We have started planning our destination dream wedding for a little over a year from now in a place that is close enough for the groom's one surviving grandparent to travel but that is way too far for my grandparents who live about 1500 miles away to travel. They are in their 90s and hardly even get out of the house, but have been married for over 70 years and have greatly influenced my views on marriage and are very special to us. What advice do you have on planning an intimate, immediate family only ceremony with them prior to the destination wedding? Will the guests be mad if we are technically already married by the time of the destination wedding? Do you think people would not go to the trouble to attend if we did this? Thank you for any advice you have!
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
Sep 17, 2008, 5:06 PM
Post #2 of 2
(136 views)
Re: Separate ceremony for grandparents
[In reply to]
Dear Kat,
We have very many posts concerning hosting a wedding and then inviting guests to a second wedding ceremony. It may be best to read them, as this isn't proper or polite to your guests. Once you are married, you are. The second ceremony would be pretend. So, it may be best and very proper to visit your grandparents after the wedding with a video of your ceremony. They would probably appreciate the time you spend with them and they will have the video to keep and revisit.
They would probably know of your plans for a second ceremony and realize how others would view it. It is viewed very negatively.
Separate ceremony for grandparents
