Wedding Decisions

Could you just get married in a church right now in the small way you intended the courthouse wedding, and have a reception next year? You could still do most of the trappings of a wedding in your future celebration. Instead of a vow renewal, you could make toasts to each other or incorporate a speech of some kind (many people who write their vows don't actually right promises as much as they make a speech anyway).

This is exactly what I did. My husband and I eloped on the James River on November 5th 2018 and one year later, on November 5th 2019, we did a whole church ceremony and big reception with 80 people and all of the bells and whistles. It was one of the best decisions we made to get legally married before planning a wedding because there were no arguments that could split us apart. Everything was perfect and if that's what you want to do, do it. Nobody call tell you its a "vow renewal" or anything like that because if it's a wedding to you, then that's exactly what it is. Best of luck!

You can honestly do whatever your desire. There are couples that dream of getting married in another country (I was one of them) but because of certain laws, they may not be eligible to legally marry there. So instead, they may opt to do a simple courthouse wedding (legal ceremony) the do a destination wedding (symbolic ceremony) on a later date. There's no law saying that you HAVE to call it a vow renewal. It's a ceremony, which is essentially a wedding if you chose to define it that way.

My parents just had a wedding...on their 50th anniversary of their simple courthouse wedding (which is what they could afford back in the day when they decided to marry after high school). They wrote their own vows and we did a whole wedding and reception, the way they wanted it...new rings, wedding cake, grooms cake, and all. It was wonderful!! Who cares if some people call it a vow renewal. They're just words.

My uncle married the same person 3 times the courthouse first then after Med school and could afford second which was about 2 years latter or so and they renewed vows a few years ago. You can call it what ever you wish but don’t go into debt for it. Start at courthouse and that is legal wedding next a year later or two when saved have the one of your dreams but now don’t need to go court house. Depending on your religion and things will depend if they will do a second but just call it renewing vows and same as wedding in that case only dont need the license. My close friend did that also he was getting deployed and they went to court house before so could be married then when he returned they started planning and 2 years same day they did big dream one.