A wedding vow renewal ceremony is one of the nicest ways to say, "Yes, marriage does work," according to Sandy Bastion, owner of Plumeria Bouquets (https://www.plumeriabouquets.com/). Couples celebrate the opportunity to grow together and to be each other's support system through the years. Bastion added, "It is public acknowledgement of exclaiming, 'Yes! I still do.'"

Couples have renewed their wedding vows for many reasons, all of which include the quote above: "I still do." The most common reason for a wedding vow renewal ceremony is to celebrate a milestone anniversary such as the 10th, 25th, or 50th; these special anniversaries are often marked by traditional gifts such as diamond (10th), silver (25th) and gold (50th). Other common reasons for renewing wedding vows include overcoming hardships, separations or illnesses. Some couples want to include their grown children in their ceremony, while others want to have that big wedding they could not afford the first time. Still others decide to take that dream trip and make it an intimate destination wedding.

Val and James M. decided to renew their 40th wedding anniversary with vows the year after their daughter's wedding. They flew their daughter and son-in-law to Las Vegas and had them as their honor attendants, and then treated the young couple and themselves to a weeklong honeymoon. Any location can be the perfect place to renew your wedding vows, including a house of worship, your backyard, a favorite restaurant or even that beautiful hiking trail where the proposal was made. Wherever and whatever spells romance to you is the right place to recommit your love for each other.

Even celebrity couple Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake celebrated their 10th anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony. Biel explained, "You just have to keep being available for each other and you have to keep making each other a priority. And do the things that you love together." Biel and Timberlake celebrated their vow renewals in Italy -- "where it all began," according to Biel. The two vowed their continued love and credited each other for their continued romance.

When planning the renewal ceremony, the couple should focus on the things most important to their unique relationship. The location should have personal meaning, whether a church or in nature. Unless the couple's goal is to have that big wedding they always wanted but did not have, an intimate guest list could include those with whom they are closest. It could be fun to write new wedding vows, ones that reflect on your life experiences together... and display a framed copy of your original vows. It could be interesting to compare the two versions after a lifetime together.

There really are not any rules to abide by, religious or civil, as far as the officiant when renewing your wedding vows. You are free to choose a best friend, an elder family member or even one (or more) of your children to perform the ceremony. You may choose to wear your original wedding garments, or something different. Some couples will exchange "vow renewal rings," while others might have their original rings engraved with the renewal date; you can also exchange any other piece of jewelry or special item during your ceremony. Everything about your wedding vow renewal should be catered to your personal likes and wants.

If you choose to copy your original floral arrangement or decide on a new one, again it is entirely up to your choice and preference. Bastion says that many couples choose to go with artificial flowers that look and feel real because then they will have a lasting keepsake that will always remind them of their special day. As for wedding registries, it is suggested not to use one, and if friends insist on giving a gift, you might ask them to donate to a favorite charity that means a lot to the both of you. Your invitations can be as formal or informal as you like; some couples even make use of private Facebook invites.

Your wedding vow renewal should be an opportunity to celebrate the life, love and milestones you have enjoyed together. It is also a time to look toward the future, to continue building on the good and to reaffirm your commitment to loving each other.