02 Feb Orla’s Dream Vow Renewal
Maybe it’s time to renew our vows!
Newlyweds
My brother Mark and his wife Lisa are newlyweds. After 17 years of living a married couples’ life together, and 50 years each on this Earth, they celebrated their special day, their wedding day, one week before Christmas. And we’re simply bursting with the romance of it all ever since.
“Why knot”
It has got me thinking about renewing my wedding vows, about the possibility of Mike and I planning and enjoying a vow renewal ceremony in the future. We could time it around a milestone anniversary perhaps. What a cool way to commemorate our wedding anniversary. And after this past year, why not? Or should I say ‘why knot’?!
Who would officiate?
Because there are no legal implications, as in it is not a legally binding ceremony, it means that anyone can officiate a vow renewal ceremony. I think I’m covered in that department, working with Celebrants like Clara and Susan! And because a vow renewal ceremony is not meant to be a second wedding, there is freedom to wear something elegant and comfortable, just definitely not a wedding dress!
‘I’ve been loving you a long time, down all the years, down all the days,
And I’ve cried for all your troubles, smiled at your funny little ways’ The Pogues
Putting our own stamp on the ceremony
I would love to incorporate a handfasting vow renewal, and in the company of our family members and close friends, declare our gratitude for all that we have accomplished during our marriage.
We could use our wedding rings as our vow renewal rings, perhaps getting them engraved with a special message, to honour our love and commitment. I’d relish the chance to design a vow renewal script with Mike and our Celebrant, to plan our music, to write and share our vows to one another from a more mature perspective, a love deepened perspective, and to include our children in celebrating this most personalised and intimate gathering.
In terms of a venue, I would ideally love to be close to the sea, and I would soak up the company of my husband, our children, our family and our close friends. We would revel in the chance to salute our marriage in the company of our guests, to recall the soundtrack of our lives and together, to marvel at the simple pleasures and the treasure that it is to be a family.
Now what’s not to love?
Orla xx
To find out more about the vow renewals we have officiated you can read all about them here