Why Do Couples Renew Their Vows?
Yes, again, you, still you.
Since 2013 I’ve been standing at the front of rooms watching people choose each other again – it never gets old. As a nurse for thirty years I thought I understood people pretty well. Vow renewals taught me something new. There is something quietly extraordinary about a couple who has done the hard yards of a real marriage and who turns around and says – yes, again, you, still you.
So why do people do it?
The reasons are as varied as the couples themselves.
Some waited for a milestone – a 10th anniversary, a 25th, a 50th – wanted to mark it with more than a dinner out. Some went through something difficult – loss, a season that tested them – and came out the other side wanting to acknowledge what they’d survived together. Some married young and simply, and now have the means and the people around them to celebrate properly.
Some, and this one stays with me, do it because the children weren’t there the first time. Blended families, children born after the wedding, grown kids who were too young to remember – a renewal gives the whole family a moment to witness and be part of something.
One man takes his wife away every single anniversary and they make new promises to each other. They acknowledge that they’re always changing as individuals and they want to stay connected as they do. I thought that was one of the loveliest things I’d ever heard.
What about me and John?
My husband John is my partner in crime and my biggest supporter. He keeps me grounded, makes me laugh, and reminds me regularly how lucky I am. We’ve been married for many years now – years that have included the chaos of raising two daughters, the demands of two demanding careers, and all the ordinary extraordinary stuff that makes up a life together.
Would I renew our vows? Honestly, yes. I think about what I’d say now that I couldn’t have known to say then. I’d want our girls there too. I’d want to say it out loud, in front of the people who’ve watched us do this, that I’d choose him again without hesitation.
That’s what a vow renewal is really for. Not because anything is wrong. Because something is very right – and it deserves to be said.
What does a vow renewal at Marriage Office Mandurah look like?
There are no legal requirements for a vow renewal – no paperwork, no NOIM, no witnesses required by law. It’s simply a ceremony. Which means it can be exactly what you want it to be.
At Marriage Office Mandurah, vow renewals follow the same format as a full traditional ceremony on a small and intimate level – the Serenity Room, the aisle, the barn doors, the styling that’s already done for you. You can have just the two of you, or fill the room with everyone who matters. Children, grandchildren, the friends who were at the original wedding, the ones who’ve joined your life since.
It’s one of the most joyful ceremonies I get to officiate. No nerves, no logistics stress – just two people who already know exactly what they’re doing.
If you’re thinking about it, get in touch. I’d love to hear your story.
