Team S: Vow Renewals

I know, I know, we haven't even hit the 2 year mark yet, but we all know I can't resist looking forward. So today, let's talk Vow Renewals! 

For Team S, our chat has been about doing them every five years. To me, five years is long enough to have that special anniversary symbolism. Plenty of people take anniversary vacations, and I think combining those adventures with fresh weddings vows and using it as a time to look back at how far we've come and how many blessings we've had is really poignant. 

Let's be honest... vacations are sick. Escaping to the Rockies or to Big Sur with a fancy dress and a suit would make for a magical memory. I like the idea of beautiful natural scenery as the backdrop because of the sense of timelessness. 

Or, if a vacation isn't in the cards, I think having a truly At Home renewal would be fantastic. It reminds me a bit of John & Sherry at the Young House Love blog, who used their backyard wedding as the inspiration/excuse to invest some real time and energy into their home. A home renewal party could be the impetus to fork over $1,000-$3,000 on home improvements that you would've otherwise spent on a vacation. I can totally imagine doing a renewal in a beautiful stone circle on our own property. 

And of course the other benefit of having the Renewal at home is that you've got your little ones to celebrate with. Now that is a Christmas Card and a half.

Curious about the Trend itself and where these parties suddenly exploded from in the past 10 years? I've heard mixed opinions- that it's either down to women going insane with wedding shows and Pinterest and trying to once again have their Big Day, or that it's really meant for couples who have gone through a rough patch and need to reaffirm their commitment. Personally, I like the theory that with divorce rates being so high, couples want to celebrate once they've stuck it out because it's so uncommon in this day and age to hit even 10 or 20 years of marriage.

There's never a wrong or bad time to look at what you're grateful for in your personal life, to focus on what you love about your spouse or your family unit. I can't see myself have a party for other people because for me the spectacle of a wedding is the negative part. But that part where we stood together in a garden and heard some of our favorite quotations about marriage read and made a formal commitment to each other? That part I loved. 

Some articles if you're curious: NY Times, Brides Without Borders, and of course Style Me Pretty has an entire gallery of Vow Renewals. 


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