Wedding²: Planning a vow renewal

My hubby Nathaniel and I are planning something very special for this summer… we’re renewing our wedding vows.

Why we’re renewing our wedding vows

If you’ve ever wondered ‘why do couples renew wedding vows’, for us it comes down to this: taking a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the journey so far. After more than two decades together, it’s about celebrating everything we’ve built, and everything still to come.

When we first got married in 2003, our wedding was small and simple. That suited us (and our budget!) at the time, and we didn’t want a big fuss (we wanted a marriage, not a big wedding).

Now, in 2026, we’re in a completely different place. We feel more confident, more settled, and more ourselves. This time, we want to create something that truly reflects who we are as a couple - relaxed, meaningful, a little bit magical… and full of joy.

We’re also incredibly proud of our relationship and how far we’ve come. We’ve grown together - when so many couples grow apart - and we want to celebrate that love, and re-commit to each other in a way that feels meaningful and special, surrounded by those closest to us.

…and we’re calling it: Wedding²

An Outdoor Wedding (exactly our kind of thing)

One thing we knew straight away - it had to be outdoors.

We both love nature, being outside, and that slightly wild, relaxed feeling you just don’t get in a traditional indoor venue. It feels very us to be surrounded by trees, fresh air, and a bit of unpredictability (this is the UK, after all!).

We’re leaning into a boho, festival-style vibe - colourful, informal, and full of little experiences rather than anything too structured. Think games, outdoor seating, laughter, and space for people to just be.

We’re hiring these from the Tipi Wedding Company… Photo credit: Sophie Ann Photography.

We’ve hired a space in a country park, along with some beautiful tipis - which fit the whole feel perfectly.

Why we chose to hire a tipi

One of the biggest decisions when it came to our vow renewal planning was the setting - and we quickly fell in love with the idea of a tipi wedding.

If you’re exploring tipi wedding ideas (or planning an outdoor vow renewal in the UK), it really does offer the best of both worlds: being outdoors, while still having a cosy, sheltered space for eating, speeches, and dancing.

We’re planning to decorate with flowers, bunting, fairy lights, LED candles, and a mix of boho-inspired details to bring it all together.

I’ll share more on the décor (with photos!) after the event, once everything has come to life.

With our lovely friend Rachael - a Humanist Celebrant.

The ceremony will be led by someone special

A huge part of why this day will feel so personal is our celebrant - our special friend Rachael.

For us, choosing a vow renewal celebrant was a no brainer - having someone who understands our story and genuinely cares about us leading the ceremony makes it feel incredibly meaningful - but also, Rachael’s so good at what she does; it won’t just be a script - it will be our story, told by someone who’s been part of it. We’ve already seen the first draft, and it’s perfect.

If you’re looking for a celebrant, here’s a link to Rachael’s website - she really is wonderful >

A festival feel (games, fun & something different)

There will be familiar elements - a ceremony, speeches, food, and music - but in a less formal way, with lots of fun thrown in.

If you’re looking for festival wedding ideas or planning a more informal vow renewal celebration, this kind of approach feels much more personal. We’re including games, arts and crafts, and a few interactive activities - along with plenty of space for people to mingle, laugh, and enjoy the day in their own way.

And… a few surprises along the way (I’ll definitely share more details after the event!)

Guest list decisions

One of the trickiest parts of vow renewal planning has been the guest list. We’ve ended up with around 70 guests, which for us feels just right.

We’ve invited close family and friends. We have a large extended family, but the guest list would easily quadruple if we invited everyone, so we had to draw a line somewhere.

With my MoH at my Hen Party

The VIP’s by our side

Just like at a “traditional” wedding, we’ve chosen a wedding party.

My step-daughter will be my Maid of Honour, which feels incredibly special for so many reasons - including the fact that, by marrying her dad the first time around, I unofficially adopted her. I’ve always felt that my original commitment to him was also a commitment to her.

I’ve also asked my step-sister and nieces to be bridesmaids, my hubby has chosen two best men, and we also have an usher.

It feels so lovely to have those key people standing alongside us as we do this.

Planning… and all the things to think about

There is a lot more to think about than you might expect when it comes to planning a vow renewal.

Music alone is a whole project - before and after the ceremony, background, evening and first dance. There’s also food, including the cake, decorations, outfits, photos, seating, timings, weather plans (because - UK!), and much more!

It’s a lot - but it’s also been really fun creating something that feels so personal.

A Wedding… but different

While in some ways, this is like a wedding, it feels like there’s less pressure, more perspective, and a deeper sense of what really matters.

We’re not trying to create a “perfect” day. We’re creating a day that feels like us.

To be continued…

I’ll be sharing more vow renewal ideas, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes planning over the coming months.

And of course, I’ll share how it all came together after the big day 💕

If you’re planning your own vow renewal, I’d love to hear what you’re doing - feel free to connect with me on Instagram @iamsarahlsmith.