When Brady and I got married five years ago, I told him we should get re-married every five years. Some peope might say five years isn’t long enough to have a vow renewal, but I thought it was the perfect length of time. It felt long enough to be momentous, but short enough to always have something to look forward to. In particular, I wanted a destination vow renewal (fun fact: I wanted to elope for our original wedding, but Brady wanted a traditional wedding). Brady, who loves weddings (hence the traditional wedding) and is a hopeless romantic, was totally on board. Last fall, we realized our five-year wedding anniversary was coming up, and after some brainstorming we settled on a beach vow renewal ceremony in Bora Bora.
Bora Bora is one of the many islands that makes up the nation of French Polynesia. French Polynesia has been on my travel bucket list for awhile, because it boasts some of the last remaining pristine beaches and coral reefs left on our planet. There is something almost devastatingly romantic about the South Pacific. It’s so remote, so adventurous, and yet so romantically dreamy! Honestly, it’s like the best place to renew vows, with stunning views and basically perfect weather all year round. Plus, it’s a fairly easy trip from the West Coast, with direct flights from San Francisco to Tahiti.
If you want to renew your vows on the beach, consider this your sign to go for it. Brady and I both agree whole-heartedly that it was one of the most beautiful experiences of our lives.
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What is a Vow Renewal and Why Do One?
Vow renewals are an opportunity to reaffirm and celebrate your relationship with your partner. There is no legal component, so it’s purely ceremonial. You might wonder, “Well, then, what’s the point?” Well, rituals hold a lot of power and meaning! They take a certain amount of intention and energy, both of which are important for a relationship to thrive.
There are several ways to approach vow renewal ceremonies, from planning a second wedding to creating your own private ritual. The crucial component, however, is intention. Take the time to really plan something that is meaningful, and do what feels good to you. Maybe that’s visiting a significant location or writing fresh promises to each other with beautiful vows; skinny-dipping in the ocean at midnight or sky-diving together. Whatever you choose, make it special! And remember that “special” doesn’t have to look the same for all couples.
Lastly, I want to emphasize that you absolutely do not have to do a vow renewal if that’s simply not your cup of tea. Just like anything in life, from having kids to choosing to go to college, it’s important to make choices that align with your values and feel good/authentic for you. Brady and I both value connection, adventure, joy, and love, so a vow renewal was very meaningful for us. It definitely felt a little silly at first, but I can tell you that both of us agree that it was 100% worth it and, in hindsight, not silly at all.
A Romantic Getaway to Bora Bora
Once we decided that French Polynesia was our destination, we started researching hotels. I have always wanted to stay in an overwater bungalow, so we focused on hotels and resorts with overwater bungalows. There are several options in French Polynesia on several different islands, but ultimately we decided to book Conrad Bora Bora Nui. In general, Brady and I agreed it was the best looking resort, plus they had a special where if you booked 3 nights, you got the 4th night free.
One reason I wanted to book an overwater bungalow for this trip was because I wanted to stay in a place where we could spend quality time together, just the two of us. Sometimes, a hotel is just a place to sleep. But for this trip, I wanted a private paradise.
The overwater bungalow at Conrad Bora Bora Nui really delivered on this! We definitely spent the majority of our time in the bungalow relaxing on our deck, snorkeling, and enjoying room service. It was absolutely worth the splurge for our 5 year anniversary vow renewal, and I’m so grateful we got to enjoy this incredible experience.
Planning a Vow Renewal in Paradise
About a month or so before our departure, we reached out to Conrad Bora Bora Nui about options for our 5 year vow renewal. We wanted something simple, but special, so they sent us their wedding and vow renewal packages. At first, Brady and I both felt kind of silly booking an actual event. It felt like such an unnecessary expense. But, then we realized this was something that meant a lot to both us. Ultimately, we would rather spend money on breath-taking experiences with each other than anything else! In fact, it’s one of the many reasons we choose a childfree life.
We decided on the most basic package, the Opuhi ceremony, which cost around $900. This included a small, beach vow renewal ceremony with a Polynesian Priest, a wedding certificate inscribed on local tapa, a two-tier wedding cake, and a bottle of Billecart Salmon Brut champagne. We added a few extras, including flower crowns and leis for both us (around $80 per person), some tropical decorations for the ceremony (another $40), and a photographer (around $600) so that we could capture the magic of the moment. Altogether, the cost of the vow renewal ceremony on the beach came out to about $1700. I even purchased a vow renewal dress from Lulu’s that was just $89 (I got a size XL and it fit beautifully).
The best part about booking a vow renewal package was how easy everything was. We didn’t have to plan a thing, and we didn’t have to worry about coordinating anything while we were there. It was like a magical dream come true.
The Big Day: Our Vow Renewal Ceremony on the Beach
We arrived in Bora Bora on Monday, and our vow renewal was to take place on our anniversary, which was Thursday. We spent our first few days relaxing, soaking in the incredible vews, and even did a half-day snorkel adventure to swim with sharks and stingrays. On Thursday morning, we woke up to rain. It rained almost every day we were there, usually sweeping storms that lasted between 5 and 15 minutes.
The morning of our vow renewal was no different. It rained early in the morning, but quickly cleared for a spectacularly beautiful day. We ordered room service for breakfast, which we did every day, because you just can’t beat nibbling a croissant on your private deck overlooking aquamarine water.
Afterwards, we got dressed together. I did my own hair and make up.
Brady and I laughed, because we were both strangely nervous.
The Vow Renewal Ceremony
Our wedding planner and photographer arrived about 10 minutes before the ceremony. We took a few dreamy photos in our bungalow before hopping on a golf cart and cruising to the beach. There, a Polynesian Priest clad in bright yellow awaited us. Vibrant fuschia flowers glowed against the white sand beach, and two large palm fronds formed a heart where we we were supposed to stand. It was sunny and windy and beautiful.
The ceremony itself was stunning, perhaps even better than our original wedding. It was conducted in both Polynesian and English, with ceremonies that were familiar (saying “I do”) and strange (our hands were bound together and the priest poured seawater over them from a conch shell).
Brady cried. I laughed.
We were given Polynesian names to call each other that roughly translate to Sky Love Husband and Sky Love Wife. We exchanged our wedding rings again (why not?), reaffirmed our vows, and sealed it with a kiss.
The whole ceremony lasted about 20-30 minutes, after which,we spent another 30 minutes driving around the resort and taking photos with our photographer. Then, the wedding planner dropped us off at our bungalow, and that was that! No guests to accomodate, no clean up. Just paradise.
A little while later, our wedding cake and bottle of champagne were delivered to our room. We sat on our deck looking out at the ocean, eating cake and drinking champagne, and both of us agreed that this was one of the best decisions we had ever made.
Would you do a beach vow renewal? Share your thoughts, ideas, and inspirations in the comments.
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The article describes a beautiful and romantic experience for couples looking to renew their vows in a picturesque location. The details of the ceremony, from the beach location to the local floral arrangements, create a dreamy and intimate atmosphere for the couple to celebrate their love.
The article also includes practical tips for couples interested in planning a similar vow renewal ceremony, such as the necessary legal requirements and the best time of year to visit Bora Bora.
Overall, the article provides an enjoyable read for couples interested in a romantic getaway and vow renewal ceremony, and serves as inspiration for those seeking a memorable and picturesque experience.