Vow Renewal Highlights World Marriage Day

Spokane couples will have the opportunity to celebrate World Marriage Day on Saturday with an all-faith vow renewal ceremony and other events.

The festivities begin at 5:15 p.m. with the renewal ceremony at St. Aloysius Church, E330 Boone. The celebration will move in a caravan of decorated cars to Riverfront Park, where the Carrousel will be operated free of charge from 7-9 p.m.

At 8 p.m., Spokane City Council member Chris Anderson will proclaim World Marriage Day, and a dozen long-stemmed roses will be awarded to the longest married couple present. A drawing open to all couples attending will also be held. The grand prize will be an overnight stay at the Berry Patch Inn Bed and Breakfast in Coeur d’Alene. Other prizes include candies and flowers.

Organizers for this year’s community activities, Dan and Renee Daniels, expect to see at least 300 people participating throughout the evening. The celebration seems to get larger each year, Renee said. “It’s a really romantic thing to do,” Dan added.

World Marriage Day, on Feb. 12, is sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter Inc., a nondenominational, nonprofit organization which holds workshops to enrich and revitalize marriages by focusing on communication and the revival of romance. The day is celebrated around the world in order to honor the institution of marriage and increase awareness of its positive aspects.

For more information on the community celebrations, contact the Daniels at 466-9535. To learn more about the sponsoring organization and its workshops, call Mike and Leila Frederick at 468-0786.