My husband and I just got married (a lil court wedding) not too long ago, but wanted to have a bigger wedding when both of our dads get back from Iraq. I was just wondering if we had to get a new marriage license.. or basically is there anything extra or less that I have to do because we're already married?
2007-08-31 09:41:19 · 10 answers · asked by .:*giggles*:. 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
p.s. the reason why I call it a "bigger wedding" is because the ceremony would be exactly the same as any wedding.. at my court wedding all I had was my mother-in-law and best friend there, so I didn't have a first dance, or father-daughter dance, no reception at all in fact, and no honeymoon. This bigger wedding is going to be the way I wanted it.. nice romantic beach wedding with a bonfire and bbq reception full of friends and family.
2007-08-31 10:21:21 · update #1
good for you.. we are doing the same thing! we are planing it the same way we would a first wedding. Depending on who you are going to have as an officiant of the wedding, there is usually nothing that needs to be done. You already have a marriage license so there is no need for another. We are personally going to have a minister bless our wedding and he doesnt require anything but some churches might. That would be the only place you would have to worry.
congrats and have fun!
2007-08-31 09:50:40 · answer #1 · answered by Pretty Blues 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's pretty much the same as a first wedding with a few changes:
1. You don't need the legal paperwork like first time around
2. NO registries! Don't expect showers, bachelor/bachelorettes, etc. Since you have a valid reason to renew your friends and family might decide to give you these things but you should give no indication you expect them at all.
3. The dress is usually simpler. Bridal if you like but not the huge poofy skirt with cathederal length train and 10lbs of beading you know?
4. Bridal parties smaller. 2-3 attendants at most I would say on either side
5. Invitations are for "Vow Renewal" and "Anniversary Party" or "After Party"....not "wedding" and "reception". Playing it off like the actual wedding is just wrong and deceptive to guests. Most renewals I plan the couple plans the big reception then at the begging has some short vows in-front of the room instead of a church. The alter becomes stage for cake and all is well.
6. Skip the extra readings, hymns, etc. Nobody likes them the first time around anyway and having an hour long ceremony for a vow renewal just appears pompus.
Some people complain that vow renewals are tacky. Really you do have a pretty good reason for doing it so soon and they only come across as tacky when you try to completely ignore the first wedding ever happened. Whatever the reason you CHOSE to have the courthouse wedding so you need to recognize that fact otherwise people may see it as a gift-grab trying to makeup for all the stuff you missed out on, not wanting to experience wedding day with your absent fathers.
2007-08-31 12:13:55 · answer #2 · answered by pspoptart 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How wonderful that you want to include your dads!
Since you are already married, you can't have a bigger wedding, you are wed --what you can have is a delayed reception. That means that you could rent a hall and invite family and guests to celebrate your marriage and the safe return of your dads.
You could offer food and have a DJ--but if you were to go with the etiquette of things, you wouldn't necessarily wear a wedding gown or expect gifts. Or have bridesmaids and groomsmen, flower girl, etc. Why? Because you are already married and settled in, you've had the ceremony--now you are presenting yourselves to your family and friends as a married couple and asking them to be happy with you and for you.
You don't need a license, you are already married. What you may do is called a "reaffirmation of your vows" which means that you each would promise again in front of family and friends to love, honor and cherish each other for the rest of your lives.
I wish you both the very best and your fathers as well.
2007-08-31 10:01:06 · answer #3 · answered by Bromeliad 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
~ You don't have a "wedding" per se. You're already married, so you renew your vows, but you don't have the usual wedding ceremony. Something like it, but not the same ceremony, because you are not being pronounced man and wife--you're reaffirming the vows you already took. For this same reason, you don't need a new marriage license.
~ You don't register for gifts, and you don't have a shower or a bachelorette party (you are, after all, no longer a bachelorette).
~ You have few, if any, attendants.
~ You shouldn't expect gifts, or at least not as lavish as at a wedding.
~ You should have a good time and enjoy the party!
2007-08-31 10:48:14 · answer #4 · answered by Trivial One 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You already have a marriage license, so you would be doing a renewal of vows ceremony.
You can have it EXACTLY like a first wedding EXCEPT do NOT sign up for a registry and do not expect a bridal shower.
My aunt had a vow renewal ceremony (though this was after like 50 years of marriage) and she had the white dress, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, etc.
2007-08-31 12:44:00 · answer #5 · answered by Terri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're already married, so you won't be getting married again. Renewing your vows is just a simple ceremony, usually done after 25 years of marriage, or even 10. It's not a do-over wedding, or 'another' wedding - it's basically an anniversary party, a time for family and friends to get together.
2007-08-31 10:27:38 · answer #6 · answered by Lydia 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
i did the same. i got married in feb and had a wedding in august. but my wedding in august was a real wedding. i had a dress a honeymoon all 9 yards it cost about 8,000 min. but for renewing your vows like at a 10 year anniversary i think go go a tad cheaper, only invite the most important ppl. but congrats enjoy your wedding and dont stress out. its hard not to .
2007-08-31 10:03:02 · answer #7 · answered by Mrs. Nolan 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no new license is needed since you are already legally married in the eyes of the state (and god). you don't even have to have a real minister/pastor/priest there since it is really just a ceremony for show. you can get "remarried" by an eloquent friend or family member.
2007-08-31 09:48:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You do it your way.If you want to re-new the vows,just say them over.Better yet make your own vows and say them.Get his Dad to be best man and that will make him a part also.That's so nice of you wanting Heroes to be included.Give them a big hug for all Americans when they get home.
2007-08-31 11:56:01 · answer #9 · answered by Maw-Maw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a hell of a lot cheaper... :) And you can actually enjoy it!
2007-08-31 10:14:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