Second Wedding Ideas
Today, modern brides are continually finding that the commonplace nature of a second wedding is quickly becoming de rigeur within the bridal market.
However, the social stigma that many encore brides may face is a challenge that can be easily hurdled with the proper planning and a willingness to compromise.
After all, shouldn't a second wedding be a celebration of two people finally finding their perfect match?
These second wedding ideas will get you started on the right track for the perfect encore wedding.
When planning your second wedding, consider it a chance at a fresh start: begin the process exactly how you would being planning any wedding, by deciding the date and booking the location.
However, consideration should be used in your selection: it may be in poor taste, for example, to use the location you used in your previous nuptials, or in the month surrounding a previous anniversary.
T should go without saying that wearing the same dress or utilizing the same rings is absolutely unacceptable. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and the ultimate rule of thumb should be trusting one's own judgment in terms of what is acceptable and befitting for the situation in utilizing any of these second wedding ideas.
Your invitations can include any people you would wish to include at your ceremony, however, family members and friends of an ex-spouse may require additional thought or special seating arrangements to avoid awkward situations, even if you remain on good terms with them.
Smart second wedding ideas for dealing with this situation suggest holding a small “family celebration” of marriage and including a larger group at a less formal reception following, or contacting the concerned parties before hand and expressing your desire to have them share in your special day without conflict. Addressing the situation before it becomes a problem is the best way that an encore bride can handle this scenario.
The traditional wedding etiquette for a second wedding state that the names of the bride and groom should appear on the wedding invitation, but not those of the parents. However, if your previous marriage occurred at a young age or involved extenuating circumstances, it may be appropriate to include parents' names on the invitation, depending on the couple's age and familial situation.
The role of the parents in a second wedding can be either downplayed or traditional, according to the couple's tastes. Including the parents in the receiving line is not necessary, and the parents should not be expected to pay for any part of the wedding.
Many encore brides struggle with choosing the proper attire for a second wedding— and once again, it is entirely up to the bride. The traditional “white” gown is acceptable, as well as something less traditional or formal. Many second brides choose to wear a simple suit or cocktail dress at a civil ceremony, while other encore brides wear a formal wedding dress in a church. It is entirely up to her discretion. However, it can not be stated enough that a twice-wed bride should never wear a dress worn to a previous ceremony!
A large portion of your concern with your second wedding ideas may be in handling the actual marriage ceremony. Many encore brides choose a simple civil ceremony, however, a large and lavish second wedding is also entirely feasible if appropriate to the situation. If either party has had children in their previous marriage, involving them in the ceremony is a wonderful way to symbolize the new bond between families (as well as including the children in the receiving line).
Writing original vows has become increasingly more popular over recent years, and can be especially poignant during a second wedding ceremony. However, many religious venues have certain restrictions or rules on the handling of a previous marriage, so it is important to include these considerations when finalizing your second wedding ideas. There may be a need for an annulment or other legal documentation before the ceremony may take place.
When attending a second wedding, there is the delicate situation of a wedding gift. Some second wedding gift ideas include smaller tokens of congratulations such as gift certificates, donations to a charity in the couple's honor, or “home unifier” for older couples such as a new set of dishes or bath towels. Gifts for a second wedding need not be as lavish or expensive as with a first, and it is generally understood that if a gift was given at a previous wedding, a simple note of congratulations is acceptable if the first gift was not returned.
It should also be noted here that while there are dozens of fabulous second wedding gift ideas out there, traditionally, second weddings are considered smaller affairs and therefore the ensuing engagement parties and bridal showers should be considered congratulatory rather than an occasion for gift giving. Also, it is considered in poor taste to invite the same individuals to a second bridal shower unless it is clearly specified that no gift is expected or desired by the bride.
An encore wedding is a understandable part of many relationships. Often inexperienced second brides find themselves confused as to what is appropriate, but the simple fact is that any of your second wedding ideas can fit into your encore ceremony if handled with the diplomacy and grace befitting the situation.
