Hi, I'm new here - and getting married July 24th. It's a second wedding for both of us, I'm 40 and he's 45. We have 3 kids between us, and we've been dating 2 years and only got engaged Mother's Day but decided to not delay another year because we're combining two households.
So I've been working full time, moving out of my house (and drawing up rental agreements for my tenants), AND planning the wedding. I think I'm doing okay but just realized i'm not sure I know what a second wedidng is supposed to be like because I've NEVER BEEN TO ONE (that involved both bride and groom being their 2nd wedding - my brother got remarried last year but it was his wife's first so it was fairly traditional).
This is what I have so far: Justice of the Peace, Cake, photographer, DJ, location (at a family's lake house - plenty of room for about 80 people), tent, tables, chairs, dance floor, portapotties), dress, invitations have all been sent, flowers are being finalized... I'm still struggling with what to do about food - we had wanted a sit down thing (getting married at 1:00, reception is under the same tent as the ceremony) but decided maybe finger-foods would be better. It's a casual affair, really. So I'm either going to get a bunch of appetizers at Sam's Club - I have volunteers to help man the stations! - or hire a caterer to do it. I'm struggling with that.
The biggest thing, however, is the ceremony/ music. What is acceptable? Do I greet the guests with my fiance and not worry about that old adage of "seeing the bride before the wedding is bad news" and when the guests get there we just turn around and start the ceremony? Or do I let everyone just find their way to the tent and start the music and I come in with my Dad (or my son)? I'm not sure I want to do the walk down the aisle again - but will people think it's strange if I don't??
Also, the recessional - do we have to do that since we're eating/drinking right after in the same area? Can we just do "you may kiss the bride" to music (I chose "All you need is love") and turn around and say "Let's Dance!" (well not really, but you know what I mean!). I don't want this to be stressful, I just want it to be a party where everyone enjoys themselves - almost like a picnic or early afternoon cocktail party.
Is any of this going to be considered strange if we do it that way? Honestly i know it's my wedding, and we are so excited about it as are our kids, but I don't want the big fuss the first one was.