Questions -- Two Stage Wedding

It was unplanned, but we ended up doing this! We had a destination wedding with our friends and family.... and the officiant didn't show up! So we ended up having our "wedding", but flew home legally unmarried. We didn't want to just walk into the courthouse and sign papers unceremoniously, since technically that would be we were legally wed; we wanted it to be special. So we picked a day that was special to us, and went to the courthouse. I didn't want to wear my same dress again, so I ended up getting a bridal skirt and sweater. It was less formal than my dress (so felt more fitting for the courthouse), and tbh, I loved it even more than my original dresses!! My (now) husband wore a suit and I carried a bouquet. We exchanged rings. We had a photographer. It was honestly such an amazing experience! It was just the 2 of us, so it was really intimate and romantic (which you don't get with a traditional wedding with guests). It also provided me the opportunity to wear my mom's veil (which didn't work with my original dress), which I am SO thankful for! Afterward, hubby and I had dinner at the restaurant we went to on our first date. We had a blast at our destination wedding, but hubby and I are both so incredibly thankful we ended up having the courthouse ceremony. And when I think about the day we got married, I don't even think about the destination wedding... my mind goes immediately to the sweet, meaningful courthouse ceremony. My advice would be to make it special and memorable! Do all the things you want - you don't need to "downgrade" it just because you've already had a symbolic wedding.

I see the wedding you had as a proper one that was witnessed by family and friends. But the one for the state's interest can be another opportunity to get dressed up again and celebrate.