Renewing Wedding Vows Makes an Anniversary Even More Special

In these busy times, people rarely reflect on the many ways that marriage has enriched their lives. Renewing wedding vows offers a chance to stop and reflect, and celebrate, this success. When couples renew vows, it's a joyous occasion and reaffirmation of the love that has brought two people together and that has only grown deeper over the years.

Fifty years after they eloped to Las Vegas on May 29, 1954, Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne renewed their vows at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Among the 300 guests were their four children, including the actor, Michael Douglas; seven grandchildren; and a list of celebrities including Nancy Reagan, Merv Griffin, Dan Aykroyd, Lauren Bacall, Tony Curtis and Anjelica Huston.

Couples who renew vows may not have star-studded guest lists or lifestyles as colorful as the Douglases, but chances are, their reasons for reaffirming and renewing wedding vows are strikingly similar - the desire to celebrate a union that has endured, with all its joys and sorrows, and to look ahead to the couple's future together.

Renewing wedding vows is a wonderful way to demonstrate the strength of a marriage

Also, at a time when divorce is commonplace, celebrating a marriage that has withstood the test of time sets a great example for one's children and grandchildren.

Those who renew vows have cause for celebration in more ways than one. For example, if you wed at a young age, your first ceremony may have been more a product of your parents' tastes and wishes than your own. If you eloped, got married at City Hall, or had a modest wedding because of financial limitations, renewing wedding vows is an opportunity to create a more festive occasion and to enjoy it with the people you love.

When is the right time to renew vows?

Milestone anniversaries are often used for renewing wedding vows. It could be as early as the tenth anniversary or much later&mdashthe 50th or even 60th. Some couples choose to renew vows in the aftermath of a personal crisis or difficult episode in their lives. Recovering from a serious illness, or emerging from a period of marital difficulty, might be a precipitating factor to renew vows.

Most couples, though, simply use the occasion to reaffirm a love that has matured and deepened over time. Regardless of the reason, people who have decided to renew vows agree that the experience is not only deeply meaningful but also genuinely romantic. Here are some other ways to show her "I forever do ."

Need ideas for renewing wedding vows? Here are some suggestions for ways to celebrate and renew vows.