Secret Wedding Vow Renewal

JohnT · Veteran Member

Secret Wedding Vow Renewal

Michele Erdvig · Host

John,

I don't think Catholics do an actual "vow renewal" since marriage is for life. But I have heard of a reaffirmation ceremony or a blessing ceremony. (Someone tell me if I'm wrong here.) I suppose the thing to do is contact a priest where you want to do it.

I can't think of a more beautiful place to have a ceremony than St. Finbarr's in Gougane Barra. http://www.corkandross.org/parishes.jsp?parishID=66#church3

Michele

loosechippings · Veteran Member

My Wife and I renewed our Wedding Vows for our 40th Anniversary a year ago, we asked our Pastor a few weeks in advance if there would be any issues and he said no (this was in New Jersey USA). The ceremony was very simple, the Priest reads Prayers involving commitment and marriage, and he blesses the couple and sprinkles them with Holy Water. It takes about 10 minutes in total and is commonly performed toward the end of Mass, but can be performed outside of Mass.
I would strongly recommend making contact with the Catholic Church and Pastor that you are interested in having this performed as far in advance as possible as I dont know what the Irish norms are.
We use this site http://www.catholicireland.net/ for finding Mass times in Ireland, the information youre seeking may be found there.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mike,

Thanks for that link. I'm sure it will be helpful for JohnT.

Michele

arkitkat · Member

My husband also planned a vow renewal as a surprise. Our's was held in Galway at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church. My daughter emailed the minister there a few months ahead of our trip and all was set. We bought rings the night before ( that's when I found out and was blown away!) and we bought flowers at the farmer's market in the street outside the church. Another thing my husband did was to get all my friends to write a card for me. It was our 40 Anniversary and everyone knew but me about the renewal. It is something I'll NEVER forget and the memory is so sweet. Good luck in your planning! Oh, also, my daughter found a marriage certificate online that had shamrocks as a border! The mininster signed it and blessed our rings.

Good luck!

Janie

-- Edited by arkitkat on Monday 16th of April 2012 12:52:09 PM

-- Edited by arkitkat on Monday 16th of April 2012 12:54:19 PM

JohnT · Veteran Member

Janie, thanks so much for your response. Would you please be able to ask your husband the site where he found the marriage certificate with shamrocks around it and let me know? That would be awesome. The wonderful priest in Irelandl has offered to have a harpist, to invite townsfolk (that we don't even know), and to have a small reception afterwards of punch and sandwiches! When I offered to pay, he wouldn't hear of it (I will certainly pay, plus for the use of the church in any event). The Irish are a kind and caring folk,which endears them to me even more. Thanks for any info you can provide. With Gratitude, JohnT

Michele Erdvig · Host

Janie,

What a lovely surprise. I'm sure the rings and certificate mean the world to you. Thanks for sharing.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

John,

If the Irish won't let you pay, give a donation to the church. The Irish do like any excuse to party!

Michele

arkitkat · Member

John,

I checked with my daughter about the certificate. She made it! You can Google "shamrock border" and get several choices. I would be happy to email you a photo of the certificate. The fonts she chose were very pretty.

I forgot to say that after our ceremony, a lady who was in the choir came in and said we needed a song. She sang a beautiful song in Gaelic, in the empty church. It was stunning!

A word of caution though. My husband's friends were all mad at him. They said he set the bar too high! Lol.

Janie

JohnT · Veteran Member

Thanks, Janie. I would love to know how your daughter designed and created the certificate and the words she used. I am not creative enough to figure it out for myself. Thanks for any hints. JohnT

JohnT · Veteran Member

Michelle, I intend to donate to the church. Any idea what amount would be appropriate? JohnT

Michele Erdvig · Host

I suppose it depends on what they do for you. Go with your gut feeling.

Michele

arkitkat · Member

John, I put the photo of the certificate as my avatar. It's very tiny but it gives you an idea. The wording is:

This Certificate of Marriage Vow Renewal is presented to (our names) on this 6th day of September, 2008, at the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, In the County of Galway, in the Country of Ireland. After that there are places for us to sign our names and then below that it reads, Officiated by and a line for the minister, or priest. Ours was signed by the Very Reverand Patrick L. Towers, the Provost of Tuam. I love it.

The church secretary bustled around before the ceremony and pulled in some flowers from a wedding the night before. Lol, I was in jeans, but no one batted an eye. This is and will always be one of my most special memories.

My daughter just used whatever print program she had on her computer. You might check with your local print shop and see if they could design one, or if you have a teenager, or younger, lol, they should be able to do it.

Michele might know how to make the photo larger.

Michele Erdvig · Host

To post a picture:

Just below the quick reply box click "advanced editor" button
A new window opens with many more options.
Below the reply box is a box you must check "Attach File(s)"
You are then prompted to find the right file in your computer.
Once that is done click "Submit Post" button.

Your picture will be on the post.

Michele

arkitkat · Member

Thanks Michele!

arkitkat · Member

Yay! It worked!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Way to go!

tony2phones · Guru

If you have Microsoft Office- Word then you can get some borders by clicking Clip Art. I have had a quick look and there are no Shamrock borders as such but there is a selection of Celtic borders if there is anything you like?

JohnT · Veteran Member

All, I am so grateful to each of you for caring enough to share of yourself and provide some great assistance. While in Ireland, I will be thinking of all of you for making this trip one to remember. With Gratitude, JohnT

tony2phones · Guru

Where are you having your occasion and when?

arkitkat · Member

I hope you have a wonderful ceremony and an amazing trip. I can't imagine staying for 5 weeks. We were there for 2 1/2 weeks. It was spectacular from the castles to the people. The people are so sweet and kind. If you look lost, which we were a lot, someone will stop their car and ask if you need help. Once when this happened, we asked directions. The man thought for a minute and said, "Just follow me." He drove us for probably 10 miles then pulled over and came to our car. He told us to just follow the road now and we would find our location. We asked what we owed him and he said, "Aw nothing. Just say a prayer for me." How wonderful!!!