in the processional, or to ask them to share some thoughts during the
ceremony. However, other couples feel it is more appropriate to have no
participants.
7. Some couples hold a reception after the ceremony. Alternatives include an informal
dinner of requesting dishes from some attendees, or a dinner at your favorite
restaurant, among others. Ask yourselves what type of celebration you want after
the ceremony, if you have the budget for it, and who you want to invite.
8. Consider borrowing some of the items you will need so you can keep expenses to a
minimum. Money can be a cause for concern when it is necessary to adjust the
family budget to pay for a celebration. Vow renewals don't have to be expensive.
They can borrow items such as dresses, chairs, tables, cutlery, tablecloths, crockery,
candles, etc. In Chapter 5: How to Plan an Alternative Wedding: Food, Flowers and
Celebrations, you will find other ideas on this subject.
9. If you plan to send invitations, or print the ceremony program, consider including a
wedding photo, or a current photo of your family. This makes the celebration more
personal and serves as a reminder for guests.

(SIDE)

When the Rev. Manuel Rivera and his wife Sheila celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding
anniversary, inviting all the couples in the church to renew their wedding vows with them.
(SIDE)

When we planned our vow renewal ceremony, we didn't have to worry much about flowers,
since the church would be decorated with Easter and Christmas motifs. My grandmother
lent us a candlestick...we placed a small Christmas tree on the gift table...the decorations
consisted of family photographs taken at Christmas celebrations over the years. In one
corner of the room we placed a board with news and clippings about the events that
occurred in the world when we got married.

Michelle DeLoch Harper, Forest Park, Georgia

Ideas for second marriages

More and more weddings celebrate the union of divorced or widowed people. Although
second marriage ceremonies are usually not as extravagant as first marriage ceremonies,
they are equally worth celebrating. These weddings highlight unique and particular
situations that the couple must consider. The following is a list of some topics that we
suggest you discuss:

1. Discuss openly and honestly about the turn you envision will take place in your
lives. Consider any obstacles you may encounter. Talk frankly about your financial
situation and how you will pay for the wedding expenses. This will likely affect the
type of celebration they will hold. Recognize the need to be receptive to new ways
of relating to your partner. Each one brings with them different traditions and
different ways of seeing life. Be ready to commit. Planning the wedding together
will help you lay common ground.
2. If one or both parties have children from their previous marriages, consider how this
new union could affect them. Be prepared to deal with jealousy and resentment.
Keep your sons and daughters informed as soon as possible about your plans to get
married. Talk openly about your feelings and make them feel like they are an
important component of the new family. Allow them to take part in the planning
process and the ceremony itself, whether by parading as part of the bridal party,
preparing any special decorations, having a special participation during the
ceremony, etc. Include a prayer of blessing for the new family. If the children are
young, arrange for someone to watch over them during the ceremony and reception.
3. Decide the type of ceremony you want - religious ceremony, civil ceremony, simple
celebration, traditional, etc. Some couples want a more informal ceremony, so they
choose a chapel, a park, a garden, or a residence. Talk about the importance of this
decision.
4. Consider developing a ceremony that incorporates your shared values and family
traditions. You may want to personalize your vows to reflect the promises you wish
to express. Use special songs and readings.
5. Select the officiant and meet with that person. Some ministers do not marry
divorced people. If this is the case, and you want a religious ceremony, consider
contacting another officiant who will marry you at your church, or find another
church that does not have these restrictions.
 6. Many officiants require the couple to participate in premarital counseling. A
clergyman can help you explore those areas in which you may encounter obstacles.
7. Discuss how many guests you want to have and who they will be. Do you want to
invite children or old relatives? How will they feel about this?
8. Remarriage ceremonies are usually less extravagant. For this reason, most of the
time, couples decide to have a limited number of participants. In most cases only the
two witnesses, although in other cases they may include the participation of
children.
9. Because bridal etiquette books state that it is inappropriate to wear white for second
marriages, many brides wear cream. Others simply ignore the "rule" and wear white
because they consider it important to them. Remarried couples often select simpler
or more casual clothing. Talk about your preferences.

