Hitch'n Post Weddings and More
Renewal of Vows
Welcome & Opening:
Good relationships never stop growing. Like fine wine, they get better with age. ____________ and _______________, you have now been married _______ years and through all the years of your journey together, you have now come to this beautiful setting, so that you could renew your vow and commitment of love for each other.
No marriage is perfect. As you continue in this union, you already know that it will continue to take a lot of love and work to keep your relationship an ongoing success.
Many couples tend to think of marriage as a 50/50 proposition. Actually, the best relationships are 90/10. If you both will give 90 percent and take only 10 percent, you will have a formula likely to continue to bring both of you happiness for a lifetime.
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 worst.
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 kindnesses you bestow on your friends.
Say "I love you" every day.
You may wish to add a reading or song here.
Vows:
_____________ and ______________, 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 __________, continue to take _____________ as your beloved wife?
Will you continue to be a tender, faithful husband?
Will you continue to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto her?
With this understanding, do you _____________, continue to take ____________ as your beloved husband?
Will you continue to be a tender, faithful wife?
Will you continue to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto him?
You may wish to add a reading or song here.
Rings:
____________ and ____________ 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.
____________, hold ____________'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.
_____________, hold ____________'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.
Let these rings serve as the symbol of your continued love and commitment to each other and may they also serve as a sign of your continued happiness and joy.
Closing:
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.
Pronouncement:
____________ and ____________, having witnessed your vows of affirmation with all who are assembled here, and by the authority of love itself, I do affirm that you have expressed your desire to continue as husband and wife.
Kiss:
You may seal your vows, and confirm your continued commitment and love for each other, with a kiss.
Presentation:
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, once again as husband and wife: ____________ and ____________.
Traditional
[Husband and Wife], it is a pleasure to share today’s wonderful occasion with you.
Many people believe that entering into marriage is the final step in a romantic relationship. A couple meets, get to know one another and fall in love, decide they want to spend their lives together, and then take the final step—marriage.
But marriage is hardly the final step in a couple’s relationship, rather it is the beginning of a grand adventure!
You have shared the joys, blessings and challenges of married life for _______ years. Today you want to reconfirm your commitment to working together and ensuring your marriage blossoms for years to come. May this renewing of the vows you took to become husband and wife remind you that despite the stresses inevitable in every life, your love, respect, trust and understanding of each other will continue to increase your contentment and heighten your joy in living.
Please join hands.
[Husband], will you continue to have [Wife] as your wife and continue to live in this marriage? (I WILL)
Do you reaffirm your love to her, and will you love, honor and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? (I DO)
[Wife], will you continue to have [Husband] as your husband and continue to live in this marriage? (I WILL)
Do you reaffirm your love for him, and will you love, honor and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? (I DO)
On your wedding day you exchanged rings as a symbol of the never-ending circle of love. Rings serve as a reminder of your vows to each other, and your commitment to live in unity, love and happiness. At this time, reconfirm the meaning of the rings you wear.
Please join your left hands together so that [Husband’s] hand is on top. [Husband], please repeat after me…………………
[Wife], I wear this ring you placed on my hand————- as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.
Now, with [Wife’s] hand on top, [Wife] please repeat after me:
[Husband], I wear this ring you placed on my hand——–as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.
I ask that you each continue to cherish each other as special and unique individuals and that you respect the thoughts and ideas of one another. And most of all, be able to forgive each other, and not hold grudges against. Live each day in love with each other, always being there to give love, comfort, and refuge, in good times and bad.
[Husband and Wife], today you have renewed the vows you made to each other on your blessed wedding day. You have symbolized the renewal of your union by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and by the wearing of your rings.
It is with pleasure that I conclude the ceremony of renewing the vows of marriage that joined you and binds you as husband and wife. Please celebrate this renewal of vows with a kiss!
Secular
[Bride and groom], When you first joined in marriage ___ years ago, you did not know what life would bring you.
You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through it all. And while life has brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult challenges over the years, here you are today, having fulfilled the vows to love, honor and cherish each other. And God is smiling on you!
As you celebrate your renewed commitment here today, and as you reflect on your life together as husband and wife, do you now wish to reaffirm the vows you took ___ years ago?
WE DO
Please face each other and join hands.
Renewal of Vows Ceremony
[Groom], will you continue to have [Bride] as your wife and continue to live in this happy, loving marriage?
Groom: I WILL
Do you reaffirm your love for her, and will you love, honor and cherish your wife in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?
Groom: I DO
[Bride], will you continue to have [Groom] as your husband and continue to live in this happy, loving marriage?
Bride: I WILL
Do you reaffirm your love for him, and will you love, honor and cherish your husband in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him for as long as you both shall live?
Bride: I DO
(insert optional reading here)
Exchanges of Rings
[Bride and Groom], on your wedding day many years ago you exchanged rings as a symbol of the never-ending circle that connects you to the eternal quality of God, unending strength, and unending love!
May you always wear your rings as a reminder of your vows to one another, and your commitment to continue to live in unity, love and happiness. To remind you of this commitment, you will now renew your vows.
[Groom], please place the ring on [Bride’s] hand and say the words, “With this ring I renew my pledge of love and commitment.”
[Bride], please place the ring on [Groom’s] hand with the words, “With this ring I renew my pledge of love and commitment.”
Reading and Blessing of Couples
Marriage is a commitment to care for one another in mutually-fulfilling ways. It is not an act but rather a life-long relationship that’s always evolving.
Marriage enriches every part of life.
Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, and even anger is felt more strongly. However, it passes away more quickly.
Marriage understands and forgives mistakes. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love.
When two people pledge their love and care for each other in this way, they create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer than any words, whether written or spoken.
Marriage is the promise made in the hearts of two people who love each other. The potential of marriage takes a lifetime to fulfill.
Optional Sections
[Bride and groom] have expressed how blessed they are to have enjoyed ___ years of marriage. Their greatest wish is that everyone here today be a part of this special ceremony celebrating love and marriage. We would like all married couples to please rise and stand with their spouses.
At this time, we offer a special blessing upon all married couples celebrating with [Bride and Groom] here today.
May they be blessed with the guidance, strength and direction to make their relationship grow and blossom in the years ahead. May their home be blessed with joy and happiness, and may they strive together to make their hopes and dreams come true.
Most of all, we ask that all couples be blessed by the love and support of family and friends as they continue life together as husband and wife.
And, from this day forth, may their worries be few, may their joys be many, and may their love grow more abundantly with each passing day. Amen.
Optional involvement of children:
One of the great blessings of marriage is the joy and responsibility of raising a family. [Bride and Groom] have truly been blessed to be the parents of _______(and) _______
As [Bride and Groom] renew their vows today, they also renew their commitment to be loving, caring parents to _______(and)__________, recognizing with gratefulness the the happiness and fulfillment that ________(and)____________ (has, have) brought to their marriage and family life.
Pronouncement
[Bride and Groom], today you have renewed the vows you made to each other on your wedding day. You have symbolized this renewal by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and the exchanging of rings.
It is with great pleasure that I conclude the ceremony of renewing your vows of marriage. Please celebrate this renewal of vows with a sign of affection….you may now kiss!