What to call our ceremony?

Vow renewal.

Vow renewal.

I would call it a "celebration of marriage" or a "reaffirmation" or something. There isn't really anything to renew 6 months in.

^^^ agreed. Eta: with the vow renewal comments

Idk, my parents marriage status seems to change on a daily basis.....

(I joke but not really)

Personally these make me upset as a guest if I am not aware of it.

I would call it a pretty princess day. But technically its a vow renewal.

However, if I know this as a guest and there was legitimate reasons for it then I have no issue. Still happy for the couple, I just dont like being lied to.

Call it whatever you want. This is a particularly ouchy subject here, but frankly, if you get married in private and choose to have a celebration of your wedding, it's your choice.

I might get eaten alive for this buuuuuut here it goes.

If you're doing a private legal marriage don't make a fuzz about it. Call it a regular ceremony in October and say your vows and the whole ordeal, after all if only you two will be present at your legal marriage (I'm assuming at courthouse), you might not be making it super cute and sentimental for everyone else to see.

I really don't think you need to demean OP's celebration with her family and friends due to circumstances you don't know by calling it a pretty princess day, Melody.

I agree with Melody this is what I would call a pretty princess day, but I don't know the circumstances behind your needing to move it up. I like the reaffirmation suggestion. Please just be upfront with your guests that they are not attending your actual wedding.

I stated if I knew as a guest then its chill. Also said if theres a reason all good.

Make it known Youre married to your guests OP. Thats all Im saying.

A vow renewal to me screams years for marriage behind you, like 10 years.

I guys I would call it Celebration of marriage or something.

Would you really be upset Melody? Would you really care if the license was signed that day or not? Wouldn't you be happy that the couple wanted to invite you to a celebration of their wedding or would you feel cheated that you didn't get to see the license actually signed (for the record, no one has EVER asked me about this in almost 1500 weddings. )

In a lot of countries the couple would have to get married at a clerks' office before the church celebration with their families.

We have couples who get legally married early for many reasons; visas, health insurance, deployment, military housing, severe illness. Is it their legal wedding? Of course. Is it the celebration? No.

Do what you want. If you call it a celebration of marriage, almost no one will even figure that it's not a 'real' wedding.

@celia Milton I couldn't say it better myself! Besides I don't go to a wedding to see the couple "SIGN" the license! I go to share the beautiful moment as they celebrate

My cousin legally married early due to circumstances at the time but they still wanted it recognized in the church so they went ahead wirh their planned ceremony and reception. They didn't announce it, only immediate family and wedding party knew. We thought nothing of it and were happy for them anyway. No one knows your circumstances and I think a reaffirmation or formal vow celebration are fine titles, if you will. Things happen and if you've already planned the whole thing, you should go for it!

I think it depends on why you had to legally get married before your October date. I think people who do such things for military purposes can still call it a celebration of marriage. Pretty much everything else falls into the renewal category.

I don't believe you should have to call it anything different. I assume that whoever you invite to your ceremony loves you and would want to celebrate with you regardless if you have already legally signed the paperwork or not. I have a good friend who did this exact thing, but was legally married over a year and a half before their ceremony. Her husband was being deployed to a war zone...and they felt it best to be legally married before their actual ceremony. People have reasons for doing things certain ways. As a guest, I wouldn't at all care.

Call it whatever you want and enjoy!

Celebration of marriage.

Celebration of marriage makes sense to me, as far as what to call it. I have had two friends that chose to get married earlier then have their formal wedding a few months later. I will say that I can't help but to wonder why? What was the point of the first go round if you know you have a special day coming up. But that is also the nosy side of me wanting to know more than i need to. I love them, so I celebrated their special day when they asked us to be there to celebrate.

The pretty princess day has always been ridiculous to me. Cause if THAT is the mentality, then 99% of weddings are "pretty princess days". The fancy dress, professional hair and make up, BP, elaborate reception...none of it is NECESSARY to getting married. We could all simply sign up for a day at the courthouse or with an officiant and be done with. But we choose not to cause we do want to have a "pretty day" and a big celebration.