I was married in 2002. Long story short, 10 months later, it was over (ex walked out on me). About two years after the divorce was final, I obtained an annulment from the Church. I wasn't dating or anything at the time, but I wanted to have the annulment as soon as possible. It was something of a healing process for me.
I am now engaged to a wonderful man! He has never been married before. Both of us have a very strong Catholic upbringing and are happy to be having a very traditional Catholic wedding.
Here's my confusion: My annulment includes language that says that a second marriage is to be celebrated as simply as possible. We've already met with our priest and he says we can still have a full Mass and pretty much a standard wedding. He also learned at the feet of our late bishop, who felt the same way.
We want to have a reception and everything - like I said, it's his first wedding, and personally I would like to celebrate the fact that I found happiness after everything I went through! We are trying to keep the guest list small - family and a few close friends - but we have big families so it's not tiny.
I would like to wear a wedding dress again, but I'm not planning on anything big and princessy - more understated, simple and elegant. We are limiting our attendants to two each - his two brothers, and my sister and best friend (who introduced us!).
My mother keeps telling me that we're going overboard, that this isn't simple. She thinks it will be awkward for my family members to attend a second wedding. And despite the fact that our priest says we should do what we like, she just thinks he's steering us wrong and that another priest would tell us this is too much.
I don't know what to do. Are there any second-time Catholic brides out there, and if so, what is your wedding like?