Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Vow Renewals signal a marriage in trouble?

448 replies

misssultana · 13/01/2025 13:37

In my late 30s now and seeing a few of these things pop up in my peer group and beyond. One I know the the husband cheated and even briefly left his wife to be with the OW before sobering up to what the reality of divorce with two young children would look like. In another that particular marriage was the man's second and they started as an affair while he was still married to his first wife and he has a career that would give ample opportunity to cheat. Others I'm not sure but wouldn't be too shocked it that was the case.

Personally I don't see the point of it at all. It seems quite crass and attention seeking. Quite a few have been really expensive, essentially a wedding again with a sit down meal and evening reception and must have cost £10,000 + which seems like a tremendous waste of money. Then there is the gifting issue, some ask for no gifts but increasingly I've seen gift registries for vow renewal's which feels grabby.

To me I just think have a big party, make a speech if you want to proclaim your love to each other in front of your friends and family but renewing your vows in a faux marriage ceremony is either pointless or its because you feel those vows have been broken.

OP posts:
Juiceinacup · 13/01/2025 14:43

The only people I know who renewed their vows did it because they had a very rushed wedding because he was extremely ill at their wedding - not hospital bed wedding but almost. He then had an amazing recovery and 5 yrs on they wanted to do it “ properly” I found it quite sad when my friend told me most people thought they did it because one of them had cheated. My friend has a very dark sense of humour ( her and her DH have been through a lot together) she told folk they were having a renewal because she hadn’t planned on being married that long, that usually shut up the muttering.

SwingTheMonkey · 13/01/2025 14:44

SmellLikeStreepForCheap · 13/01/2025 14:40

Tetchy.

Thats fine, if you want to draw attention to the fact that your marriage will make it to 20 years, work away. Just don’t be surprised at eye rolls from others who don’t see it as an “achievement”.

Again, I honestly couldn’t give a fuck what other people think!

Fluufer · 13/01/2025 14:44

DH and I eloped, just 2 witnesses. We're approaching 10 years and considering a vow renewal or just a party, because we never really had a wedding. Now I don't want because I worry people will assume trouble 😂

Moveoverdarlin · 13/01/2025 14:44

cheezncrackers · 13/01/2025 14:29

Ditto anyone on SM raving about their wonderful husband/wife and how much they love them. The couples I know with what appear to be the happiest relationships are the ones who never comment about them on SM. Basically, the more public your avowals of being madly in love, the more likely it is that one has cheated!

Agree with this whole heartedly. The happiest people and couples are the ones NOT gushing on social media.

DecayingRelic · 13/01/2025 14:45

we had a very small wedding, just us and 2 witnesses, no meal or party, just carried on our day afterwards, I hate fuss and have no desire for a renewal at all, been together 37 years

Heretobenosy · 13/01/2025 14:46

misssultana · 13/01/2025 13:37

In my late 30s now and seeing a few of these things pop up in my peer group and beyond. One I know the the husband cheated and even briefly left his wife to be with the OW before sobering up to what the reality of divorce with two young children would look like. In another that particular marriage was the man's second and they started as an affair while he was still married to his first wife and he has a career that would give ample opportunity to cheat. Others I'm not sure but wouldn't be too shocked it that was the case.

Personally I don't see the point of it at all. It seems quite crass and attention seeking. Quite a few have been really expensive, essentially a wedding again with a sit down meal and evening reception and must have cost £10,000 + which seems like a tremendous waste of money. Then there is the gifting issue, some ask for no gifts but increasingly I've seen gift registries for vow renewal's which feels grabby.

To me I just think have a big party, make a speech if you want to proclaim your love to each other in front of your friends and family but renewing your vows in a faux marriage ceremony is either pointless or its because you feel those vows have been broken.

I got married on beach in Mexico. We said at the time we would come back in 10 years to renew our vows as we just loved it, best day of our lives. It’s 10 years next year and we are still thinking about it. I’d love to do it, we’ve both lost a lot of weight, would love to get some photos I actually like of myself. We were barely out of uni when we got marrried so we did it so cheaply, I wore a £20 dress from asos lol.

We only had 4 guests at the time, would do the same this time, invite people with no expectations that they will want to come.
Happy for it to be just me and my DW.

I acknowledge what I have written makes it sound like it’s just for shallow reasons, but I think it would be really lovely, reconnecting and romantic.

However there has been talk of doing a once in a lifetime trip instead, so who knows

JennyTals · 13/01/2025 14:46

If you haven’t broken the cows there’s nothing to renew

sure have an anniversary party but a re doing the vows is rather strange imo

BarbadosItsCloserThanYouThink · 13/01/2025 14:46

I remember Emma Willis and her husband renewed their vows after 10 years. Having since seen his addiction documentary where they discussed his behaviour in the build up to their wedding, he had to be in rehab, it all sounded like a difficult time. That could have been a reason to do it all again.
Jamie Oliver's did look lovely and intimate, however I can't really see the reason to do it. It's like others have said, if you want a bit party have an anniversary party.

daisyelle · 13/01/2025 14:48

We're going to be renewing ours for our 10th anniversary. Neither of us have cheated and neither of us are trying to put a plaster over our relationship - my dad has probably 18 months max left and this will be the last time that we'll be able to have our friends and family together. We're doing the renewal and a party, not an expensive replica of the wedding/no sit down meal, and DC who wasn't born at our wedding can be a part of the ceremony. But good to know people will be trying to guess which one of us has been playing away 👍🏻 🤣

SerafinasGoose · 13/01/2025 14:48

JennyTals · 13/01/2025 14:46

If you haven’t broken the cows there’s nothing to renew

sure have an anniversary party but a re doing the vows is rather strange imo

No one wants to follow the herd!

