10yr Vow Renewal

No you cant have a wedding. But you can have a nice big vow renewal.

Do it up! Because you are already married, you don't need an actual officiant to preside over it. Pretty sure that is the only thing that would be different.

My Uncle and Aunt did a 25 yr vow renewal and basically had another wedding. They had the ceremony and reception and all! I say if that's what you want, go for it!!! Their anniversary wedding was beautiful. The only thing that was really different is that she didn't wear a huge wedding dress, she just bought a nice simple short white dress. Also they didn't have the whole bridal party thing either, but they did have a head table where their children sat at with them. It was very nice.

@ Mrs. Drakthal, I can't have the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, & Ring bearer?

You're already married which is why you can't have a "wedding", but you can have a 10 year "vow renewal". It's just labels / technicality. With a "wedding" there is marriage license and legality. With a vow renewal it's just a big ol' party without having to sign any papers except contracts with vendors....

We really want to do it up BIG...at the time we could'nt have the wedding we wanted and know we can so we want the whole shindig

Nay is doing a 10 year renewal too! Hopefully she sees this!

I think it's perfectly fine to do it up big. Nothing wrong with that. If you want a bridesmaids, groomsmen etc. go for it.

Yes, you can have the dress, the bridal party, etc. You can't have the marriage license, but that's the least interesting part of the whole deal anyway, it's like a business contract! You can have a ceremony and say whatever you'd like to each other then throw a giant party. Who doesn't like a good party?!

I think you do anything you like. I was the FG at my parents' renewal when I was 10... Ha, my little brother was in a tux and tails....it was fantastic! Congratulations on 10 years!

A wedding vow renewal IS a wedding in my book. don't let people talk you into downplaying it to anything less than the celebration of your dreams

I say wear what you want, long veil, whatever. the only difference I personally see i that you don't have to worry about legal paperwork since you have already done that part

keep us posted! I'd love to hear about what you are going to wear. have fun!

I was at a vow renewal. The couple had a mass (in church) very similar to a wedding mass. Afterwards they had a big reception dinner at a hotel. They had a dance by themselves and then all their children came out and danced with their spouses. That was it. It was sweet. I am all for vow renewals, but I feel the time for a wedding has gone and passed. To your guests it won't feel the same. A lot of people see them as PPD and as "gift-grabbing". Good luck!

Thank you ALL for your advice! You have been very helpful. I will definitely kepp you posted in the planning of our special day

Where's Nay? Probably working. She's doing a big renewal next year on her tenth anniversary -- like, really doing it up. I'm sure she'll jump on here when she can. She's a sweetheart.

I'm here. Thanks Jet for showing me the link and laudie for mentioning it in another thread. And Centerpiece- Awwww shucks. Thanks . Was running around today. Just logged on to the computer.

Anywho, Hubby and I are renewing our vows for our 10th anniversary next year and we're calling it a "vow renewal" "renewal of vows" whatever term you want to call it. We're doing it up. Vow Renewal ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, first look and formal pictures in the park, we're having our original MOH and BM, booked a second honeymoon to Aruba, having a photo booth. I'm having a dress made, Hubby is having a suit made and we're getting new rings to exchange.

We had a small wedding and it was perfect and our vow renewal started out laid back but then we both got excited and now it's like a wedding format but it's a renewal of vows.

Bottom line: It's you and your husband's day. You do it the way YOU want to.

Happy Planning

You can have anything you want but it is not a WEDDING. It is a VOW RENEWAL!

ETA: In many ways I think Vow Renewals are extra special when someone waits for 10 or 15 or 20 or 30 years. You guys have made it where so many others have failed. Have anything and everything you want and do special things for those who have supported you thru your marriage, for those that have made you laugh, for those that have made you cry, for those that have reminded you why you picked each other!

Have a great time planning that!

@Drakthal, I'm pretty frikkin positive their families know they're married *eye roll*....stop flipping out.

At any rate, it's your money and y'all's day so do what you want. I love reading @Nay 's stuff. Especially that they're having their original attendants ;-) too cool and super sweet!!!

Funny you said that Cheetah2B. I was telling Hubby the other week that someone on here said to make sure that everyone we invited knew it wasn't a "wedding". He cracked up. We're inviting friends and family and they know we are married. It's 9 going on 10 years. Heller!! *Madea voice* lol

And thanks for that shout out. I'm having a BALL planning

@Nay, thanks for your advice! Hubby & I are both excited in our journey to planning our "Vow Renewal". We never had a "real wedding", we exchanged vows at the Justice of the Peace. None of our family or friends were there, except my sister, so we want to make this very special. We too plan on following the tradition wedding format...with all the bells & whistles : )

Congrats on 10 years to you and your hubby as well : )

Good for you Angela. You follow your heart and if you and Hubby are on the same page go for it. You'll get so many ideas and so much support from this site, you'll be surprised. When I first came on I thought it was just about vendors, but I found the Forums and I'm hooked.

And congrats to you as well for all your happy years of marriage. The best is yet to come