STORM2K

Hi all!! I am going to be renewing my vows in July, and I need some help! Since I got married back in the day at a JP's downtown, I never had the wedding every girl dreams of. Not that this is going to be my dream wedding, but I am going to make it as close as I can with my budget. So I know I have to get a dress and get invitations, but I have no clue on what else to do!! Should I have a reception? where? at home or somewhere else? or should I forget the reception and have it here at the house and go on a honeymoon? We have never had a honeymoon, and we got married in 1992!! I am lost, and all the websites are giving me a headache!! If anyone can give any advice, I would deeply appriciate it!!!

Try going to your local office supply store and print your own invites. That might help save a little money.

I would have a gathering at my house then leave out on my honeymoon the next morning since you two did not get to do that in 1992.

I think you need to focus on what you missed out on the first time around that matters to you...

There is no "right" and "wrong" here... If you've been married 15 years already, none of the stuff matters as far as etiquette, etc. goes.

So what do YOU want? What does your husband want? I used to joke that if/when I got married, I'd have a huge party and have pizza and beer for everyone. Well, when the time came, I was far away from the people I would have invited to such a bash... Perhaps if I were to do what you are doing, I'd rent space in a hotel in that town and have the pizza and beer bash for my friends.

You missed out on a honeymoon? Well then, perhaps you should go on the "dream" honeymoon... Of course, the definition of "dream honeymoon" might be odd. We actually did get a honeymoon--and took 5 grandchildren to Storyland in New Hampshire. Not for most people, but right for us... But perhaps "next time" we'd go to Paris in the Spring or some place....

The nice thing about a "renewal wedding" is that you get to do stuff over or do stuff differently. It does not have to be perfect this time, so you can have fun at your own party... You can be forgiving, charitable, etc. in ways that perhaps you could not the first time around. You did not want those totally embarrassing wedding guests? It was easy to avoid them as you had to limit the guest list anyway--but you've felt guilty ever since? Invite them this time around...

Or perhaps last time you listened too much to your relatives and did bunches of stuff "their way" instead of the way you wanted it to be. Well, this time, it's your planning. If you want to get married barefoot or perhaps you want 5" roach pickers--this time it's your choice. You want to get married wearing what? Wear it! You want to serve what? Go ahead! It's your party! Enjoy![/i]

I agree with persepone....

These days, when it comes to weddings, it's all about making it personal for you. When my hubby and I got married in '04, we had a small wedding with just family and our closest friends. It was wonderful! We were able to spend time with everyone that really mattered to us instead of having a ton of people there just to get free food, ya know?

I'd sit down with your hubby and really talk about what matters most to you both. Do you want an intimate sit-down formal meal? Do you want a casual appetizer type party? Are you beach/ocean/water lovers? Do you prefer the mountains? That type of thing....Make this about the two of you over everything else. By all means, budget a honeymoon! It's fun to just go somewhere you've always wanted to go, even if it's just the other side of the state - whatever...just take a vacation.

I would caution against hosting something at your home. If you've ever had a family gathering/party/whatever at your house, you know all the prep-work involved before the event, and all the clean-up afterwards. That's fine when it's a holiday or whatever, but you probably don't want to deal with that for your renewal....just my opinion.

I planned our whole wedding myself, so I'd be more than happy to talk with ya more...just send me a private message if you'd like