Renewals|Reaffirmations|Second Chances
404

Wedding Ceremony - Marriage Vow Renewals

404

This is an even more important moment than it was the first time around. After surviving twenty-five years of marriage together, there's much more that you'll want to say. It would be inappropriate to fill your names in the blanks of someone else's pledge; you're here on this day to tell each other what you loved most about these last few years as husband and wife, what marriage meant to you then, and what it means to you now, and what vows you would like to make, change, or work on. You can't just find these words in a Hallmark card or on a random web site.

You can use this moment of reaffirmation to talk about some of the harder parts of your marriage, maybe even things that are still unresolved that you vow to work on for the remainder of your lives. You can take more liberties with these wedding vows, being entirely honest and insightful about the past, present, and future together as man and wife.

If you're going to take the time to renew your wedding vows, don't just recite the standard mantra - make the moment worthwhile by writing authentic pledges.

Being genuine will mean much more to you and your spouse than saying, “these years have been perfect and I wouldn't have changed a thing.” Chances are, both of you made a few mistakes and had quarrels you wish you could have avoided. No relationship is perfect, and you shouldn't talk about it as though it were. The simple fact that you both were willing and able to fight through those hard times is what makes what you have so special. You should acknowledge these aspects to your marriage in addition to the wonderful moments.

Nobody can tell you what to write, only that you do so from the heart. Below is an example of a marriage vow renewal, perhaps it will lend some inspiration.

Our marriage has been an exciting, and at times unpredictable, journey, filled with many tears, smiles, and laughter. Every single day, I thank God for bringing you into my life all of those years back, and for giving us both the strength to fight for our relationship, even when times were difficult. I've grown closer and fonder of you than I ever thought possible, loving you more tenderly and more dearly with every passing moment. We've already spent twenty years of our life together, and I'm looking forward to the next fifty. There is so much more to learn, so many more adventures to experience, and a million more kisses to exchange. I dedicate the rest of my life with you, with a promise to always love, cherish, and take care of you.

This is just one of many possibilities for your vow renewals. Take your time to jot down what marriage has been for you these past few decades - things you loved, things you wished you could have done differently, perhaps even the joy of having children together. At this point there's probably one or two additions to your family unit, and including them in the renewals is always a nice touch. Sometimes two people can only really get to know one another when they experience the trials and tribulations of parenthood with one another.