Hi all,
I really hope to get some good feedback as this is the most recent dilemma my fiance and I are running into with our wedding and my internet searching has not produced many results....
My fiance and I were engaged in December 2013 - I am Catholic and he is a non-religious person (more spiritual) and doesn't belong to any church denomination. We compromised that we would have a Catholic ceremony (not a full mas) at 3:00 p.m. followed by an additional non-denominational ceremony at our reception venue three hours later, immediately followed by cocktail hour and then normal reception festivities. We realize this isn't a traditional way of doing things but we couldn't be happier with the compromise - this way we BOTH get the wedding day we always dreamed of. Luckily, both of our families are supportive of this idea as well.
So far, we have booked the church and our reception hall but have not worked out a lot of details about the second ceremony (who will officiate, decorations, etc), however the hall is prepared for us to have a ceremony on site. I picture the second ceremony being somewhat unique and different, incorporating maybe personal vows or just him and I walking down the aisle together, things that will make the second ceremony stand out and not seem repetitive to the first one.
While I know that not everyone will come to one or both ceremonies (which I understand and am fine with), I would like to figure out a nice way to word this on the invitation that will encourage people to do so. I would love for everyone to come to both! After all, the second ceremony will be at our reception site, so it's not like guests will have to get back in their cars and travel to somewhere else after the second ceremony. We are also working with our coordinator at the reception hall to ensure the each every element from the second ceremony to the reception flows smoothly.
So I am requesting ideas on how to word this on the invitation. I don't want to say something generic like "second non-denominational ceremony at 6:00 p.m., cocktail hour 6:30 p.m..." but something interesting that will make people WANT to come and not just skip everything until cocktail hour!
Thank you in advance! Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated!
~the bride to be