Marriage vows don't have an expiration date but don't tell that to Lauren and David Blair. Throughout 30 years of marriage, the Hendersonville, Tennessee couple has continually renewed their "I dos"; 109 times, to be exact! Their most recent ceremony took place on August 15, and they've extended their Guinness World Record for "Most Marriage Vow Renewals by the Same Couple," a title they've held since their 66th vow renewal in 2001.
Photo Credit: Josh Cross, The Tennessean
The 63-year-old eternal bride explains on the Guinness World Records site that "We were both in long term relationships in the past that didn't work out. We knew we were meant for each other and wanted to continually share that vow experience. I love to look into David's eyes as he is repeating his vows. I know that this man will love me until the day I die. Of course, David will tell you that he does it for the honeymoons!"
What makes their record even more extraordinary is that Lauren initially turned David down, when he proposed to her after three months of dating. (They met while working at Universal Studios Hollywood.) She had a change of heart after catching the bouquet at her cousin's wedding; the next day, she handed him a card that read, "If you still want to marry me, please ask me again."
The rest is history. Their first wedding took place in 1984 at the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon, California. Since then, they've exchanged vows in a wide variety of unique locations, including the birthplace of Elvis Presley, on the set of "Romeo and Juliet" at a performing arts center, a funeral parlor, and a tailgate party for a Tennessee Titans and New York Jets game. Their ceremonies have spanned the globe from Canada to Aruba and London to Scotland.
Photo courtesy of Lauren and David Blair via The Today Show
"The first time we got married was the best time, but each one of our weddings is really meaningful," Lauren tells USA Today. "We allow the minister or whomever it is to write his own vows for us, and some of them have come up with some really great ones."
The Today Show reports that the couple has purposely renewed their vows on every numbered day of the month so that every day is technically their anniversary. So sweet!
Lauren and David don't plan on quitting: "We're just going to keep doing it. It just proves that love is still alive and people can stay married for longer than four years," they tell The Tennessean.
Plus, check out The Wedding Dress That's Traveled the World.
—Stefania Sainato
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