Singaporebrides | Weddings 101

February 2024

What You Need For a Vow Renewal in Singapore and How You Can Plan One

By Audrie Soh

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Thinking of renewing your vows with your partner? Then, read about what you need to do for one, and how you can plan your vow renewal in Singapore.

Renewing your vows with the person whom you had already promised to love and stay with a lifetime is a truly wonderful thing, especially if you’ve experienced married life for a while or have gone through a particularly difficult period in your marriage only to come out stronger as a couple.

We all know married life is not free of conflicts and difficult times, so when you and your partner decide to renew your vows, it is especially magical and endearing because you are both making a choice to reaffirm your love, commitment, loyalty and companionship despite the challenges you’ve faced in your marriage and the hurdles that you know are waiting in the road ahead.

Why Do Couples renew their vows?

Vow renewals happen for a variety of reasons, but they are all steeped in love. Whether you want to re-commit to your partner after overcoming a particularly difficult patch in your marriage, hitting a milestone anniversary, or simply feel so in love with your partner that you wish to reaffirm your affections for him or her, vow renewals are always magical and splendid.

When can I renew my vows

When it comes to vow renewals, there are no hard and fast rules on when you should or should not, can or cannot renew your vows. Some couples want to renew their vows to celebrate a milestone anniversary while others simply want to reaffirm their commitment and love as soon as they can after five years of marriage. There is no right or wrong time to renew your vows, so with your gut on when you’d like to say “I do” to your partner for the second time.

Will I require a license for a vow renewal in Singapore?

As far as we know, since a vow renewal ceremony is not an official, legally binding ceremony, you will not require any license or legal documentation to have one. However, do double check with the Registry of Marriages (ROM) before you plan one, just to be absolutely sure you are not required to apply for any licenses or documentation.

Plan Your Vow Renewal in 8 Easy Steps

Planning a vow renewal ceremony is a walk in the park as compared to planning your wedding years before. Since it is a less formal celebration, you are not bound by the same rules and obligations that you were once expected to follow for your wedding, and can enjoy more freedom in your vow renewal planning. To help you get started, here are 5 easy steps you can follow for your vow renewal ceremony.

1. Decide the details

Since a vow renewal ceremony is not an official, legally bound ceremony, you have absolute freedom in deciding how formal or informal the celebration will be, who you want to invite, where it will be held and what attire you and your guests will be in. You should also decide if you will be exchanging your current wedding rings or a new pair to commemorate this happy occasion so you can update your officiant or host on the agenda for the ceremony.

2. Pick Your Dream Location and Draw up your guest list

Once you’ve decided on how formal or informal, intimate or grand you want your vow renewal to be, it’s time to think about where you’ll host it and who you want present. Unlike your wedding, you are not obligated to invite your entire family and circle of friends if you choose not to. You can keep it private between just you and your spouse, or host an intimate affair with your close family and friends. Or, if you’d like to relive the excitement of your wedding day, feel free to throw a grand celebration for your vow renewal.

Since vow renewals do not involve legal formalities, you can choose to have your vow renewal ceremony anywhere you want, in Singapore or otherwise! If you’ve always dreamed of a destination wedding but could not bring your vision to life for your big day years ago, this is the time to do so! Or, if you prefer to host your vow renewal closer to home, you can take your pick from Singapore’s diverse range of locations, from botanical gardens to picturesque beaches and historic landmarks. To make your vow renewal even more meaningful, you can also choose to return to the spot you said “I do” or the restaurant where you had your first date.

3. Choose a date and send out your invitations

Now that you have finalised your guest list and venue, you can go ahead and pick a date for your vow renewal. With zero restrictions on when you should or can renew your vows, you can pick any date on the calendar that suits you. It can be a brand new date to add on to your list of milestone anniversary dates, or you can choose to renew your vows on a date with a sentimental value for both of you, like your wedding or dating anniversary.

Once you have decided on a date, send out your invitations to your guests so they can set the date aside for you. Do remember to include the venue, time and dress code, if any. You may also include on your invitations some details on whether the celebration is going to be a formal or casual affair, or you may choose to communicate them directly to your guests via text messages or in person.

4. Engage Your Wedding Vendors

Like your wedding day, you would need to assemble a team of wedding vendors to help you capture and bring your vow renewal ceremony to life. If you’re aiming for a casual affair, you may want to do it yourself or engage your friends to help you spruce up your venue or do your hair and makeup. Otherwise, consider hiring professional vendors such as stylists and hair and makeup artists to help you bring your vision to life.

Regardless of whether you decide to do it yourself or engage a professional to help you style your vow renewal, hiring a photographer to capture this special milestone celebration is a must. You might want to engage a videographer as well, so you have both still frames and a video of every special moment of your vow renewal.

5. Appoint an officiant

Since a vow renewal ceremony is not a formal, legal ceremony, you do not need an official officiant to marry you like you did at your wedding. If you’d like to, you may still choose one from our solemnisers’ list. Otherwise, you can invite a family member or close friend to host the ceremony. You can also choose not to have an officiant at all – it is entirely up to you!

Your officiant or host can say a few words to welcome your guests and cue you and your partner’s entrance, share some stories or anecdotes about your relationship and marriage, or theirs if they are married too, and even invite some of your guests to say a few words as well, before you and your partner read out your vows.

6. Pick an outfit – any outfit!

Now that you have settled those essential details, it’s time for some fun – picking your outfit! You can choose to dress up or dress down for your vow renewal ceremony. It depends on where you are renewing your vows, whether it is a formal or casual affair, and above all, it depends on what you want to wear! Shop your vow renewal outfit from a bridal boutique if you are having a formal celebration, or check out these online shops for something more casual yet occasion appropriate outfits.

7. Write your vows

Just like you did with your wedding vows, you’d want to make your vows at your vow renewal ceremony just as personal, warming and loving. Tell the story of how you met and fell in love with one another, and when you realised your partner was the one for you. You can also include how your love has changed over the years, and how married life has contributed to this change.

If you’ve overcome a huge obstacle sometime during your married years and have come out of it successfully and more in love with one another, share that with your guests as well. Reaffirm your love and commitment to your partner, and make new promises and goals to achieve together as a couple in the many years ahead, and your vows is complete.

8. Stay in the moment and enjoy!

Last but not least, enjoy the day to its fullest! Just like your wedding, don’t stress over the details and focus too much on having a perfect celebration. Hiccups or otherwise, your vow renewal is already perfect because you have everyone whom you love and loves you present to witness a reaffirmation of your love, commitment, trust and loyalty to the person whom you had promised to build a future with years ago.

Credits: Feature image from Eunice and Daniel’s Intimate Pre-Wedding Shoot in the Romantic and Magical Wilderness by Hey Stranger

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