Vow Renewal Option 1~ Traditional Religious
Greeting:
We gather here today, in the presence of God, family and friends to recognize and renew the marriage vows that _____ and ___ have originally taken in _____
Often times a renewal of marriage vows is more profound than the vows originally taken on your wedding day.
For you come here knowing that a successful marriage comes with its own unique obligations and responsibilities.
No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than the vows of marriage.
It has been written that “Marriage is a bonding of strangers made beautifully familiar through the gift of time and the miracle of love”.
Marriage brings two people together not only in the present, but in the presence of their past, of the lives they have led-the choices they have made, the lessons that have shaped and reshaped the chambers of their hearts. Thus, to be renewing your vows of marriage is different than simply to be marrying.
_____ and ___ through the triumphs and trials of life, you have found the strength in your love and commitment to each other to endure and to enjoy all that has come your way.
Today you come before God and before us to publicly affirm your love; to promise to continue to nurture yourselves, each other, and this union; and to acknowledge its centrality in your lives.
We ask for God’s blessing on your marriage as we look to the future.
(****If you would like, this is a good place to add a special thank you to friends and family for sharing this happiest of days with you and a prayer or acknowledgment of loved ones no longer physically with us, but here in spirit. Perhaps you would like to add something personal. Let me know & I will provide you with wording options***)
Invocation (this is the beginning prayer to “invoke” or ask god to be present and bless this service)
Officiant:
Let us pray:
God, for the joy of this occasion we thank you. For the meaning of this day we thank you. For this important moment in an ever growing relationship we thank you. For your presence here and now and for your presence at all times, we thank you.
Amen
Charge to the husband and wife (The charge is addressed to the husband and wife. It is a preparation for the vows you are about to take).
Good relationships never stop growing. Like fine wine, they get better with age. _____ &_____, you have been married now for ___ years, and through all the years of your journey together you have now come to this beautiful setting so that you could renew your vows and commitment of love for each other.
As you continue on your journey together, I ask you to remember this advice:
Let your love be stronger than your anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break.
Believe the best of your beloved rather than the worse.
Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it.
Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.
Give your spouse the same courtesies and kindness you bestow upon your friends.
Say I love you every day.
_____&_____, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift, a lifelong dedication to love and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely.
With this understanding, do you (groom) continue to take (bride) as your beloved wife? Will you continue to be a tender and faithful husband?
Will you continue to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and keep yourself solely unto her?
Groom: “I will”
With this understanding, do you (bride) continue to take (groom) as your beloved husband?
Will you continue to be a tender and faithful wife?
Will you continue to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and keep yourself solely unto him?
Bride “I will”
Officiant:
Let us pray:
God, for the joy of this occasion we thank you. For the meaning of this day we thank you. For this important moment in an ever growing relationship we thank you. For your presence here and now and for your presence at all times, we thank you.
Amen
Charge to the husband and wife (The charge is addressed to the husband and wife. It is a preparation for the vows you are about to take).
Good relationships never stop growing. Like fine wine, they get better with age. _____ &_____, you have been married now for ___ years, and through all the years of your journey together you have now come to this beautiful setting so that you could renew your vows and commitment of love for each other.
As you continue on your journey together, I ask you to remember this advice:
Let your love be stronger than your anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break.
Believe the best of your beloved rather than the worse.
Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it.
Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.
Give your spouse the same courtesies and kindness you bestow upon your friends.
Say I love you every day.
_____&_____, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift, a lifelong dedication to love and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely.
With this understanding, do you (groom) continue to take (bride) as your beloved wife? Will you continue to be a tender and faithful husband?
Will you continue to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and keep yourself solely unto her?
Groom: “I will”
With this understanding, do you (bride) continue to take (groom) as your beloved husband?
Will you continue to be a tender and faithful wife?
Will you continue to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and keep yourself solely unto him?
Bride “I will”
Vows:
Officiant:
Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.
(Husband)
(Name), you are my heart, my best friend, my life. Today before family and friends, I renew my commitment to you. I promise to love and cherish you, respect you and grow with you for all the days of our lives. This is my solemn vow.
(Wife)
(Name), you are my heart, my best friend, my life. Today before family and friends, I renew my commitment to you. I promise to love and cherish you, respect you and grow with you for all the days of our lives. This is my solemn vow.
Exchange of rings
Officiant:
_____ & _____ have rings as the outward symbols of your ongoing commitment to each other.
From earliest times, the ring has been a symbol of wedded love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment to love that is also never ending.
(Groom), hold (bride's) hand, touch her ring, symbolically giving it to her again, and say to her these words.
