Listen: Have you recently reached a milestone in your marriage, or overcome a hardship? A relationship renewal may be the perfect way to celebrate!
By Joni BoydThursday 16 Nov 2023Salt 106.5 WeekendsRelationshipsReading Time: 3 minutes
Relationship expert and neuropsychotherapist Joanne Wilson says relationship renewals are a special way to celebrate with the one you love.
We’ve all seen the Pinterest-worthy photos of relationship renewal ceremonies. They can be a special way to celebrate a milestone or simply show how much you mean to each other.
“It’s a special moment when a couple comes to a place during therapy where they say, ‘Things are now going great and we want to mark this occasion that where we’ve come from and where we are now and where we’re heading deserves an experiential ceremony.'”
Here are Joanne’s top 7 ideas for a fun, meaningful relationship renewal.
1. Choose a Sentimental Location
Consider planning your relationship renewal at a destination which holds special meaning for the two of you. This could be a local look out or beach, or even the restaurant where you had your first date. If a destination ceremony is too expensive (scuba diving in the Bahamas anyone?) simply paint a backdrop or print an oversized photo of the location.
2. Consider a Themed Ceremony
Whether it’s the Roaring Twenties theme or based around a movie or TV show you enjoy watching together, a themed relationship renewal is a great way to express your feelings for each other, while injecting some of the fun and individuality of your relationship into the moment.
3. Write Personalised Vows
Writing personalised vows enables you to reflect your journey together, as well as any hopes for the future. Whether you incorporate your original vows or create something completely new, this is a great opportunity to commemorate your relationship and the different ways in which you’ve both grown and changed together over the years.
4. Involve your Extended Family
If you have children, perhaps consider involving them in the ceremony. You may even like to invite close friends and family to be a part of your relationship renewal – especially friends and family who have been particularly supportive of your relationship through all of the ups and downs. They may like to read a poem or bring a short speech to commemorate the special moment.
5. Have an Outdoor Adventure
Is there a mountain you both enjoy hiking together? Or a river with special significance to you both? Your relationship renewal could encompass an outdoor adventure! Invite friends and family to experience the outdoor adventure with you.
6. Make it a Surprise!
If you’d like to surprise your partner, this is a great opportunity to spoil them and make sure they know just how special they are to you. To help them enjoy their special moment, subtly ensure they wear something they’ll be happy with for the occasion.
7. Recreate Your Original Wedding
Some couples opt to recreate their wedding and perhaps even include a time capsule. While many things may have changed in the meantime, perhaps some aspects can be carried across such as songs featured in your wedding or first dance, or a special ceremonial act you can recreate.
There are so many ways to celebrate a relationship renewal – get creative!
As Joanne says, “It is such a beautiful thing to just honour your union. This is a gift from God that two lives can collide, and you can do a life together as a united front.”
Listen to the full conversation in the player above.
For more from Joanne Wilson tune in each Saturday from 12pm or find more from The Relationship Rejuvenator online.