ZippyCat · 13/01/2025 14:50

Personally I wouldn't bother with them but I don't feel theirs a need to, if others want to that's up to them but I certainly wouldn't

SmellLikeStreepForCheap · 13/01/2025 14:50

SwingTheMonkey · 13/01/2025 14:44

Again, I honestly couldn’t give a fuck what other people think!

Uh-huh.

I’d believe you except you’ve said that you want a view renewal because “most of our friends didn’t think it would last”. You’re literally doing it because you care what others think.

misssultana · 13/01/2025 14:50

@Heretobenosy Well it is true that I think that it isn't necessary to redo vows if they weren't broken but I suppose this thread has shown me some other reasons why other people might choose to do this as in your own case. I suppose it s a thing where your own family will understand the situation but other people might think its something else.

OP posts:
Moveoverdarlin · 13/01/2025 14:50

daisyelle · 13/01/2025 14:48

We're going to be renewing ours for our 10th anniversary. Neither of us have cheated and neither of us are trying to put a plaster over our relationship - my dad has probably 18 months max left and this will be the last time that we'll be able to have our friends and family together. We're doing the renewal and a party, not an expensive replica of the wedding/no sit down meal, and DC who wasn't born at our wedding can be a part of the ceremony. But good to know people will be trying to guess which one of us has been playing away 👍🏻 🤣

But in the grand scheme of things, 10 years is nothing. Why do the vows need to be renewed? You only said them in 2015? Why don’t you just have a fabulous 10 year anniversary party?

WoolySnail · 13/01/2025 14:51

SerafinasGoose · 13/01/2025 14:48

No one wants to follow the herd!

Especially if they have beef with each other 😂

JaneBoleynViscountessRochford · 13/01/2025 14:52

Oh goodness we were considering this, no trouble here just there was so much family drama around our wedding, not related to us but still had a massive effect especially since our wedding was very small it did feel like it overshadowed the whole thing and we have discussed a vow renewal just for us, with no one there (maybe DC) to overwrite those memories so to speak.

Now I probably wont if people will then think one of us cheated!

BlueSky2024 · 13/01/2025 14:53

Onceachunkymonkey · 13/01/2025 13:45

I’m more a live and let live and don’t judge people like this.

Agree, they could be doing it for any number of reasons

RJnomore1 · 13/01/2025 14:53

Anyone who thinks a 20 year marriage isn't an achievement either hasn't been married anywhere near that long or is kidding themselves on! Even when you love the ones of someone it's a huge achievement...

OVienna · 13/01/2025 14:53

That used to be the old story. Now I think it's just the Instagram crowd doing something for their 'followers'.

TooManyChristmasCards · 13/01/2025 14:54

Surely it's one of those, if you don't like them then.. don't have one?

There are hundred of reasons why a couple wants a vow renewal, why is it any of your business?

Some had a cheap wedding and can now afford an extravagant one,
some like the idea,
some want their kids involved, or even the cat

I mean, accusing everyone to organise one because of "cheating" says more about you frankly. Being bitter and nasty about something is about you, not about anyone else!

I haven't felt like having one for now, maybe 1 day I will, who knows. Your opinion on the subject will not matter one bit. I never understand these threads bitching about others when it doesn't affect you.

misssultana · 13/01/2025 14:55

OVienna · 13/01/2025 14:53

That used to be the old story. Now I think it's just the Instagram crowd doing something for their 'followers'.

I think this probably is a factor these days, although not a particularly edifying one.

OP posts:
Hipalong · 13/01/2025 14:56

TooManyChristmasCards · 13/01/2025 14:54

Surely it's one of those, if you don't like them then.. don't have one?

There are hundred of reasons why a couple wants a vow renewal, why is it any of your business?

Some had a cheap wedding and can now afford an extravagant one,
some like the idea,
some want their kids involved, or even the cat

I mean, accusing everyone to organise one because of "cheating" says more about you frankly. Being bitter and nasty about something is about you, not about anyone else!

I haven't felt like having one for now, maybe 1 day I will, who knows. Your opinion on the subject will not matter one bit. I never understand these threads bitching about others when it doesn't affect you.

Isn't it our business when we're invited to them?

Timble · 13/01/2025 14:57

judgy thread!! I renewed my vows with my husband as we married 25 years ago and we work hard at our marriage and really felt like celebrating our strength and happiness. No cheating, it didn’t go on Facebook or Instagram it was just for us and our two dc. It was a lovely day!

misssultana · 13/01/2025 14:57

@TooManyChristmasCards Well I'm allowed to have an opinion on the matter, I don't stand up during the ceremony and make accusations or probe the "bride and groom" on their marital problems. As it stands most people seem to be of the same mind as me.

OP posts:
NeonGreenHighlighter · 13/01/2025 14:58

Fluufer · 13/01/2025 14:44

DH and I eloped, just 2 witnesses. We're approaching 10 years and considering a vow renewal or just a party, because we never really had a wedding. Now I don't want because I worry people will assume trouble 😂

Very similar situation here. Also I was pregnant when I got married, I want the kids there now 🤣

DH loved our wedding day so much that on the night he said we should do it again in about ten years 🤣