Celebrate your love & a new chapter in marriage with a renewal of vows ceremony

 

 

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Couples reaffirm their marriage vows for many reasons. One meaningful reason to plan a vow renewal is to celebrate a new chapter in marriage following you or your partner’s gender transition. 

 

Vow Renewals after Gender Transition

 

Coming out as transgender or non-binary is a cause for joyful celebration. A partner who is transitioning might want to celebrate with a personal ceremony (a naming ceremony, for example), privately with their spouse, or publicly with a community celebration joined by friends and family.

 

And it’s a wonderful opportunity for you to celebrate a new chapter in your marriage, and reaffirm your love and commitment for each other… Not to mention a chance to walk down the aisle in the gorgeous wedding dress or perfectly-tailored suit you weren’t able to wear the first time around! 

 

 

 

Photo: pixdeluxe / iStock

Wear the gorgeous wedding dress or stylish suit of your dreams as you renew your marriage vows! Your vow renewal can look and feel any way you it to, and anyone can officiate it for you. 

 

 

Vow renewals can be small ‘just us’ ceremonies, with a couple exchanging new vows privately in front of an officiant, or larger ceremonies held in the company of friends and family. They can look similar to a traditional wedding, or be completely unique and nontraditional. 

 

Some couples reaffirm their vows shortly after a partner comes out and begins transitioning, other couples wait until an anniversary or another important date to celebrate. Any time is the right time to say ‘I still do!’ to love.

 

Related: When Should You Renew Your Wedding Vows? Consider These 3 Things
 

Because there aren’t any legal requirements for a vow renewal, how you celebrate is completely up to your imagination, budget, and tastes. Anyone can officiate your vow renewal ceremony, including children, friends, relatives, and professional officiants. Churches that support queer and same-gender marriages may also offer vow renewal services.

 

Click the links below for ideas and inspiration for your vow renewal: 

 

• Everything You Need to Know About a Vow Renewal Ceremony
• 10 Sweet Vow Examples for Your Vow Renewal Ceremony
• 10 Unity Ritual Ideas for Your Vow Renewal Ceremony
• Vow Renewal Ceremony Scripts for the Officiant

 

Read all Vow Renewal Ideas & Inspiration

 

 

 

Both photos: Scott Griessel / Adobe Stock

Any time is the right time to renew your marriage vows, and say 'I still do!' to love.

 

 

 

Applying for an updated marriage license (if possible)

 

As with most changes in life, there can be a lot of paperwork… 

 

Trans partners might apply for a revised birth certificate, state ID, or passport with their updated name and gender marker – as well as an updated marriage license or legal marriage certificate.

 

Some states make this process easier than others, and some states don’t allow it at all, but there’s hope that more states will offer these options in the future. Just this year, Hawaii updated its marriage laws to make the process of changing a gender marker on a marriage license very straightforward (Check it out here: §338-11.5).

 

If you choose to apply for an updated marriage license, you don’t need to have it signed by your officiant during your vow renewal. If you can’t apply for an updated license because of your state’s marriage laws, you can honor the day with a decorative marriage certificate or vow renewal certificate instead.

 

Vow renewals are ceremonial (not legal) and you don’t need any additional paperwork or permission to have one. You can mark the occasion with a decorative marriage certificate or vow renewal certificate if you choose to.

 

• Shop our Renewal of Vows Certificates

 

 

Above (Left to Right): AMM's 'Timeless' Renewal of Vows Certificate; the Floral Renewal of Vows Certificate; and the 'Signature' Renewal of Vows Certificate. These certificates can be personalized with your name and other details, and are available in our online store here.

 

 

 

Real World Inspiration and Examples

 

Get inspired by these real couples and their trans-friendly vow renewals.

 

• Married Somerset couple to renew vows as two women (via BBC)
   
• Emotional Queer Vow Renewal in Brooklyn, New York (via Shannon Collins Photography)

 

• VIDEO: Transgender wedding: Denise and Kristiana Taylor renew vows (via Daily Motion)

 

• I’d been married to my wife for 8 years when I told her I was trans – then, we renewed our vows (via Metro UK)
   
• MARRIED AND HAPPY—AGAIN  (via Equally Wed)

 

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Asked to officiate a vow renewal? 

Check out these helpful resources!

 

 

• Get ordained with AMM and learn how to officiate a wedding or vow renewal ceremony 

 

• Everything You Need to Know About a Vow Renewal Ceremony
• 10 Unity Ritual Ideas for Your Vow Renewal Ceremony
• Vow Renewal Ceremony with Handfasting
• Simple Vow Renewal Ceremony Script With Recognition of Children
• The secret to a perfect wedding officiant speech (with examples)

 

 

Read all Vow Renewal Ideas & Inspiration

 

 

 

What to say, what to do, and what to expect at a vow renewal -- for wedding officiants, couples, and guests. Read the full article here. 

 

 

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