Wedding Ideas for Second Marriages
If you are fortunate to find love a second time, you are among many others. When planning the nuptials and celebration for your next "I do," consider the tastes and preferences of not only yourself, but your soon-to-be husband and any children in your life. Nontraditional weddings are appropriate for second marriages, as the pressure for the white dress, formal reception and the week-long honeymoon have gone away with the first marriage.
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Make it a Family Event
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When children are a part of either the bride's or the groom's life, be sure to include them in the affair. Allow each child to choose if, and how, she'd like to take part in the celebratory event, such as being a junior bridesmaid, guest book attendant or reader during the ceremony. Another option is to not only join the two of you in holy matrimony, but also to create a family marriage. Give special rings to the children in your lives to demonstrate your love and commitment to the entire family structure, state family vows and include children in a family unity candle lighting.
Destination Weddings
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A destination wedding is an effective way to renew vows or remarry without the added costs of planning the ceremony, reception and a honeymoon. Many resorts offer a "one-stop-shop" guide to marriage with all of the necessary services right on site. Block rooms for special friends and family members and share in your special days with them. Instead of sharing a honeymoon alone, many second marriage newlyweds choose to take the opportunity for a vacation with extended and immediate family after the wedding, in the destination wedding location.
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Second Wedding Gifts
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Most encore brides and grooms already have the sheets, kitchen utensils and small appliances that they need and offer a more creative idea for guests who wish to extend a congratulatory gift. In lieu of traditional gift-giving, consider directing guests to a website for donating funds to a charity that holds a place in your heart, such as the Ronald McDonald House, The American Cancer Society or The American Diabetes Association. Another option is to set up a honeymoon registry online for guests to extend a monetary gift for the post-celebration trip.
Get Creative
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If you took the traditional wedding route the first time around, consider adding an extraordinary flair to your second wedding. Create a themed wedding encouraging guests to arrive in costume; you could get married on Halloween, channel the Victorian era or instruct guests to arrive dressed as their favorite childhood cartoon character. Another creative option is to host a casino night for the reception. Reserve the services of an entertainment company specializing in mobile casinos to bring a few poker and blackjack tables, as well as a roulette wheel and craps table. Guests won't want to leave when it's time for the bride and groom to be whisked off to the airport.
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References
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