Renewal of vows

If you have previously had a legally recognised marriage or civil partnership ceremony, you can renew your vows in a civil ceremony.

Renewing your vows is an opportunity to reaffirm your commitment to each other in a personalised ceremony with your loved ones. You can choose to renew your vows in the presence of family and friends, or you may decide to have an intimate ceremony between yourselves.

Some couples, having married abroad, choose to have a renewal of vows ceremony on their return to this country.

A renewal of vows ceremony is a wonderful way to celebrate a special anniversary or a renewed commitment to one another.

Where can the ceremony be held?

We offer renewal of vows ceremonies in all our registration ceremony rooms across the county and at our beautiful licensed venues.  

We can also accommodate renewal of vows at other locations, such as hotels, restaurants. Please contact us for more information.

What happens in the ceremony?

You can personalise many aspects of the ceremony, to include all those things important to you, ensuring your ceremony is both meaningful and memorable.  You may wish to include your own music and / or additional vows or promises to each other.

 Here is a rundown of what you can expect in your renewal of vows ceremony:

• introduction and welcome
• reading, Poem or personal message
• renewal of vows                                        
• exchanging or rededication of rings
• reading, Poem or personal message
• signing and presentation of certificate

Each ceremony includes a commemorative certificate.

How much will the ceremony cost?

The fee will vary depending on your chosen date and venue.

Registration offices

External venue

Fees shown include VAT.

How to book

A renewal of vows ceremony can be booked up to 12 months in advance. 

To book your renewal of vows, please complete the booking enquiry form. We offer a personal service and a member of our ceremonies team will get in touch to talk to you through your booking.

Evidence of marriage or civil partnership will need to be provided before the renewal of vows can take place.

Start your booking

About your ceremony

Our staff will ensure that you know what will happen on your ceremony day. If you would like to discuss your ceremony with us before the day, please contact the ceremonies team.

Planning your ceremony

You will be asked to complete a ‘ceremony plan’ prior to the day of your ceremony. We will contact you with details of how and when to do this around three months before your ceremony.

No religious content is allowed in this ceremony, that includes your music choices and readings.

Choices and options

There are many ways you can customise your renewal of vows ceremony.

• music - you are free to include music whilst your guests wait for proceedings to begin, when you sign the marriage schedule and at the start and close of your ceremony
• Readings and poems - you are welcome to add up to two readings to your ceremony. This could be an extract from a book, quote or song lyric, or poem written especially for the day
• personal vows - this is a moment when you can express just how you feel about your partner and some couples love to be able to use this moment to say it
• exchange of rings - a tradition that many couples continue to do today. If you choose to exchange rings you can also honour someone with the role of ring bearer.

Ceremony start time

The time booked for the ceremony is the time it will commence. We appreciate that unforeseen circumstances can delay your arrival however, we must ask you to ensure that you and your guests arrive in plenty of time and are ready for your ceremony to start on time.

Your celebrant registrar

You will be well looked after on the day. Our celebrants registrars are friendly and professional and take extreme pride in the ceremonies they deliver. Their aim is to provide you with a ceremony that is both meaningful and memorable.

They will meet with you directly before your ceremony to have a chat with you about the ceremony and check all the personal additions you'd like included. If you'd prefer not to see each other before the ceremony the celebrant registrar will meet with you separately.

Photos, videos and social media

It is important to capture those special moments and we are happy for photos and videos to be taken throughout your ceremony. If you have an official photographer and would prefer the photo taking be left to them let your registrar know during your pre-ceremony interview, and they will make your guests aware at the start of your ceremony.

Certificates

Your ceremony will conclude with the presentation of a commemorative certificate, which you can both sign.

Confetti

Where it is permitted, we encourage the use of biodegradable confetti such as dried petals.

The ceremony script

Your ceremony will follow a simple structure, but we are happy to change this if you would rather have something more bespoke.

Renewal of vows ceremony sample script

We have carefully created options for your ceremony. Please feel free to provide any additions or amendments you would like to the script. We are happy to discuss these with you to make your day extra special.