Bults visit Del. to continue yearly tradition of renewing vows in different state since 1987

What started as a fun way to get away together has turned into a yearly tradition since 1987 for Todd and Traci Bult.

The couple, who live in Arvada, Colo., are coming to Wilmington Tuesday to renew their wedding vows, something they have been doing every year – in a different state – for 36 years.

The First State is #37 for the two.

The tradition started on their 1st anniversary when they decided to visit Las Vegas.

“Traci would call her Mom and Dad back in Wisconsin each week,” Todd said. “We were in Vegas, and Traci called her Mom to check in. Traci’s mom told Traci that Pastor Bob, who was the minister our wedding, was no longer a Pastor.”

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Traci asked what happened, and her mom proceeded to tell her he was let go as the pastor because he mooned the Sunday school kids to get their attention.

“After Traci hung up the phone, we looked at each other and thought with everything that happened at our wedding ceremony and this latest stunt, we were not even sure if we were married,” Todd said. “We went to the Chapel of the Flowers in Vegas and got married again. It was fun and we decided we should do this every year, go to a different state and renew our vows, and that’s how it began.”

Some of their destinations include Love Park in Philadelphia, Pa. in 2023, the Colorado Rockies baseball team’s Spring Training in Tucson, Ariz. in 2000, Harbour Town Lighthouse in Hilton Head, S.C. in 2017, and a road trip with friends in Laurel, Mont. in 1992.

Last year, the Bults renewed their vows on the boardwalk of Atlantic City,  N.J.

“I think it keeps us more grounded and helps us deal with the ups & downs that come with any marriage,” Traci said. “It reminds us of why we got married, because we love each other.”

Although it began as a cool way to travel, the tradition has become much more meaningful.

“As time went on and life happened as it does, it became a time to truly focus on us and reconnect,” Todd said. “What’s fun is when family and friends join us, which has happened several times. We have even had two friends get ordained to renew our vows.”

The two married in 1987 in Palmyra, Wis. – Todd, 62, was born and raised in Lakewood, Colo. and is a software engineer. Traci, 61, was born and raised in Palmyra, Wis. and works in the front office of the local high school.

She moved to Colorado in 1986. The two met on March 7 of that year.

“Its gotten more high tech on how we select the city,” Traci joked. “We usually select a state first and, this time not knowing the area, Todd asked ChatGPT what nice cities are in Delaware. For Delaware, Wilmington was number one followed by Newark and Dover. Riverfront and growing food scene – sold!”

Tuesday’s vow renewal will be at 1p.m. on Tuesday, March 18 at Grace United Methodist Church, located at 900 North Washington Street in Wilmington.

“[After picking the city], we look up Methodist churches and Todd usually reaches out to the pastor to see if they are willing to renew our vows,” Traci said. “Pastor Ingalls at Grace Methodist was who we contacted.”

After Delaware, the couple will have 12 states left. They are all along the east coast.

“We lived in Washington state for a while so covering the west coast was the simplest as we continued the tradition,” Todd said. “We used to do the renewals on our anniversary but with our kids’ school schedules and our work schedules we decided to do it sometime during the current year.”

Todd said the travel, reconnecting, and meeting new folks across the country are some of his favorite parts of the tradition.Visiting states like Delaware that I have never been to before. Meeting the locals and enjoying local dining.

“We love to travel and seeing the different parts of the United States,” Traci said. “Renewals always remind us of what is important in our lives. We always meet new people and joke that they are part of our wedding reception.”

Where the Bults have been:

*With notes from the couple

0.  ’87 Palmyra, WI

1.  ’88 Las Vegas, NV

2.  ’89 Bye year

3.  ’90 Littleton, CO

4.  ’91 Maui, HI (a beach)

5.  ’92 Laurel, MT (road trip with friends)

6.  ’93 Deadwood, SD

7.  ’94 Minneapolis, MN

8.  ’95 Deerfield, IL

9.  ’96 Stone Mountain, GA

10.  ’97 Canon Beach, OR

11.  ’98 Hammond, IN

12.  ’99 Orlando, FL

13.  ’00 Tucson, AZ (Rockies spring training)

14.  ’01 San Antonio, TX (The River Walk stage)

15.  ’02 St. George, UT

16.  ’03 Sandpoint, ID

17.  ’04 Anchorage, AK

18.  ’05 Seattle, WA

19.  ’06 Crescent City, CA

20.  ’07 Davenport, IA

21.  ’08  Williston, ND (took a train from Seattle)

22.  ’09 Cheyenne, WY

23.  ’10 Oklahoma City, OK

24.  ’11 Kimball, NE

25.  ’12 New York, NY

26.  ’13 Detroit, MI

27.  ’14 Lee’s Summit, MO

28.  ’15 Richmond, VA

29.  ’16 Hartford, CT

30.  ’17 Hilton Head, SC (Harbour Town Lighthouse)

31.  ’18 Canton, OH (Gervasi Vineyard – really good food)

32. ‘19 South Burlington, VT

33. ‘20 Goodland, KS (COVID emergency state)

34. ‘21 Albuquerque, NM (Balloon Fiesta. Interviewed on local news channel)

35. ‘22 Manchester, NH (4 Roses service)

36. ’23 Philadelphia, PA (Love Park)

37. ‘24 Atlantic City, New Jersey (Boardwalk)