Vanuatu Vows

Anne Bain from Beyond the Brochure Travel melted our hearts with her retro wedding snap from 1974 and scooped a trip to paradise

Where did you renew your vows? Describe the scene.

Vows were renewed at Iririki Island Resort at Snorkellers Cove. It’s an absolutely beautiful spot right on the harbour looking out to sea. This site is where most weddings and renewal ceremonies take place at the Iririki Island Resort. The staff had created an arch decorated with pink and red native flowers to match our outfits. Attending the ceremony were ourselves, the celebrant (a former pastor), wedding coordinators Heidi and Michelle and our witnesses – staff Melina and Roy. We wrote the ceremony which the celebrant read out and then at the end Greg and I gave vows to each other. There were a few other Iririki guests who took photos and gave a little applause at the end when we signed the certificate, which was really lovely.

Remind us where you got married originally?

We married in a traditional church ceremony at St Matthews, Wingham (a little country town on the mid north coast of NSW) on May 18, 1974. All our family and friends were in attendance (about 130 people) and we left the church under a guard of honour of crossed rowing blades (both Greg and I rowed at the time).

How did Vanuatu compare?

Our renewal of vows at Iririki could not have been more different. The only similarity was that it was exactly the same date and time of our wedding, only 39 years later! In 1974 we had a church wedding with family and friends on a lovely autumn day. Vanuatu was on a beach, on a tropical island, with just us and some witnesses, on another beautiful autumn day with temperatures of about 28 degrees.

What was your favourite vow?

Promising to be around for each other for at least another 30 years. Greg almost died in an accident in 2011 so the “in sickness and in health” vow had special significance for us.

Do you look better now than on your first wedding day? fine things mature with age after all.

Well, we certainly look different – more ample proportions and different colour hair. We would like to think that we have, over 39 years, garnered some wisdom and insights, and over the past two years regained good health. We are certainly looking to the future with the same enthusiasm for life and adventure that we first shared back in 1974.

For more information about weddings and honeymoons in Vanuatu, visit weddings-vanuatu.com

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