Simple 10-Year Vow Renewal Ideas for Saying “I Do” Again

My husband and I recently celebrated a decade of marriage. And as a way to commence this milestone we decided to renew our vows. With so many “wedding” sites, I thought finding 10 year wedding renewal ideas would be a piece of cake. Boy, was I wrong. So if you’re in the same boat as me (searched Google for way longer than you’d care to admit) I’ve compiled some of the best vow renewal ceremony ideas in one place! 

Should You Renew Your Vows at 10 Years? 

Before we jump in, let’s discuss if having such a ceremony is right for you. For us, ten years marked quite a few milestones. Between his parents and mind, our marriage was the first to have lasted this long. It was also a rededication to ourselves after infidelity. But most importantly, it was a way to start over. A clean slate. 

Maybe you can relate. A do-over is just what your marriage needs. On the other hand, perhaps it’s been a decade and you want to celebrate. Or it could be that your first wedding wasn’t what you wanted. Having your dream wedding, or any other reason you may be thinking are all the validation you need to plan a vow renewal, IMO. 

What Is a Vow Renewal?

A vow renewal is a celebratory ceremony for a married couple to reaffirm their commitment / vows to one another. Some also look at it as their “do over” wedding.  Popular for milestone anniversaries (10, 25, or 50 years), but rest assured there is no “rule” about when to have one.

Why Our 10th Anniversary Was the Perfect Time to Renew Our Vows

Putting the issues of an affair aside, being with someone this long means a lot of memories. Mostly good, but there were also moments that weren’t the best for us. Having a second chance, or “do over” allowed us to recommit to our wedding vows. Putting behind the past. We moved forward with who we are now, without the heavy weight of who we used to be. 

Celebrating a decade of love should never need a reason., but if you’re looking for one I have a few. As I mentioned above, we were working through a former affair, trying to leave behind past pain, and a host of other things. So for us, our ten year wedding anniversary couldn’t have come at a better time. Taking the time to devote ourselves back to our love was just what we needed. 

You may be in a similar position or you may just want to celebrate the time, effort, and hard work it took for the both of you to get here. Marriage is hard, and working together, choosing love each and every day for ten years deserves a celebration. 

How to Plan a 10-Year Vow Renewal: What You Need to Know

Your ten year vow renewal is just for you. Which means it can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. With there being no wrong or right when it comes to vow renewal ideas, take this time to reflect on the promises the two of you have made. You and your union are the main focus. 

It’s important to note this is not considered your wedding day. What that means is, it is not a legally binding ceremony. So let one of your closest friends who’s known the two of you since college officiate. You don’t have to walk down the aisle if you don’t want to. Nor does anyone have to give away anyone. It’s all up to you. 

This is truly your day

If you want it to be similar to a wedding, it can be. If you have something creative in mind, do it!  Make it as personal as you’d like. I think that was my favorite part of the entire planning process. There was no one I had to make happy. It truly was our day, which meant I got to decide the what, when, how and where. 

With so much freedom, there are still a few things you may want to consider when planning. For starters, sit down with your spouse and come up with a must have list. Is there a song from your first dance you’d liked played? Perhaps a poem with a personal significance you’d like read aloud. Don’t forget the things you don’t want while you’re at it. Remember, this is your chance to do it how the two of you want.

Unique 10-Year Vow Renewal Ceremony Ideas

The Location

The ceremony itself can take place in a house of worship or any location really. There are no rules that say where you have to renew your vows. From the backyard to the beach or even somewhere exotic, the possibilities are endless. 

Consider how many people you plan to invite. Smaller crowds are perfect for an intimate home renewal or a cute local park. But if you plan on going big on your celebration larger hotels, golf courses, or even Vegas are great options. Oh, I can’t forget Hawaii. If we ever do another anniversary event, that will be top of my list. For ours, we found the cutest venue about an hour from our house that held 50 people. Perfect for our family and friends. 

