Our guide to Vow Renewal ceremonies

Need inspiration for a vow renewal? You’ve found it.

Includes our Vow Renewal Checklist

From David and Victoria Beckham to Beyoncé and Jay-Z, celebrity couples are proving that vow renewals aren’t just for golden anniversaries anymore. Once reserved for couples celebrating 25, 40, or 50 years together, today’s renewals are happening much sooner—in fact, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz restated their vows just three years after their wedding.

At My Tiny Exmoor Wedding, we see couples choosing to renew their vows for many reasons: celebrating a milestone, honouring a love that has weathered challenges, or simply creating the wedding they wish they’d had the first time around. Some began their marriage with a quiet registry office ceremony and now want something more personal and scenic. Others started with a big, formal wedding and now crave an intimate moment shared only with their closest friends and family.

To help you plan a meaningful and memorable ceremony, our founder, Lucy Green, spoke with our dedicated celebrant Pamela Woodford, who has officiated almost 500 weddings and vow renewals in her long and colourful career.

Why couples choose a Vow Renewal

Pamela has seen vow renewals for all sorts of reasons:

To mark a special anniversary or life milestone
After overcoming a challenge such as illness or time apart
As a surprise for a partner
To share the moment with children or grandchildren
To celebrate in a favourite location you didn’t choose the first time

“A vow renewal is about reflecting on your journey together, celebrating it, and reaffirming your commitment for the years ahead,” Pamela explains. “It’s also a chance to tell your story in a way that’s meaningful to you now—not just who you were when you first married.”

Pamela has seen vow renewals for all sorts of reasons:

To mark a special anniversary or life milestone
After overcoming a challenge such as illness or time apart
As a surprise for a partner
To share the moment with children or grandchildren
To celebrate in a favourite location you didn’t choose the first time

Creating your renewal ceremony

A vow renewal can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Pamela suggests starting with a clear structure:

Welcome statement – Set the tone. This could be a warm greeting, a favourite poem, or a few lines from a meaningful song.
Personal vows – These can be traditional, adapted from your original vows, or entirely new.
Ring exchange or blessing – You can reuse your existing wedding rings or add new ones.
Symbolic ritual (optional) – Ring warming, unity candles, handfasting, or even planting a tree together.
Closing words and pronouncement – A heartfelt affirmation of your continued partnership, sealed with a kiss.

Sample short vows

Pamela shares this simple, classic format as a starting point:

Celebrant: Do you, [Name], retake [Name] to be your [wife/husband], to cherish in love and in friendship from this day forward, in strength and in weakness, in success and struggles, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both live?
Partner: I do.

Pamela encourages couples to adapt the language to reflect their real life together, referencing the highs—and yes, the lows—that have shaped their marriage. Keep it relevant and real.

Sample longer vows

I know you were just aged 18, Jack, when you met Diane at the tender age of 15, at the Tastee Freez bar where you shared a chilli dog. The first film you saw together was Tootsie, but your all-time favourite film is Pretty Woman.

The first record you bought Diane was ‘Jack and Diane’ by John Mellencamp – and she loved it. It is still your favourite today.

Together, you share a passion for cruising and cricket, enjoying years of travelling the seas and visiting every cricket ground to enjoy matches.

For many marriages, family is the icing on the cake, and this is certainly so for you. You have dedicated your lives to your two sons and three grandchildren, Vera, Chuck and Dave.

When you were married in 1983, you did not know where life would take you. You promised to love, honour and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and some tribulations, and you have faced them together.

So, as you come here today, in the presence of your family, and as you reflect back over all the years as husband and wife, do you now wish to reaffirm the vows you took years ago?

Answer: we do

The Ring Blessing

Most couples use their original wedding rings for a vow renewal. Pamela often includes a ring blessing such as:

These rings are visible signs of [Name] and [Name]’s love and commitment to one another. They were placed upon your fingers [XX] years ago. May they always remind you of the vows you reaffirm today and the love that will guide you into the future.

The rings can be simply presented, or you might choose to incorporate a ring warming ceremony.

Ring Warming: A south west tradition we love

A ring warming ceremony is a symbolic tradition in which your rings are passed between guests before the vows. Each person briefly touches the rings and silently offers a wish, blessing, or thought for your future. Because vow renewals tend to be smaller, each guest has time to participate without feeling rushed. The rings can be passed hand-to-hand, placed in a small dish, or tied to a ribbon for ease. By the time they reach you, they have been both physically held and symbolically “warmed” with the love of those closest to you—a beautiful touch in the intimacy of our Exmoor setting.

Symbolic Rituals for your Vow Renewal

Add an extra layer of meaning to your ceremony with one (or more) of these traditions.

1. Ring Warming

Your rings are passed between guests before the vows, each person silently offering a wish or blessing. Perfect for smaller gatherings where everyone can take part.

2. Unity Candle

Two candles—each representing you as individuals—are lit at the start. Together, you light a central candle, symbolising your joined lives. Works beautifully indoors, especially by the fire.

3. Handfasting

An ancient Celtic ritual where your hands are loosely tied together with ribbons or cords to represent your bond. The term “tying the knot” comes from this tradition.

4. Tree Planting

Together you plant a sapling, symbolising your growing relationship. Ideal if you have a garden at home—or plant one here in Exmoor as a lasting reminder.

5. Sand Ceremony

Two containers of coloured sand are poured into one vessel, creating a unique pattern. The layers can’t be separated again, representing your enduring union.

6. Shared Cup or ‘Quaich’ Cup

Drink from the same Quaich cup—often wine or mead—to signify shared life and experiences. A nod to medieval traditions, perfect for a rustic countryside setting.

7. Memory Capsule

Place letters to each other, photos, and mementos in a sealed box during the ceremony. Plan to open it on a future anniversary.

Why our setting makes it special

At My Tiny Exmoor Wedding, your vow renewal takes place in and around our 17th-century thatched cottage, Pilgrim Corner, or one of our nearby character cottages. With private gardens, period features, and the wild beauty of Exmoor all around, it’s the perfect stage for a relaxed yet deeply personal celebration. You can have the ceremony in our cottage garden or by the log fire in our elegant long room —each setting offering its own charm for photographs and memories.

A final word from Pamela

“Marriage is the most significant—and sometimes most challenging—adventure in human relationships. A vow renewal is a moment to pause, look at all you’ve experienced together, and say: yes, I still choose you.”

Ready to start planning your own vow renewal?

Whether it’s just the two of you or a gathering of your nearest and dearest, we’ll help you create a day that reflects your love story perfectly. Explore our packages and picture your vows against the timeless backdrop of Exmoor.

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