Written by Tarnia Riggs
Founder, All Eyes on Me
A renewal of vows, also called a reaffirmation ceremony, is a chance to pause and celebrate the relationship you have built together. It recognises the journey you have travelled since your wedding and the hopes you still share for the years ahead.
Your celebration can be formal and traditional, relaxed and intimate, spiritual or secular. You might gather family and friends, return to a meaningful place or choose a quiet occasion with just a few loved ones.
This guide brings back the ideas from my original All Eyes on Me article, with refreshed wording and practical planning notes for October 2026.
You may want to mark an anniversary, celebrate the way your relationship has grown or include people who could not attend your original wedding. A renewal can also recognise a new chapter in your shared life.
Choose a reason that feels meaningful to you both. There is no need for an elaborate occasion or a particular milestone before you make space to celebrate your commitment.
Begin with a conversation about your story: how you met, what drew you together, the memories you treasure and the everyday ways you have supported each other.
Think about the people and experiences that have shaped your life together, then look ahead. What do you hope to enjoy, build or learn as a couple, and perhaps as a family?
Agree on what you are comfortable sharing publicly. Your ceremony can be honest and personal while keeping private experiences between you.
Some couples choose to speak their original wedding vows again. Others adapt those words or write new promises that reflect who they are now and the future they want to share.
Keep your promises sincere and realistic. Listening, respect, affection and making time for each other can mean more than grand declarations. Use names and relationship terms that feel right to you both.
An example you can personalise
“[Name], today I celebrate the life we have shared and the person you are. I renew my promise to listen with care, speak with honesty and make room for your hopes. I choose to keep building our future with kindness, affection and love.”
Read your words aloud beforehand. It helps you find a comfortable length and a rhythm that sounds like you.
You can follow a familiar wedding-style structure or create something entirely your own. The following outline develops the seven elements suggested in my original guide.
Your ceremony leader can help arrange the order and transitions so the occasion flows naturally.
Children or grandchildren may enjoy bringing the rings, sharing a short reading or helping with a meaningful ritual. Invite them to take part in a way that suits their age, confidence and wishes.
You can acknowledge family and friends through a welcome, a thank-you or a shared story. For a blended family or a gathering of chosen family, use wording that reflects the relationships you value.
Participation should feel comfortable. A guest can be an important part of your celebration simply by being there.
Your existing wedding rings can be rededicated with a few words about what they mean to you today. New rings are another option, but they are not necessary for a heartfelt ceremony.
A favourite song, a poem or a reading can connect the occasion to your shared story. You might revisit music from your wedding or choose something that represents your life now.
If you would like a symbolic ritual, our Handfasting Ceremony guide offers ribbon colours and promises you can adapt to a renewal of vows.
A certificate can be a lovely keepsake of your reaffirmation. Include your names, the date and place, and a short statement about the promises you have renewed.
You may invite two loved ones to sign as ceremonial witnesses, as suggested in my original article. Children can also sign a personal keepsake if they would enjoy doing so.
Make its purpose clear: a vow renewal keepsake records your celebration and is not an official marriage certificate or legal proof of marriage.
Agree on a budget, guest list and style that you both enjoy. You can celebrate at home, in a garden or at a venue with personal meaning. Wear something that makes you feel comfortable and yourselves.
Consider seating, access, shade, weather and whether guests can hear the words. A brief run-through helps anyone giving a reading, bringing rings or assisting with the certificate know when to step forward.
Leave room to enjoy the occasion. The purpose is to recognise your relationship and the people sharing the moment with you.
A vow renewal is a personal celebration of an existing marriage. The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages describes its vow renewal service as having no legal significance.
A renewal does not create a new legal marriage or replace your original marriage record. If you are planning to marry legally, rather than renew an existing marriage, the required marriage process still applies. Speak with an authorised marriage celebrant and read the Attorney-General’s Department’s current guidance.
Originally published on the original All Eyes on Me website. Recreated and refreshed by Tarnia Riggs in October 2026.
View the original Renewal of Vows or Reaffirmation Ceremony article in the Wayback Machine.
References and further reading
The suggested ceremony order, personal vows and family participation are planning ideas, rather than legal requirements.
Read our Commitment Ceremony guide or explore more Ceremonial Information guides.