I had the pleasure of assisting with a Vow Renewal this past weekend. It was absolutely beautiful…the ceremony was very touching and emotional. As much as a wedding is reason to celebrate, renewing your vows to your spouse is just as much, if not more, of a reason to celebrate.
~Photo courtesy of www.lovetripper.com
However, as nice as it is to have a party that will be much like a wedding, there are a few things you should avoid:
1) Do not invite EVERYONE from your first wedding. There are many people who have touched your lives but it should be an intimate setting with those closest to you.
2) Do not register for gifts. You should be showered with everyone’s love and presence, not gifts. You have established and settled your lives together and should not need material or monetary assistance.
3) It is not necessary to have a bridal party. This avoids giving someone responsibilities in helping with the planning of the event. If you do choose to have one, keep it small.
4) Do not have bachelor/bachelorette parties…pretty self-explanatory!
As a guest, it is not necessary to provide cash, however this is a personal decision.
Here is a quick reminder of Annual Anniversary gifts/symbols:
FIRST YEAR: Paper or Plastic/Clock
SECOND YEAR: Cotton or China
THIRD YEAR: Leather or Crystal/Glass
FOURTH YEAR: Flowers or Linen/Silk
FIFTH YEAR: Wood or Silverware
TENTH YEAR: Tin or Aluminum
TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR: Silver
FIFTIETH YEAR: Gold
Marriage is not always easy and anniversaries are definitely a joyous occasion that deserve to be recognized.
