Legally married before wedding because of military

Hi Julianna,
I see know reason why you can't call it a wedding, you deserve to have the glorious wedding day and reception that all of us brides want, it's such a special day, even though you'll be legally married, you won't feel it until you are wearing that gorgeous gown! Do you have a dress picked out? does your wife have hers? can you post picture of your dress? I love to see what my fellow brides to be are wearing!
This is my dress

View Quoted Comment Oh my gosh!!! You and your dress are GORGEOUS!!!!! Congratulations!! When are you getting married?!?


And thanks so much!! Hearing that helps a lot! You’re absolutely right without having the big day I feel married but obviously I’ll remember it more when we have the memories of our wedding. ❤️❤️❤️

Oh Juliann, that's the dress on a model, I can only dream of looking like her!! I'm getting married in Feb. 2021, I'm hopeful I'll still love my dress, I need to have padded sewn in cups because I have just slightly more than A cup boobs 😤😤😤
and I afraid I won't like my look!
Do you have a dress picked out?

You can still call it a wedding if that's what you want to do. Your family knows your situation, plus military families move different than civilians. Don't let random strangers on the internet put a damper on your festivities!

I have received numerous invitations through the years ( especially when just out of the army ) from family or friends who married abroad, paperwork through embassies and no religious ceremony, or people who needed to make fiance family before taking a job abroad, joining the service, or married on a navy or army base, even twice when a couple living together wanted a legal custody of one parent's child to go to FI not former spouse, before having a major medical surgery. Most sent invitations , depending on religious or not, said, you are invited to the wedding of A and B, at which they/we will renew the vows they took in their legal ceremony on _____ ( month ,day, year) and finally celebrate their union with family and friends. Ceremony details time and place. Reception to follow details.
And some mentioned if receiving the sacrament of marriage, or doing something in the Church, if any religious involvement.
I don't know ow anyone who required that GM wear exactly the same outfit, or BM, where they had them. Usually different dressy or long dresses, similar in some way, like various wine shades, or varied blue greens, or all jewel colored A line with high neck. Dresses of their choice, similar enough. People balk at dresses they will never wear again. And guys all in navy or grey, or whatever. All the other cake cutting, dancing.And some said, at the top or bottom, something g about 1 or 2 photographers at the reception who would take pictures on request, for any guest or group posted with B, G, or the couple. Because they usually had been away a while, wanted pictures of family and friends and groupings, and so they set aside an area at the reception for pro photos during dance time. Photo booth are not for groups. Pro pics. To me, they were enough like weddings to call them a wedding with vow renewal. People came expecting the whole shebang.

We did a similar thing and got married in June due to some family health concerns. We're still planning a big wedding for Oct. I got a lot of negative comments on here about doing that. At the end of the day everyone's situation is different and we all need to do what we need to do. Your family and friends understand and want to celebrate with you. We're calling it a wedding, my sister is planning a shower and bachelorette party for me. And no one who cares about us sees anything wrong with it.

The only thing wrong is when people have hidden their marriage and lied about it. But you are being upfront about things. What is there to object to. People who sent gifts when they heard of your legal ceremony, likely will not give another gift. But the point of a wedding gift is to wish people well, and help them get started, it is not a time to to a wedding. In my experience most people will come, and most will give a gift one of the appropriate times. Which is the best you get with most weddings .

Same situation here - I imagine you've Googled this situation or come across a lot of forums that will tell you not to call it that and many other strong-opinions about people who get the legal part done first. Don't fret about it. Call it your wedding. Do all of the things you want to do at it. Our family knows, and most of our close friends. We are still having a wedding, although for personal reasons we are keeping it immediate family only and not doing a traditional reception. Still doing a gown, tux, cake, photos, etc. If your family wants to do all of the pre-wedding celebrations, by all means don't feel you cannot. I would not lie about having the legal bits done, but I would call it what you would like to.

I don’t know if anyone will see this anymore, but if you do get married before your bigger wedding, but which wedding day did you celebrate as your anniversary?