WE DO, WE DO

Once Is Not Enough: Renewing Wedding Vows Is Hollywood's Latest Trend

By Sexy Chatty Catty

SexyChattyCatty O M G, NOT ANOTHER ONE.

What is it with this renewing of the vows? What does it all mean? Am I supposed to do it now?

It's must be catching.

On April 30, those crazy kids Mimi and Nick renewed their vows for a third time.

And just this past weekend, Heidi Klum and Seal did it for a sixth time. "It's our time -- a lovely family time," Klum explained to Redbook. "It's about remembering this moment of love we gave to each other and reinforcing it."

Thwarting rumors of impending divorce, Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott also recoupled Saturday in a private Beverly Hills ceremony. Tori wore white and kissed her husband "passionately" after the ceremony.

They're a long way from their romantic island wedding on Fuji five years ago. After a failed bed and breakfast ownership, two kids and grandma troubles, who wouldn’t expect things to be rough.

A few months back, OC Real Housewife Vicki Gunderson and her husband Don were actually heading for divorce before snapping to their senses and recommitting to each other. They were on a lovely vacation and Vicki sprung the idea on Don as a surprise. It was on the beach and it was beautiful, heartfelt and real.

For NY Housewife Ramona Singer, the thought that popped into that swirly head of hers. Determined to celebrate 16 years of marriage, an anniversary just as odd as she is, she seductively talked husband Mario into what promises to be a lavish ceremony. Maybe she’s nervous there wouldn’t be a 17th?

But is another wedding the way to save a marriage?

Some relationship experts say yes, and that recommitting to a spouse can be an "essential part in healing a broken marriage."

According to Dawn O. Braithwaite of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, some couples who renew their vows "want to fix something. It's what we call relationship repair; they want to repair infidelity, or having grown apart, or a relationship that was not very close."

And as more celebrities continue to do it, the trend may catch on with average Joes and Josephines. All it may take is for a few celebrities to renew their vows, and if it works over a long term it may become pretty prominent within the public," said David Popenoe, professor of sociology at Rutgers University and co-director of the National Marriage Project. "We all know how much influence they have over the public."

But the move may be a last-ditched effort to mend an irreparably broken marriage. Cases in point: Both Madonna and Guy Ritchie, and John and Elizabeth Edwards exchanged renewed vows shortly before their marriages permanently collapsed.

I just wonder who’ll be next in TVLand to cement their relationship with a second time around.

My prediction Larry King and seventh wife Shawn.

And won't that just confirm that the death knell has rung for that marriage?

SexyChattyCatty is a regular contributor at CrabbyGolightly.com where she writes on TV, America's favorite snack food.