Second wedding/Vow Renewal

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

Hey ladies. :)

So my sailor and I went to the courthouse and tied the knot last month, but we did it purely for legal purposes to get the ball rolling with Navy stuff. Honestly, it doesn't feel much different... I think we acted married most times anyways since we'd been dating for four years!

Anyways. We want to have a "real" wedding with all of our family and friends. And ideally, I'd love for it to be on our 1 year anniversary next spring. 

My question is for those of you who have done two weddings. The courthouse and the real one. Or a vow renewal. How exactly did your ceremony go? I've been trying to picture what will be said and done, but I really can't. Just curious if any of you have done this and if so, how you decided on what the ceremony all entailed. :)

[ashley1026]

My fiance and I are planning on doing this as well! :) Was it just the two of you when you went through the court? Do you need to have witnesses? What did you guys wear? (Sorry for all the questions :P)

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

haha. It was the two of us, my sister in law (my brother was on duty and couldn't get away), and my best friend from college. When I told my best friend the news, her parents bought her a plane ticket for the next day so she could be there. 

We had to have two witnesses, but that just depends on where you get married. We did it in Washington where there is a mandatory 3 day waiting period. It was relatively expensive compared to Ohio also. It was $64 to apply for the marriage license and then the judge had a fee of $80. In Ohio there was no waiting period or fee. 

He wore his blues and I wore a plain white strapless dress that I had also worn for his homecoming back in March. You can see pictures on my profile. :) I wanted to wear a zebra striped dress, but in the end I wore white and I'm glad I did. 

[ashley1026]

Oh ok! we planned on it just being us two and possibly my best friend and her boyfriend. We are going to do it in Texas, I believe the waiting period is waived for military but I guess I should double check!

I want to wear a simple white dress as well! I am so excited!! We have been together for 4 years as well so it does feel as though we are already married haha.

Thanks for the info! Sorry I couldn't help you with your question.

[missa_m]

Hi Emily! A friend of mine just recently went through the scenario you are asking about. She and her now hubby did a JoP wedding and then followed it up with a more elaborate celebration 2 years after (he was deployed and then they moved from VA to California so they had other things to take care of, obviously). On their big 2nd wedding, they included more spiritual elements: prayers, hymns, readings (the wedding was at a lake house, not in a church). They also exchanged vows. The wedding had a full on wedding party- maid of honor, best man, a handful of bridesmaids and groomsmen, children attendants. It was, for the most part, the wedding they always wanted. They just didn't have to mail the marriage license afterward :)

[meagan5220]

My husband and I have talked about doing this. Probably on our 5 year anniversary. Just so we have more time to save money and he will not likely be re-enlisting so it will be a lot easier to deal with at that point lol but we pretty much plan on doing it like we didnt have a wedding in the first place. Maybe not as extravagant as a wedding would be. but I never would have wanted that anyways. I am fairly simple and not into all the big wedding stuff really lol. But we got married in the courthouse just me and him lol and I had just gotten done driving 15 hours from oklahoma. We werent supposed to get married for 4 days but his Chief told him if he could get an LPO to let him leave early we could do it early lol. so he did haha. But needless to say I had a tank top on and a pair of shorts mostly bc it was soo rushed. we had just pulled into town!

[Andi6109]

Hey Emily I have not talked to you in awhile. I have not been on here in a while I have still been on the FB page. Remember how Eric and I got married back in February after his power school graduation? We we have decided to do a formal wedding/vow renewal this october when he graduates prototype. I ave finally got the ball rolling after months of putting off trying to get started. I already have my dress because like you I just work something simple and white, my bridesmaids have picked out their dresses, got the reception booked, the church, the caterer now just need to get the little details. I had the same problem trying to imagine it and get my idea. I started with my colors that I wanted, then picked the town. We are doing it in his hometown since most of our college friends are and all of his family. He has a much bigger family than mine. We did it at the base chapel with the chaplin here in GC that day and used traditional vows. We are treating this as if it's our first wedding even though we are married. Because we did the first one small and quick we are trying to do this one right. We are going to use the traditional vows again, but are planning it as if it's our first wedding, planning it for our dream wedding. That's how I think you should look at it. Start with the city you want, then look at the venues you want to you, and go from there. I have not thought about my flowers or the small details yet but there is still time for that. That is my best advice for you. It was scary to me to start planning since hey, I am already married, but once I took the time to realize this is MY wedding things were pretty easy. Let me know if you need any help since I am having to plan mine from out of town and started at the 4month mark lol

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

Thanks everyone for all your advice! :)

I guess I'll start with my dress and go from there. I realllly hope we can do it on our one year anniversary, but I guess I'll have to wait and see if the Navy decides my husband will be home!