Having "two" weddings?

Why not?? One big celebration. Go for it.

You could have a celebration of marriage if it is soon after, or a vow renewal later, but your wedding would be the day you go to the courthouse/say your vows. Editing/clarification .

Absolutely. You can do a Vow Renewal down the road with a reception.

So, if you have a big celebration down the line, be aware that it would be considered tacky for you to wear a bridal gown, have a bridal party, do another ceremony, etc. If you're just talking about a vow renewal or a celebration of your marriage, fine. But it shouldn't be a sham wedding. You'll already be married.

You get one wedding. You choose: courthouse wedding or big white wedding (or anything in between!)

You can have a vow renewal, but that's typically done on a big anniversary like 10 or 25.

Do what you want. A wedding now and anotger celebration a year later on the same date is cool. Btw if your fsmily is paying for it, why not just have one wedding?

Nothing wrong with that. Just call it a celebration or something

Please do not downplay courthouse or JP weddings. (You may have not meant to, but that is how your post reads to me.) There are many valued members of this community who was at the courthouse.

My opinion is that your wedding is when you and your FS day "I do" and sign your marriage license. Anything after that is just a party. But you will get mixed feedback from the forum on this.

Do whatever you want dear. It's your day (s)!!!!

UO but FH and I are doing this. Had everything to do with immigration status & insurance. We need to have a proper wedding ceremony or our families will feel shut out. Also I'd kind of like to get the chance to have a pretty wedding & marry for love rather than marry just because the gov't is holding a gun to our relationship. People on this forum will get their undies in a bunch regardless of what you do - at the end of the day - do what's best for the both of you.

I think that's fine. I've seen on the forums here that it's tacky but I feel anybody you love enough to invite will likely not feel this way and be glad that got to share the day with you

It sounds to me like you want to do a small private/intimate ceremony and then a larger reception a few months later with the people you would have wanted to celebrate with but for various reasons can't have at your ceremony.

If that's true, I would stay away from saying that you're having two weddings though, but rather calling the second event a reception or celebration.

Do what makes you happy! I myself am having a wedding after 6 years of marriage and 10 years together. When my husband and I said I DO, no one was there. Most of our friends didn't find out until 2 years later that we were married. And guess what? I'm wearing a white dress, bridesmaids, the full wedding. Anyone's opinion on what you do shouldn't count, and if anyone has a problem with the way you and your husband are celebrating the wedding you did not have then maybe they should not be there. And for the ones who are etiquette crazy, all this talk about if your already married you can't wear white blah blah blah...well then if you want to follow etiquette to the letter, ya can't wear white if ya ain't a virgin...just some food for thought. Do what makes you happy.

I believe it's ok but label you celebration as vow renewal or such. Don't downplay and dismiss your wedding.

Oh sorry @Olivia I didn't realize you weren't the OP. My bad!

Have a wedding; later have a party. Don't pretend the party is your wedding, which already took place.

We're doing something similar! There will always be haters no matter what you do, but life is too short to let their negativity influence your happiness.

The wedding industrial complex has made anything but a cookie cutter wedding blasphemous. Shrug it all off and do what works for you!

My goodness.
Do whatever brings you joy. WHATEVER brings you joy. The rules have all been manipulated and bastardized for the sake of the profits of the industry anyway. Why can't anyone else throw them to the wind for authentically good reason? So many comments on etiquette, "tacky": wedding gift registries per traditional ettiquette are the height of poor taste, an abomination. Yet, I doubt so many brides will be quick to forego their gift list on account of manners. Diamond engagement rings have no traditional history that predates a DeBeers ad campaign. Hence Kate Middleton's ring is a sapphire. The ring's tradition predates the diamond racket's hard sell, and the family is old and bred enough to know it, but you can't tell most (not all, everyone who will chime "not me") American brides that anything other than a diamond ring is not a slap in the face.
If two wedding brings you, as a couple and a family, the most happiness, go for it. Two full dresses - different ones even. Full bridal party. Showers galore. Whatever. Just do it with a good heart towards celebrating love with your people and you can't go wrong. Another commentator mentioned that no one who loves you will think it's tacky. That's exactly right. If you're worried someone will trash talk what you and you husband want, don't invite them. Period. Be ruthless only in your insistence that those you include genuinely care for you. Cut the negative people out. They'll be glad for one more reason to grumble anyway.
Have fun. Follow your gut. Forget the "rules". They're mostly made up by people with ulterior motives, or are archaic vestiges of negative ideas. Keep them if they make you feel happy. Toss them if you don't.

View Quoted Comment Tell me more kat?? I’d like to do the same thing but I am wondering if it’s be too much.

View Quoted Comment This was a great comment! Thank you!