Renewal of Vows
Q: My family is coming out to Australia to attend a wedding in October, and it will be the first and only time for many years that we have all been together. This would a fantastic time for my in-laws to renew their wedding vows with all the family there. Can it be done as a surprise or is that not legal anymore? Can it be held on a beach? I wouldn't want a lavish cermony just a beautiful backdrop and the people we love the most there with us. - Naomi, Exeter, England.
A: A renewal of vows is not a legal ceremony, so as long as you do not go through a full marriage ceremony again - that is the vows must say that it is reaffirming, so you can't say "I X take you Y to be my lawful wedded husband/wife" (to do so could land your in-laws in hot water and the celebrant in jail) - you can do whatever you like, and have the ceremony anywhere you like, and it can be as simple or lavish as you like.
When you say "surprise" does that mean it will be a surprise to everyone there, or that you are intending to spring it on your in-laws? I'd caution you against the latter - fair enough to say you want to give them the ceremony as a gift and a thank you for their years of parenting your husband and his brothers and sisters, but to get the full joy out of the ceremony they should have some choice about the content of the ceremony. Without their input, the celebrant would not be able to really meet their needs or refer adequately to the important milestones in their marriage or what makes their relationship what it is.
A beach is a beach is a beach - but the Sydney Opera House/Harbour Bridge is something else. The Domain is a public place, a park, so anyone can gather there and it would be a lovely place to have the ceremony as the backdrop to all the photos would be so spectacular. If you go to http://www.wilmap.com.au/nswmaps/SYDTC2.HTML the map will give you an idea of the location.
One other tip - schedule the ceremony on a weekday mid-morning or mid-afternoon and the Domain shouldn't be too crowded. The celebrant you engage to perform the ceremony will be able to advise you further.
Have a wonderful ceremony ....
A: A renewal of vows is not a legal ceremony, so as long as you do not go through a full marriage ceremony again - that is the vows must say that it is reaffirming, so you can't say "I X take you Y to be my lawful wedded husband/wife" (to do so could land your in-laws in hot water and the celebrant in jail) - you can do whatever you like, and have the ceremony anywhere you like, and it can be as simple or lavish as you like.
When you say "surprise" does that mean it will be a surprise to everyone there, or that you are intending to spring it on your in-laws? I'd caution you against the latter - fair enough to say you want to give them the ceremony as a gift and a thank you for their years of parenting your husband and his brothers and sisters, but to get the full joy out of the ceremony they should have some choice about the content of the ceremony. Without their input, the celebrant would not be able to really meet their needs or refer adequately to the important milestones in their marriage or what makes their relationship what it is.
A beach is a beach is a beach - but the Sydney Opera House/Harbour Bridge is something else. The Domain is a public place, a park, so anyone can gather there and it would be a lovely place to have the ceremony as the backdrop to all the photos would be so spectacular. If you go to http://www.wilmap.com.au/nswmaps/SYDTC2.HTML the map will give you an idea of the location.
One other tip - schedule the ceremony on a weekday mid-morning or mid-afternoon and the Domain shouldn't be too crowded. The celebrant you engage to perform the ceremony will be able to advise you further.
Have a wonderful ceremony ....
posted by The Cyber Celebrant at 8:27 PM
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