Nova Maldives: How I finally gave my wife the wedding she deserved, 19 years after our rainy civil ceremony

It was all we could afford at the time, and we were happy because we were surrounded by friends and family. But deep down I’ve always felt that I let her down a little, and over the years we’ve talked about how we would do it differently if we ever renewed our vows.

So you can imagine my excitement when we finally set a date close to our anniversary to do just that, in the Maldives. It was a dream destination for both of us, and as we prepared for the journey we could only hope it would live up to everything we’d imagined.

Our vow renewal was set to take place at the Nova Resort on the island of Vakarufalhi. All we had to do first was get there, which meant a long stretch of cars, planes, buses, seaplanes and boats.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Nova Maldives resort, take a look at my full review.

We landed early afternoon, greeted by temperatures of around 30 degrees — already a world away from that drizzly day 19 years ago. The Nova team gave us a warm welcome and showed us to the aqua villa that would be our home for the next few days.

With day one nearly done and the vow renewal scheduled for 4pm the next day, we freshened up and headed for dinner at the resort’s Flames Grill House. I treated myself to the Surf and Turf degustation menu, a multi-course showcase with paired wines, while my wife chose a few dishes from the à la carte menu. Perfect wedding prep.

With the ceremony only hours away and jet lag setting in, we took a slow walk back along the decking under the stars and already knew we’d made the right choice.

A morning of nerves and excitement

We woke with nerves and excitement already bubbling, but the build-up to the ceremony couldn’t have been calmer.

Breakfast was at Soul Kitchen just a short walk from the Aqua Villa jetty, where we tucked into everything from classic breakfast favourites to more adventurous choices.

After a relaxed wander around the tiny island, we headed to the Eskape Spa for a one-hour couples massage. The scent of the oils, the sound of the ocean and the chance to finally let the journey melt out of our bodies reset us completely.

Sitting together afterwards in our robes, drinking ginger tea and looking out over the Indian Ocean, it all felt exactly right.

With only a couple of hours to go, we went back to the villa to freshen up and change into our wedding attire.

A wedding ceremony like no other at Nova Maldives

Dressed and ready, we walked to the Nova Hub to meet the wedding party. The team collected our rings, placing them in a container with ceremonial sand, and the coordinator talked us through the plan before guiding us to the beach.

Led by two drummers, with flower girls behind them, the rest of the Nova wedding team and the master of ceremonies waited by a white floral altar with the sea gently washing onto the shore.

As we approached, we were handed traditional coconut drinks and after a few sips we stood facing each other as the ceremony began.

At that moment I lost all sense of my surroundings. Everything faded except the warmth of the sun, the sound of the vows and my wife’s smile.

We mixed the sand that had held our rings, pouring from two containers into one shared vessel, a simple but meaningful moment that felt like the perfect symbol of the 19 years behind us.

With vows spoken and rings exchanged, the world came back into focus and we celebrated with Champagne and a two-tier wedding cake.

As we walked back down the beach, red rose petals fell around us, marking the start of our photoshoot. The SNAP! Photographer who had been quietly capturing the day then guided us through more shots, both together and on our own, with the island as a backdrop.

By dusk we were heading hand-in-hand back to the villa, where another bottle of Champagne was waiting.

Dinner was back at Soul Kitchen, where we chatted through every moment of the day, both thinking the surprises were over.

Back at the villa, one of the team was still cleaning the room, which felt odd so late, but we didn’t think much of it. We wandered to the end of the jetty to take in the clear night sky until the room was ready.

When we finally returned, we found the villa decorated with towel swans, rose petals and coconut leaves. After a day full of big gestures, it was the small details that made it even more special.

Almost 20 years later, renewing our vows in the Maldives was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. The island will live in both our hearts for a long time, and we’ll be sure to return again soon.

Nova wedding packages

For couples considering it, Nova’s wedding packages range from $1,700 (approx £1,300) to $2,200 (approx), however, the Nova wedding team can create custom wedding packages to suit what you are looking for.