While there are many milestones in our lives, vow renewals stand out as a wonderful celebration, reminder and reinforcement for couples. What better way to acknowledge and reaffirm the life's journey you are sharing. Because it is a renewal it is not necessary to hire a "legal" officiate.

Vow renewals are composed similarly to a wedding ceremony. Usually they are shorter in length but the structure is the same: Opening Statements, Vows, perhaps a ring blessing, and closing pronouncement.

A sample from a Vow Renewal ceremony written for Bob and Lisa:
We are gathered together to witness and celebrate the commitment of marriage that Bob and Lisa have chosen to renew. Actually Bob has chosen this event as an opportunity to share with his bride of twenty three years and the "Brady Bunch" family of theirs, how important the love they have together is to him. After talking with Bob I felt that Sophocles stated so clearly what is in Bob's heart: "One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. That word is love."

It is with great honor that I join Bob and Lisa, their children, Michael, David, in welcoming everyone to this ceremony of renewal.

Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between you. Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between two human beings. It is the construction of your love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life, it is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention since no earthly happiness exceeds that of a reciprocal satisfaction in the marital state.

When marriage vows are renewed, it is an announcement to the world and to each other that the love which was brought to the wedding day twenty three years ago has grown deeper through the years.

In this particular situation it is also a recognition of the power love has. Bob has expressed to me how this is his way of letting you Lisa know, how much love and gratitude he feels for your love and devotion that has sustained all of you through the difficulties of Bob's illnesses. The love you share now has grown deeper with the passing of each day and Bob is taking this opportunity to show you in all ways possible what this means to him.

The vows which you are about to make are as sacred as any that can be made, all the more now because after twenty three years together you have a deeper understanding and appreciation of what I am about to ask.

Bob, do you of your own free will and consent continue to choose Lisa as your wife, to live with in the state of matrimony? Will you continue to love her, comfort her, honor her, keep her in sickness and in health, and keep to her forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

Lisa, do you of your own free will and consent continue to choose Bob as your husband, to live with in the state of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him, keep him in sickness and in health, and keep to him forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

May I have the rings please? You are my love and my life. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you and my commitment to you throughout our lives.

These rings are not tokens; they are symbols of the faith, trust and love you hold for each other. May these feelings you share for one another always be held within the circle of the ring. May these halos on your fingers remind you of the shared peace, joy and ever growing love.

May the Lord bless thee and keep thee.
May the Lord make his countenance to shine upon thee                           and be gracious unto thee.
May the Lord turn his countenance unto thee and give thee peace.
May the love you two have celebrated here in the presence of your family and friends, continue to grown in understanding and compassion, with love and devotion. It is with great joy I announce to all present that you truly are husband and wife, now and forever.