The Theme

Now to the fun stuff. If you’re like me, coming up with the theme is probably the best part. Start by reflecting on the style of your wedding. Do you want something similar? Or completely opposite? Just like a wedding, 10 year vow renewal themes can be endless. Ours was “Love Never Fails” taken from 1 Corinthians 13. It is a bible verse that means a lot to the both of us. Some other themes to consider are:

• Rustic – similar to a farmhouse theme, but a little more chic. This is perfect for the beach, a park or even your own home.
• Backyard – We seriously considered this theme ourselves. We originally were planning to have it in our backyard and wanted more of a casual setting. 
• Intimate – something smaller with fewer people and less decor. It’s more about the why then the what. 
• We still do – This is one of the more popular themes. I’ve seen tons of invites and the cutest vow renewal photography with couples holding signs saying this. 
• Love is patient – Taken from our favorite Bible verse, this theme also speaks to couples looking to revive what they once had. 
• Boho – Pampas grass, mismatched chairs, and oriental rugs, need I say more! 
• Use your anniversary as the theme – Depending on what year of marriage you are renewing your vows consider using that as your theme. The theme for a ten year anniversary is silver and blue, because it is the “tin” anniversary. 
• Our Love Story – share your love story starting from after the wedding day. It’s a perfect way to show how much not only you both have grown together. But also how your love has stood the test of time. 
• Do Over – This is perfect for the couple that wants their dream wedding the second time around. Using phrases like “lets try this again,” or “No regrets the first time, but.” 

The Dress

The dress is one of the grey areas for me. You’ll see tons of people say not to spend on a traditional wedding dress. And while I can understand the sentiment, what to wear when you renew your vows solely depends on the purpose of the ceremony to me. As I’ve mentioned, we didn’t have an actual wedding. My husband and I got married in our backyard with our mothers as witnesses. Being 6 months pregnant, I grabbed a dress from H&M and hoped it would fit. So this time around, I wanted to do the opposite and splurge on my dress. 

But, if you’ve already had the wedding of your dreams, finding a cute dress on Amazon, or another store is totally acceptable. I’ve seen some amazing dresses, perfect for any themed vow renewal, and they were from places I wouldn’t have believed. 

Maybe you want to feel like a princess in a room with your closest friends. Perhaps you’re more into what the photographer is going to capture and want something that will look good from all angles. In my opinion, whether it is your wedding day, vow renewal or your birthday, as long as you feel amazing, it shouldn’t matter what that looks like. 

The Rings

You may be wondering how do you exchange rings when you renew your vows? There are a few options here. My husband and I kept our original rings, and held hands most of our ceremony. But this is a great chance to upgrade them or even get the rings engraved. The engraving can be a special message, your anniversary, or even a mix of the two. If you do opt to have your rings engraved, you can then exchange them after you’ve both had a chance to say your vows.  

Another option is to purchase new rings, such as a special band, to wear with your original ring. No matter what you decide, just remember your rings serve as a visual reminder of your continuing love and commitment to one another. Your love is not found in their value. 

The Vows or Poems

This may be the most important part of the ceremony. Depending on what you and your spouse have decided your 10 year vow renewal poems can be a mixture of numerous things. During the ceremony you can exchange the vows you originally said. 

Or, similar to what we did, you can make up new ones. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room during our vow exchange. It was beautiful to hear all the ways our love has grown over the years, especially when it came to our children. 

While there are no rules, what you say during this part of your celebration should reflect your past, present and future. Speak on how far you have come and where you plan on going. Love is a beautiful thing that is ever changing. Putting your story into words for others to hear can be a breathtaking experience. 

Are There Any Rules or Etiquette to Follow When Renewing Vows for Your 10th Anniversary?

Rules, what rules??? The only rules to consider are common courtesy and good manners. Commemorate this special occasion any time and place you’d like. Have a grand wedding or an intimate backyard party. Just make sure to send out invitations. We also sent out a save the date so our guests could mark their calendars, but I wouldn’t say it’s a requirement. Speaking of save the dates, we used a digital one we found on Etsy but our invitations were paper. Whatever you decide, know that this is a special day just for you two. It’s time to celebrate the life you’ve built together and nothing else matters!