Courthouse Ceremony then "Real" Wedding?

[AGDee]

I've known people who've done something similar and didn't even tell anybody about the first wedding until years later. Although, it was back in the 50's and they were both living with their parents and did it because they didn't want to wait until the church wedding could be planned to be able to have "relations"

[Educatingblue]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I've known people who've done something similar and didn't even tell anybody about the first wedding until years later. Although, it was back in the 50's and they were both living with their parents and did it because they didn't want to wait until the church wedding could be planned to be able to have "relations"

LOL! My parents did that in college

We have friends who got married in Italy where the "husband" was stationed because they thought it would be cool to get married there. They weren't engaged prior to the trip, so obviously no family was there and they said they were going to do a reception when he got back. She got pregnant and 3 1/2 yrs later they still haven't had the reception!!!

[KSUViolet06]

I'm not so sure about doing a FULL ON WEDDING like a year later with the bridal showers and all because honestly some people will probably be like "why do they need our gifts/money, they've been married for a year? This is lame." Most people who get married in court just do a reception. If you were to have a full out ceremony a year later I do think some people would really just consider it a vow renewal or something and would think it a bit odd that you were doing a bachelorette party and stuff. I know that you were quite a bit into your planning though so I get where you're coming from with wanting to have all of the shindigs. This is really just my opinion though, So good luck on what you decide, because really it's about what you 2 want to do.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I'm not so sure about doing a FULL ON WEDDING like a year later with the bridal showers and all because honestly some people will probably be like "why do they need our gifts/money, they've been married for a year? This is lame." Most people who get married in court just do a reception. If you were to have a full out ceremony a year later I do think some people would really just consider it a vow renewal or something and would think it a bit odd that you were doing a bachelorette party and stuff. I know that you were quite a bit into your planning though so I get where you're coming from with wanting to have all of the shindigs. This is really just my opinion though, So good luck on what you decide, because really it's about what you 2 want to do.

I think it's cool to have a civil ceremony.. and if you want to have a relgious ceremony a year later, then cool... but I would find it weird to do the bachelorette party (especially) and bridal showers and all that the second time around.

Why not do those before the civil ceremony?

I've had friends who did the destination wedding (and another friend doing that in just 2 wks)... so they had their bachelorette/bridal showers before they left and had a reception a month or two later and showed the video of them getting married. There was one girl who had the bachelorette/bridal shower before, got married in a civil ceremony a few days before going off to their destination wedding in another country.

Just my opinion though. I just think it would be weird to have a bachelorette "celebrating your last night of freedom" if you're already married for a year. If you didn't tell people that you were already married though that might be different.

[SWTXBelle]

Depending on your religious convictions - you can have the civil ceremony, followed whenever by a church ceremony or blessing. I did that for my second marriage. Long story short, civil ceremony in VA in June, and church blessing (with family) in Texas in February. I wouldn't do a bachelorette party (I'm not much on them anyway) but the point behind a shower is to "shower" a couple starting out with the household things they need. If you only invite family and friends who would be in a position to ounderstand the situation you should have no problem. Good luck, and may you have a wonderful marriage, however you decide to handle the wedding!

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I've known people who've done something similar and didn't even tell anybody about the first wedding until years later.

I did this. Had a courthouse wedding and then a year to the day had a church wedding. Yes, it was technically a vow renewal, but our guests didn't know the difference. Hindsight though--I wish we hadn't done it that way.

He did give me a ring--although mine was a tanzanite ring that I wore on my finger until he gave me my "engagement" ring several months later (We did everything very last minute.)