Our upcoming wedding will be the third for each of us. We've been engaged since February. Since then, FI's dream has been to get married in Hawaii with just our kids and his mom in a very casual ceremony, no reception (dinner at a restaurant, but not the dancing and other traditions). I can share that vision - I love Hawaii, although it's more important to FI than to me that we marry there. Logistically, the feasible date for Hawaii is July 2013. We've been planning on that - nothing has been set in stone, but we're generally planning on heading to Hawaii the first week of July for a combination wedding/family vacation (we'd also be celebrating my stepdaughter's high school graduation).
I recently was injured at work, and am no longer able to return to my job or work in that field. I've been lucky to find a new job, which I start in two weeks (yay!). The pay is a little less than I was making, but I am truly grateful to be employed and excited for the opportunity. However...I received my benefits information yesterday, and basically I'll be paying $150 more per month for my health insurance (my share is $370 per month total). It's the same exact plan that I have now, but the new employer doesn't contribute as much and I'd be making up the difference. There isn't a cheaper plan available.
Once we're married, my son and I will be added to FI's insurance - which is the same plan as well. Because he's already at the "family" rate, his contribution won't go up at all. Dual coverage isn't allowed for the same plan, so I'll discontinue health insurance through my employer and elect the cash benefit my employer offers, which is $600 per month. Combined with the premium I'll no longer be paying, my monthly savings will be almost $1,000. It's money that would be nice to have, not going to lie.
FI and I had the same thought - move the wedding up and be married here. We'd probably still limit it to our kids and FMIL, although 100% of FI's family lives locally and would likely come if they were invited. We'd do some sort of reception for whoever came to the ceremony - lunch, or a BBQ at our house, or cake/punch but not the dancing and "party". We'd still go to Hawaii, and FI would like us to renew our vows there - while I think it's a little early, I'm willing to do it to make FI happy, since those in attendance would know we were already married.
I'm excited to be marrying FI anytime, anywhere. However, I feel a little guilty, like FI is giving up on his Hawaii dream so I can save some money. And while the money I'd be saving is nice (and heck, would finance the Hawaii trip) it's not everything to me. Then again, neither is the wedding - to me, it's a start for us, not an end-all event. I just wouldn't want FI to regret not getting married in Hawaii.
Obviously I'll have to talk to FI more about this and feel him out. What do y'all think? Anything else we should consider?