From this day on, I recommit myself to you, and this ring is a symbol of my pledge.
(Bride), hold (groom’s) hand, touch his ring, symbolically giving it to him again, and say to him these words.
From this day on, I recommit myself to you, and this ring is a symbol of my pledge.
Officiant:
Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.
Officiant:
Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.
(Husband)
(Name), you are my heart, my best friend, my life. Today before family and friends, I renew my commitment to you. I promise to love and cherish you, respect you and grow with you for all the days of our lives. This is my solemn vow.
(Wife)
(Name), you are my heart, my best friend, my life. Today before family and friends, I renew my commitment to you. I promise to love and cherish you, respect you and grow with you for all the days of our lives. This is my solemn vow.
Exchange of rings
Officiant:
_____ & _____ have rings as the outward symbols of your ongoing commitment to each other.
From earliest times, the ring has been a symbol of wedded love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment to love that is also never ending.
(Groom), hold (bride's) hand, touch her ring, symbolically giving it to her again, and say to her these words.
From this day on, I recommit myself to you, and this ring is a symbol of my pledge.
(Bride), hold (groom’s) hand, touch his ring, symbolically giving it to him again, and say to him these words.
From this day on, I recommit myself to you, and this ring is a symbol of my pledge.
Officiant:
Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.
Reading:
(Read by officiant or other guest. Choose this poem or a poem/reading from my collection or a favorite of your own)
Reading from "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" (Louis de Bernières 1994 novel, 2001 film). I love this one:
Love is a temporary madness,
it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.
And when it subsides you have to make a decision.
You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together
that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.
Because this is what love is.
Love is not breathlessness,
it is not excitement,
it is not the promulgation of eternal passion.
That is just being "in love" which any fool can do.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away,
and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.
Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground,
and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches,
they find that they are one tree and not two.
(****If you would like, this is a good place to add a poem, or reading by myself, or maybe a family member or friend. This is also a good place to include an acknowledgment of children, or even an add on ceremony, such as a sand ceremony, unity candle, rose or wine ceremony. Take a look at my collection of poems and readings on my website. I am happy to provide you with additional wording options if you like, just let me know***)
(Read by officiant or other guest. Choose this poem or a poem/reading from my collection or a favorite of your own)
Reading from "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" (Louis de Bernières 1994 novel, 2001 film). I love this one:
Love is a temporary madness,
it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.
And when it subsides you have to make a decision.
You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together
that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.
Because this is what love is.
Love is not breathlessness,
it is not excitement,
it is not the promulgation of eternal passion.
That is just being "in love" which any fool can do.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away,
and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.
Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground,
and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches,
they find that they are one tree and not two.
(****If you would like, this is a good place to add a poem, or reading by myself, or maybe a family member or friend. This is also a good place to include an acknowledgment of children, or even an add on ceremony, such as a sand ceremony, unity candle, rose or wine ceremony. Take a look at my collection of poems and readings on my website. I am happy to provide you with additional wording options if you like, just let me know***)
Prayer:
Officiant: Let us say a prayer of blessing upon this marriage
Officiant:
Most gracious God, you have kindled in these hearts the fire of a divine love. Will you keep it aflame upon the alter of their souls. Will you make the inward aspirations of their hearts the outward reality of their home. Will you make that home a place of light and truth, a place of beauty, a place of joy and happiness all the days of their lives. Amen.
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
Inasmuch as you__________, and you __________, have reaffirmed your commitment in holy matrimony and have witnessed the same before God and these friends, it is my honor to recognize your recommitment to one another as husband and wife. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
You may kiss the Bride
Benediction- It brings ceremony to an end. It is another blessing.
Blessing:
Officiant:
May the sun bring you new energy by day.
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away your worries.
And may you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, once again as husband and wife: Mr. & Mrs. ________________
Officiant: Let us say a prayer of blessing upon this marriage
Officiant:
Most gracious God, you have kindled in these hearts the fire of a divine love. Will you keep it aflame upon the alter of their souls. Will you make the inward aspirations of their hearts the outward reality of their home. Will you make that home a place of light and truth, a place of beauty, a place of joy and happiness all the days of their lives. Amen.
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
Inasmuch as you__________, and you __________, have reaffirmed your commitment in holy matrimony and have witnessed the same before God and these friends, it is my honor to recognize your recommitment to one another as husband and wife. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
You may kiss the Bride
Benediction- It brings ceremony to an end. It is another blessing.
Blessing:
Officiant:
May the sun bring you new energy by day.
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away your worries.
And may you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, once again as husband and wife: Mr. & Mrs. ________________
