My fiance and I are planning on doing a courthouse wedding in the next few weeks due to military reasons, but the family cannot attend. Obviously, this wasn't my first choice, or the day I've dreamed of, but when you love someone, how you come about getting married, really shouldn't matter. but the family really wants to see the ceremony and we would love for them to be there also, but we live really far away from each other and under the circumstances, they just cannot make it. So then my fiance is going to be getting leave in a couple of months so we're planning on going home and doing a wedding ceremony and reception then also, so we can be with family and friends. I'm getting so many mixed opinions on how to go about doing this. My fiance, our family, and I all want to have an actual ceremony with our bridal party and everything. They all want to witness our big day. But how do I go about it? Should we do a "vow renewal?" Is it too soon? Some say just go ahead, because it's my day, and do as i please. Another option was to just have the reception, but before the reception actually starts, maybe do some sort of ceremony, where us and our wedding party get up and someone says a few words about how we got married, and the commitment we made, etc. but an actual ceremony wouldn't be preformed.
If anyone has any opinions, or suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated. I'm just feeling a little lost and overwhelmed at the moment! Thanks.