Ceremony vow renewal options?

Is it a surprise for guests or the groom? I don’t think anything is required for the officiant since you’re legally married.

View Quoted Comment More as a surprise for groom

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Wow, that would be a big surprise! Are you certain your husband would appreciate a vow renewal AND a surprise?

As far as how to do it, there really aren't any rules, since it's not a legal ceremony. You can hire an officiant if you want a professional to prepare and orchestrate the ceremony. Or you could ask a friend to do it and find a script online. Then, I guess you would plan a party and invite guests in secret, and figure out a cover story to get your husband to dress up and arrive on time.

I agree, you are the only one who knows if he’d like this - if he loves surprises and you’ve even casually discussed a renewal I say go for it!
As far as logistics, I’d plan it as a normal surprise party. Would your guests be aware? It’d probably be difficult to surprise both your guests and husband.

You really need to make sure he is ok with this. Not many people would appreciate this as a surprise. Just have a friend officiate since there is nothing legal to deal with.

I would think you could have anyone officiate it since you're already legally married

View Quoted Comment Sorta a surprise for us &kids family, party maybe with vows too, 25years ago was just courthouse wedding . wanti

Oops. wanting to purpose a marry me/us again.. with the party . maybe tell him the plan as it approaching.. we had our ups and downs throughout. courthouse wedding just us with not much but paper, rings, & a pic .. something to remember 25th celebration to commiserate our wedding day.

Well you don’t need a licensed officiant since there are no legal requirements.


I think it would be fun as a guest to be surprised - thinking I’m coming to a party and it be a vow renewal. As a participant? I’d cry and run. Thankfully my FH knows me well enough so no fear of that happening.

View Quoted Comment No other guests really, just us & kids family . but plan everything else just hubby to surprise but unsure on vows part .

View Quoted Comment Well he won’t have time to prepare vows, right? So maybe just the traditional. He may feel quite put on the spot as it is, so adding pressure for personal vows may be a lot.
Do you mind if I ask why it’s a surprise? Does he generally like surprises?

View Quoted Comment I'm usually the party planner/decorator. I think for our 25 year I'd want us a food & drinks dances day with just me him & kids (all grown) would like a do over from not celebrating . sorta like a do over marry me again type but with him only as short .

View Quoted Comment But why a surprise? Vow renewals are fun.
Of course you know him and I don’t, I can’t even imagine being OK with this sort of surprise.

I think that would be cute. As for everyone saying why a surprise? If you've been with your husband for 25 years then I think you would know him and know whether he would be okay with it or not. If you think he wouldn't mind being "put on the spot" then go for it! You could always do the traditional repeat after me vows anyways.

I am surprising my parents in the middle of my ceremony with a vow renewal for them. so right after we say our vows to each other the minister will call up our parents for what they think will be a family blessing but will be their surprise renewal.

View Quoted Comment Awww... how will the vow part go?

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The way its set up right now is for FH and I will doo personal vows and then after those vows there typically is a family prayer in which they bring up the parents to put their hands on the bride and grooms shoulders and repeat a prayer but instead of the prayer my FH and i are going to step aside and bring the sets of parents in our spots and the minister is going to tell them that we wanted to show our respect and honor them by giving them a vow renewal and he will go thought the vow renew process and then we will all join hands and he will read my FH and my marriage vows which we will repeat and then we will all say I Do or I Do again together and then kisses.

View Quoted Comment Super sweet

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I would certainly hope they know each other well enough by now! But since this particular poster has been asking questions about vow renewals on this site for 9 years, I think it's safe to say they are hesitant to "pull the trigger" for a reason.

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Yeah I haven't followed anyone on here for 9 years so I wouldn't know that.