Beautiful flowers, elegant music, heartfelt vows, the gathering of friends and family to witness the joining of two people. Are you thinking of a wedding? Although it does describe the elements often part of a wedding ceremony, we are in fact describing a “recommitment ceremony.” Commonly misunderstood as an anniversary celebration, a recommitment ceremony is much more meaningful and unique.
Everyone knows that people change. The person you marry will not be the same 20 years from now. After all, neither will you. What makes a recommitment ceremony so meaningful is that it is the public declaration that, “If I could do it all over again, I’d still choose you.” You’ve both grown up, grown into the people you were destined to be, enjoyed good times and endured bad times together. This event says that it was all worth it. The reasons you want to spend the rest of your life together have certainly changed since you said “I do” the first time because you both have changed as people. But the important thing is you still choose each other to spend the rest of your lives with—and that is what makes this decision so significant.
While there is no rule for when you should hold this momentous occasion, it is commonly held on the same day the couple was originally married. However, the ceremony will be very different from the original wedding ceremony. For one couple, this is how their special day played out:
Everyone walked out together to the ceremonial site as the event began. The couple, married 20 years before, asked their friends and family to bring memorable photographs, stories, and memories that highlighted the last twenty years of their lives. They wanted their guests to not only witness their vows and their story but to be able to share in their story and contribute to the ceremony. After a time of reminiscing and remembering, the couple shared their vows and recommitted their lives to one another before family and friends. It was a review of the past, a celebration of the present and a commitment for the future.
I Do adapts traditions and creates new options to help couples personalize their wedding ceremonies. by Sydney Barbara Metrick Buy The Book www.ChickenSoupCounseling.com
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