Symbolic and sentimental, renewing your vows is a commemoration of everlasting love, whether it's just the two of you or a celebration in the presence of your nearest and dearest.
But, whispers of "I do, take two" sound just that little bit better in paradise. A bit of amore abroad in your holiday idyll is an unforgettable way to revamp the romance, no matter if you've been married 15 or 50 years.
An urban affair
Las Vegas
Often, tradition isn't for everyone. Reignite the spark of matrimony amid the bright lights of Vegas. Live out an elopement fantasy within a haze of neon in the world's party capital, the one place where big, bold and bedazzled declarations of love are the perfect balance of fervour and kitsch. Cruise through a drive-thru ceremony or walk down the aisle with a bunch of plastic flowers in one of the many 'little white' chapels that line the Strip. Nothing says forever like Elvis presiding over your nuptials!
New York City
Countless television and film romances have played out in the City That Never Sleeps. Hopeless romantics flock to this glittering concrete jungle in the hope of imagining and reimagining a love story of their own. From the hustle and bustle of Times Square to lush, green lawns, New York has countless nuptial backdrops to suit any kind of couple, especially nature lovers and culture vultures.
Walk (down the aisle) on the wild side
Masai Mara
A blanket of stars, the distant roar of a lion and wildlife silhouetted against the sunset; it must be Africa. One for the true adventurers, Kenya's Masai Mara is an enchanting destination for loved-up pairs to renew their vows. Many lodges within this massive expanse offer packages that include a ceremony beneath the stars, complete with Masai dancers, blessings and warrior guards of honour. By day, spend your days on safari in search of the Big Five and when night falls, retreat to a luxury abode with all the mod-cons.
Yosemite National Park
A head-turner of a destination, Yosemite is all your wilderness dreams personified in high-definition. Pine-needled sequoia trees that pierce the sky and immense granite domes in the quixotic enclave of Yosemite National Park make for a prime vow renewal backdrop. Standing within its natural wonders hand-in-hand with your beloved is an unforgettable way to celebrate your love. There are numerous locations to choose from including the quaint Yosemite chapel, luxury Ahwahnee Lodge, thundering Bridalveil Falls and Tuolumne Meadows.
Note: a special use permit is required for any wedding-type ceremonies within Yosemite National Park.
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A coastal cantor
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is timeless in its tropical appeal. Dreamy days on unspoilt, secluded isles come with plenty of sun, sand and smiles. Throw the bouquet against a backdrop of swaying palms on Aitutaki and revel in your private, overwater bungalow for a few days of unbridled, island euphoria. Then, take your wedded bliss and hit the walking tracks within Rarotonga's verdant rainforests and volcanic cones.
Puglia Coast
Where wooded hills nudge white cliffs and blue crystalline seas lap at pebbly coves, Italy's Puglia Coast has all the ingredients of a recipe for romance. That's without mentioning its culinary treasures, or the Baroque architectural gems, or the wine region of Salento. It's a place where savvy travellers venture to escape the crowds of Tuscany or the more popular Amalfi Coast. Whether it's just you two or a gaggle of friends and family, hire a villa to say your 'I dos' and spend time immersing yourselves in the 'daily grind' of eat, sleep, swim, drink wine, repeat.
You-nique picks
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
Perhaps one for a smaller wedding renewal party, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb has been welcoming couples since 2008 to declare their love for one another surrounded by unbeatable vistas of the city – at 134 metres up, no less!
On the high seas
Aside from the ease of unpacking just once, a cruise offers everything you could possibly need for a vow renewal ceremony. Ships such as the Golden Princess feature onboard wedding chapels, and you can take your pick from a stack of dining, aka, reception venues. Not to mention making your debut as a newly remarried couple at the glitzy Starwalkers nightclub by way of travelator! Talk about an entrance!
Up in the air
A wedding venue like no other, renew your wedding vows on a hot air balloon ride. Your destinations are only limited by your wanderlust. From the Atherton Tablelands to Albuquerque, New Mexico, you can sip Champagne at dawn and then ascend into the clouds to promise to love each other, always, all over again.
