[my96prix]

We are converting our wedding ( first was at JP's House in the rain) vows to a covenant marriage and reaffirming our vows at the same time.

How do we precede? We will file a doc, with the county clerk office we will be issued a covenant paper that we have to keep with our original licences.

Ok here is my question, do we plan as though this is our first wedding? Or as a renewal? We are planning to do this on our 16th anniversary by the way.

[the_admin]

From an etiquette standpoint, since you are already married and so as not to confuse your guests, you would treat this a vow renewal; at least for the "reception" portion. Check with your minister or officiant on the ceremony preparation.

[RevSusanna]

What a wonderfully blessed thing to do! As you are already married, it is a Vow Renewal. It is also a transformation of the marriage in a spiritual, moral and legal sense. A Covenant Marriage (legal in some states, but not all) requires a greater sense of committment as it requires counseling and a greater sense of committment as legally there are slightly more limited grounds for a no fault divorce.

I thought you might like these Covenant Vows by Karen Deluca!

By these vows I covenant
our bond as man and wife
I pledge that God has joined us here
for now and all my life.

By these vows you now possess
my honor, heart and hand
my help, my home, my love, my life,
yours always to command.

By these vows I ask you
to be steward of this gift
to keep as sacred all the love
that He has blessed us with.

If sorrow, pain and sickness
come into our married life
By these vows and with God's strength
we'll conquer every strife.

By these vows I marry you
in reverence, hope and faith
May God in heaven consecrate
our union with His grace.

***

A life time of blessings upon you!

Rev. Susanna