Some individuals may have experienced the wedding of their dreams, while others might have regrets and wish they could have done certain things differently. Others may have gone through a rough patch in their marriage and come out stronger and better on the other side, as an intact couple. Whatever the reason or however successful your wedding was, an anniversary celebration or recommitment ceremony can offer you the chance to fulfill or live out some of those unrealized expectations.
Larger celebrations tend to be held on landmark anniversaries–most often the 10th, 25th, and 50th wedding anniversaries.
Now that you’re a little older, a little wiser, possibly not as dependent on the opinions of others, and your style has developed, you might be ready for your anniversary celebration to shine, so you can fulfill those unmet desires.
Here are the essential aspects of an anniversary celebration or recommitment ceremony.
The Location
One of the most reassuring aspects of a vow renewal or recommitment ceremony is that you are already married. Because that’s the case, you are not reliant on the laws to control the location of the event.
This means you can choose to hold it wherever you like. When you got married the first time, you had to make sure you had the correct legal and binding paperwork for marriage, and you also had to retain a legal officiant, but this is no longer the case.
You are also not bound by the need for witnesses, so your renewal can be as big or as intimate as you want.
Due to these legal differences, some people opt for a more exciting venue for their second time around. Some couples choose a hot air balloon, a helicopter ride, or scuba diving; others travel to museums and renew their vows under a famous work of art, or a painting or sculpture that has particularly personal significance.
For some couples, more traditional locations are ideal. Others choose to have their vow renewal in their backyard, where many memories have been made already.
Further traditional spots include the beach, parks, hotels, or possibly even the same location as the original wedding vows. Whatever the place, whether traditional or unorthodox; surrounded by all your family and friends, or just the two of you together . . . your vow renewal is all about your commitment to each other, and less about the joining of two people/families.
Given this slight difference in mindset, your perspective may change, which allows you to be freer with your location choice.
The Ring
Another potentially challenging task to prepare for a recommitment ceremony to mark a memorable anniversary is to find a companion piece or upgrade for the original ring. Often, couples are just starting in their careers when they get married, which may limit the scope of their ring choices.
Just as you might have been somewhat limited in your options for a venue or location, sometimes you could be limited in your choice of rings. If you look at different anniversary rings, you might discover a new, beautiful design that either complements and adds to your existing ring or might serve to replace it altogether.
Anniversary rings can also be stand-alone pieces you may wear to commemorate the successes of your marriage.
Involvement of Children
A potentially beautiful aspect of celebrating your anniversary after you have been married for a while is to involve your children in your vow renewal. This enables you to share your love with your kids and show them the beauty a good marriage can bring to life.
It’s worthwhile to involve children and can be a good teaching tool to demonstrate the value of family. Some ways you can involve your children are through the roles that your friends originally filled.
Use your kids as bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, or ring bearers, and encourage them to offer toasts and comments, which will give them the opportunity to feel fully included. It also encourages them to reflect on the importance of families and marriage and should exhibit the beauty your relationship has brought to their personal lives.
Conclusion
Observing a wedding anniversary is always a lovely exercise, and it can only be amplified with a recommitment ceremony or vow renewal.
Once you’ve recognized there are fewer limits to your celebration and more rewards, planning for and celebrating your anniversary can be a joy that the family will remember for years to come.
