I am curious to know ettiquete on a reception for a vow renewal. My husband and I have dedicated ourselves to God and would like to renew our vows in his honor. Should we follow the first time wedding ettiquete, or should we follow the 2nd marriage ettiquete? I would like to have all the same tradition but do not want to be tacky.
I also want to add that our first wedding was very very small and we were very very young 16 & 19. All the people we are inviting this time maybe 2% of them came to the first wedding. We hosted that one too. My father was in no position to help or even wanted to at the age I was. So that is why I am wondering if I can or should treat this like my real first wedding or would that be out of line?
Ex: Bride & groom dance, mother & son dance( meaning me & my sons), father and daughter( meaning husband and his daughters), should we still do the bouquet toss and so forth. Is there any thing that anyone might feel that we shouldn't do, it being our vow renewal?
(This post was
edited by suzettecordova on Jan 13, 2005, 12:57 PM)
Your reception can have some of the traditional wedding reception features, such as the receiving line (you are the hosts, not your parents), the first dance, and a champagne toast. The mother & son dance and the father and daughter is probably not a good idea because you have been living as married people and are not going to be going away to a new home. This is what these dances symbolize--leaving home.
The bouquet toss probably should be tossed also in favor of another form of sharing good fortune--after all you are already married and haven't just found each other.
Other than that, it is a party that you are hosting for yourselves. Enjoy.
It is not usually considered a gift giving situation. Some may wish to give you gifts, but please do not expect them.
Of course, it is all a matter of personal choice. But I think you should think carefully about following all thewedding traditions. You want the emphasis to be on your vow renewal and this important dedication should not be overshaddowed by the frills of a wedding celebration. It doesn't mean you can't have a wonderful celebration party though! Jill Curtis Psychotherapist, Author How to Get Married ... Again (A Guide to Second Weddings) London, UK http://www.familyonwards.com
Be sure to visit idotaketwo.com for vow renewal information. Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on Nov 9, 2005, 9:44 AM)
Vow renewal receptions?
I am curious to know ettiquete on a reception for a vow renewal. My husband and I have dedicated ourselves to God and would like to renew our vows in his honor. Should we follow the first time wedding ettiquete, or should we follow the 2nd marriage ettiquete? I would like to have all the same tradition but do not want to be tacky. 
I also want to add that our first wedding was very very small and we were very very young 16 & 19. All the people we are inviting this time maybe 2% of them came to the first wedding. We hosted that one too. My father was in no position to help or even wanted to at the age I was. So that is why I am wondering if I can or should treat this like my real first wedding or would that be out of line? 