(SIDE)

Since our marriage would be the second for both of us, it was very important for our
children to feel as much a part of the service as we did. Our respective children escorted us
to the altar, and once at the altar, they had words of support and consent. Other members
of both families and friends also expressed their support, and lit candles as a symbol of
their promises.

Janie Howell, Ellenwood, Georgia

Renewing marriage vows can be formal or informal. You can use music or not. It really is
better to have the casual style. But, you must allow those involved to decide. At the same time,
the pastor can encourage married people to have a service like this that can be a great benefit
for the married couple and for the church at the same time, inviting everyone to come!

If it is informal, you can tell the husband to do the following:

“As you begin you can talk a little about yourself; Then, tell us how you met, how long you've
been married, where you're from, and maybe how many cruises you and your wife have been
on, or anything else you'd like to share with us. Feel the freedom to speak.”

If I were the husband I would start by saying: “Here is my wife... “We have been married for so
many years, we have two children and we live in this town.” (For a bit of humor: she has been
very lucky to have me as her husband. People will be happy with a little humor and a little
relaxation. At first they will be a little tense until they realize they can talk and have a quiet
time).

At church you will have two or more couples who will want to renew their vows.

If this is the case (with one or more couples), start by reading a psalm (like Psalm 100 for
example). Ephesians chapter 5 speaking to husbands and wives is another Bible passage you
can use. Then talk about how God blessed Adam and Eve and how God wants to bless us
today. You can also talk about the first miracle Jesus performed at a wedding (John 2); Say
something like: “that was a happy occasion just like we want to have today and one that we
will always remember.”

(Say the word “we” throughout the ceremony if there are two or more couples in the ceremony.)

Say: “Friends, we have gathered together in this place to renew our wedding vows. “Marriage
is an honorable relationship that God established for our well-being and for the good of all
society.”

“The Bible reminds us that God loves us. The Lord has also told us in his Word that we must
love one another just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her (Ephesians 4:25-27).
The only ingredient in life that is above all others and that keeps us together is love. It is what
keeps us together in married life.

Also, in Proverbs 15:7 it tells us that: Better is the food of vegetables where there is love, than of
fattened ox where there is hatred . The power that brings us closer to each other and keeps us
together is love. For this reason it is good that we renew our love for each other.”

I am going to speak to the men who will respond with a “yes”:

Before your wives and before the Lord, do you wish to renew your marriage vows? Do you
promise to love her, encourage her, comfort her in sickness and in health, and be faithful and
honest to her as long as you live? If you promise, say “yes.”

The ladies will say “yes” to the questions I am going to ask:

When you renew your marriage vows to your husband, do you promise to love him,
encourage him, comfort him in sickness and in health, and to be faithful and honest to him as
long as you live? If you promise, say “yes.”

If you have a ring, answer the questions when I ask you to:

The ring is a reminder of a never-ending love that they share for each other. Its circular shape
says that love remains constant and has no end. Your marriage must last as long as you live.
This is the kind of love that makes a marriage never end on its honeymoon.

The wedding ring is made of a precious metal that has the quality of becoming more valuable
over time. Just as the ring does not lose its value, your love will become more valuable with
the passage of time.

The pastor says to the husbands:

“Take your wife's left hand and place the ring on your wife's finger.” Dear wife, I place this ring
on your finger; It is a promise of my continued love and renewal of my vows for you.

Pastor says to wife:

“Take your husband's left hand and place the ring on your husband's finger and repeat…” Dear
husband, I place this ring on your finger; It is a promise of my continued love and renewal of
my vows for you.

Declaration of renewal of marriage vows

The pastor says to the husbands:

Because you have proclaimed your love and your desire to renew your marriage vows to each
other, I once again declare you wife and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit. Amen.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 19:6: So they are no longer two, but one flesh;
Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

Farewell prayer based on Moses' blessing (Numbers 6:24-26):

"Jehovah bless you and keep you. Jehovah make his face shine upon you and have mercy on you;
"Jehovah lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

The kiss of renewal

Husbands can kiss their wives.

Congratulations to each of you and your families. May God bless you greatly.