Renewal of Marriage Vows

At its simplest, some married couples just wish to reaffirm their commitment to each other in a ceremony to which family and friends can be invited. For example, you may wish to celebrate a particular anniversary.

Renewal of vows offers you and your husband or wife a personal ceremony to honour your married years together. Every ceremony will be unique because couples can create their own personal ceremony by selecting preferences from the options available.

Special people in your lives can be invited to take part in the ceremony, such as children, original wedding guests, friends and relatives. The ceremony provides a non-restrictive service where couples can celebrate their marriage whatever their circumstances, age or length of time married.

You are asked to choose two people to witness the signing of a souvenir Certificate of the event. The Celebrant who conducts your ceremony will not be acting in an official capacity, even if he or she usually works as a Registrar. Similarly, the Register Office or Approved Premise used for your ceremony is designated a private venue for the duration of the ceremony. The ceremony has no legal status.

Procedure for booking

If your ceremony is more than three months away, you will need to pay a deposit of £50 to secure your date and time. You will then be asked to return to the Registrar's office about six weeks before the ceremony, when you will pay the final balance. You will then be given the Renewal of Vows Ceremony pack away with you. This pack helps you to make certain choices about what you want included in your ceremony.

If your ceremony is less than three months away, you may make your booking, pay the full price and get your pack all at the same time.