Please see the usual order and structure of the renewal of vows ceremony below, which you can use as a starting point to write your own personalised ceremony.
Please note that, unlike a first marriage ceremony, a renewal of vows ceremony has no legal words that must be said, so you can amend, add or leave out any elements that you wish.
The only exception to this is that a renewal ceremony cannot contain the legal marriage vows ‘I take you to be my husband/wife’ but can contain personal vows to each other that do not use this wording.
Entrance of Partner 1/ Partner 2/ couple
Welcome from the registrar to couple and guests
Wording about the meaning of marriage/ civil partnership/ personal details about the couple
[1ST READING]
Couples vows (to be said by both – this is an example of a vow and these words can be amended)
I (Partner 1’s name), renew my marriage/civil partnership vows to you, (Partner 2’s name), in the presence of this company of family and friends. I will love and support you with compassion, respect you as an individual person, cherish you no matter what happens, and enjoy your love always.
[ACKNOWLEDGING THE CHILD or CHILDREN]
[2ND READING]
[PERSONAL VOWS]
[RINGS]
- Registrar’s words about the meaning of rings
- Ring words repeated by both partners as they exchange/re-exchange rings
[GUEST’S VOWS]
[3RD READING]
[SIGNING OF THE COMMEMORATIVE CERTIFICATE]
Registrar’s concluding words
[COUPLE DECLARED AS THEY WISH- i.e. John and Jane or Mr and Mr Smith]
Exit of the couple and guests