Fun Ideas to Include in Your Vow Renewal Ceremony
A vow renewal ceremony is a celebration of your journey as a couple. And while it’s often heartfelt, it doesn’t need to be overly formal. Many couples use the opportunity to add fun, creativity, and rituals that symbolise their life together—sometimes even more than they did on their wedding day.
Here are some of my favourite ideas for fun activities and symbolic rituals to make your vow renewal personal and memorable.
1. Involve Your Children (or Grandchildren)
Invite children to join in by walking you down the aisle, reading a poem, or even acting as “mini celebrants.” I’ve also seen kids playfully “give their parents away”—cue laughter and applause.
2. Write New Vows with Humour
Instead of repeating your wedding vows word-for-word, why not refresh them? Promise to keep making each other coffee, to always share dessert, or to sit through each other’s questionable Netflix picks. The more personal, the better.
3. Symbolic Rituals for Vow Renewals
Handfasting — A timeless ritual where hands are bound with ribbon or fabric, symbolising being tied together all over again.
Sand Ceremony — Blend different colours of sand (perhaps with children adding their own), representing lives joined together.
Unity Candle — Relight a candle from your wedding day, or combine flames from two candles into one.
Wine Box Ceremony — Place letters to each other in a box with a bottle of wine to be opened on a future anniversary.
Tree Planting — Plant a tree together to grow alongside your marriage, a living reminder of your journey.
Ring Exchange (or Re-Blessing) — Re-dedicate your wedding rings or exchange new ones to symbolise this stage of your relationship.
Stone Ceremony — Guests hold and bless stones with good wishes, which you then keep in a vase or garden.
Memory Capsule — Collect notes, photos, or small mementos from guests and seal them to open on your next milestone anniversary.
Ribbon Ceremony — Invite friends or family to tie ribbons around your joined hands, each ribbon representing a value or wish (love, patience, joy).
Dove or Butterfly Release — A symbolic act of hope and renewal (check with local rules, and always choose ethical options).
Music Ritual — Choose a song that has defined your relationship, have it performed live, or dance down the aisle to it together.
Circle of Love — Invite your guests to form a circle around you during your vows, symbolising the support of your community.
Water Ceremony — Combine water from different places that hold meaning to you both (e.g. hometowns, favourite beaches).
4. Storytelling & Photo Sharing
Revisit your wedding day with photos or slideshows, or share highlights of your journey so far. Guests love seeing the story told out loud.
5. Get Guests Involved
Invite friends and family to contribute by writing memories, advice, or blessings to be read aloud or sealed into a keepsake box. It’s a beautiful way to include the people who’ve walked the journey with you.
The Best Part?
Unlike weddings, vow renewals have no strict rules. They’re not legal ceremonies—they’re purely symbolic. That freedom means you can be creative, playful, heartfelt, or a mix of all three. As a vow renewal celebrant, I’ll help you choose rituals that feel meaningful to you, and make sure they flow seamlessly into the ceremony.
Time to Say “I Still Do”?
Vow renewals aren’t about re-doing your wedding. They’re about celebrating the years you’ve shared and the adventures still to come. Whether it’s ten years, twenty, or “we’ve lost count,” I’ll help you create a ceremony that feels personal, heartfelt, and very much you.