Ceremony Reception after Elopement?

You already had your wedding. That was your wedding experience.

You can invite them to a "Celebration of Marriage"

Why don't you just call it a vow renewal?

I think as Liliam18 said you can do your vow renewal, usually people just recreate the wedding but they don't get wed they just reaffirm their vows, it's a beautiful and meaningful ceremony and you can still do everything as in a wedding!

Why don't you want to call it a vow renewal?

Congrats on your marriage! However, you are married and you really can't unring that bell. Calling this your "real wedding" or "wedding" really makes the last few years of marriage seem unimportant to you. I would really call it a vow renewal.

Also, you'll get better responses next time if you leave out the blurb about negativity and hate. It comes off as condescending.

Vow Renewal.

While this is an UO, I didn't mind that one of FH's friends were having a "ceremony/reception" a year after they had gotten legally married (due to FH's friend being deployed shortly after being married). I understood the circumstances. However, 3-4 years later I probably would've given a side eye. I'm not sure if it's technically "allowed" to do the whole giving away and all that that goes into it; but, it's your wedding. None of us are going to be there so if that's what you'd like to have, then have it.

My vote is definitely call it a vow renewal (probably best chance of incorporating what you want) or wait until the 5 year mark and throw an anniversary party.

Personally, I think you can call it whatever you want without desensitizing the last 4 years of your marriage. You, nor anyone else, can manipulate your true sentiments toward what a particular event means to you and your husband. You literally feel how you feel. However, it won't technically/legally be a wedding.

We're hosting our vow renewal in November after eloping about a year ago. On the invitations, I worded it "We joyfully request the pleasure of your company as we celebrate our marriage" and on the enclosure card, under "the event" we described: We will be renewing our vows in an intimate ceremony followed by dinner, drinks, and dancing." We did not register, and I am not having any showers or pre-parties.

For perspective, I will have my sister and closest friend joining me at the altar, and I will be wearing a wedding gown. It will follow the protocol of a traditional wedding celebration - cake cutting, first dance, toasts, etc. We only invited our immediate family (which is quite large with 10 siblings between us, not including their SO's). They love us so much, and they have been so supportive. They're very excited to celebrate, and I think the people that you choose to invite to your celebration will feel the same without shaming you for celebrating - to your face, or otherwise behind your back. They will be happy to attend a hosted formal event. Wedding events are fun AF.

You can certainly have a vow renewal with the fancy dress and reception following. You would just skip the pre-wedding activities like Showers or Bachelor/ette parties.

I would wait until your 5 year anniversary and have a big vow renewal with a reception afterward. No harm in a party like that.

Just wait until 5 years and have a anniversary party. Just don't register for gifts, have showers, no parties and no trappings of a wedding.

Sorry, but you already had the wedding...not to be rude, but that is the truth of the matter and what the majority of people believe. You made the choice to elope, that was your wedding...you have already been given to your husband, there is no giving away at this point.

Now, you can have a 5th anniversary vow renewal and that would be nice. DO not expect gifts or anyone to assist in paying for it, that is silly. No showers, no registry, no parties, just a vow renewal celebration that you are putting on for your family and friends.

I'm assuming people know you're Pagan so just invite people to your hand-fasting ceremony if you don't want to call it a vow renewal. I think @Jones has very nice wording to put on the invitation and instead of putting "we will be renewing our vows" you can say "our officiant will perform a hand-fasting ceremony..."

I would like to jump on this question. My daughter is eloping for school/financial reasons this summer with a full blown deal over winter break. The elopement would be kind of a hush hush thing. So although they will not be doing a ring ceremony over the summer, what would you call it on the invites for the winter "thing"?

I agree with hosting a "Wedding Celebration" and using "Mr. and Mrs." on the invitation. "Mr. and Mrs. Awesome request your presence..." You can call it whatever you want as long as it's the truth. It's the people that hide their marriage and then host a mock "wedding ceremony" that are looked down upon. There's absolutely NO reason anyone should be against you having a "Wedding Ceremony." Yes, saying your vows will be a "vow renewal" but you don't have to use that phrase or any phrase you don't like.

I personally would not register for items when I'm already living with my husband. But one of my friends who hosted a "wedding celebration" 2 years after their courthouse wedding put a "dream home fund" for a house down payment. I thought that was smart. But also, in her culture, you always give a gift if someone hosts. She was a wonderful host and obviously saved up to have her dream celebration. I was more than happy to celebrate with her and contribute.

Best wishes!