My husband of 8 years has recently gone back to the Catholic faith, and although I was raised as a protestant, I have decided to convert (I am still in the RCIA classes).
Recently while meeting with the priest about the 3 kids' baptism, the fact that our civil marriage is not recognized by the church came up. So now we are getting married in the church. This is a HUGE deal do my DH and his mom.
Part 1 ) I don't really know what I should wear. I thought about getting a simple red dress, but DH doesn't like that idea. I considered wearing the dress I wore to our civil wedding, it looks better on my now than it did the first time around, but with 3 kids, and it being considered to be sort of a renewal by some, some people I've spoken with say that a floor-length white gown is inappropriate. I found an adorable ivory tea-length dress, matches the flower-girl-style Easter dresses that I found for my 7 and 2 year old girls when they stand up with us, but my DH thinks that it's too short (it's knee length on the model, but I'm only 5'1).
I am very new to everything, I don't even know what's appropriate. Someone said a taylored suit, but that's just not me at all. I'm 33 and still feel 25 style-wise. Taylored suit says "Powerful professional woman" or "retirement age." I would be happy in a sundress. Our parish is super-casual. I've seen women wearing things I thought were incredibly inappropriate at mass (extremely tight, shorts that barely covered their bottoms).
Part 2) I don't want to offend anyone. I know in the eyes of the Church, we are "not getting a renewal, but getting married for the first time," (this is a new thing - our priest's words). The priest said that we could make it as small or as big as we wanted. I want our close family and friends, especially our Catholic friends there, but nothing more than that. The wording for inviting them would be something like "We request the gift of your presence as we reaffirm our vows and share in the celebration of the sacriment of marriage." Hoping to make it clear that we do not want gifts.
Any insight and info on either or both fronts would be appreciated.
P.S. Here is a picture of us on our civil wedding day