What are some thoughts on a first year marriage celebration instead of a reception?
I have recently become engaged to my fiance. We would like to get married on a date this summer (which is special to us) which is approximately 4 mos. away. We are planning on having a destination wedding, in a neighboring state, with only parents, grandparents & siblings attending. Because our engagement is so short, we have (understandably) been finding it hard & stressful to book a reception site, find a DJ etc… to have a marriage celebration, for just after we return from our honeymoon. I personally think that it is tacky & odd to celebrate 3-6 mos later (which is when places would start to have availability in our area). What are some thoughts on having a one year marriage celebration for all of our friends and family to gather together and celebrate our joys of our first year? We are an established couple in our late 20s and do not need gifts, showers etc… and will probably not be registering for such. We also do not want to wait until next summer as we have been together for sometime, and are saving ourselves until our wedding night.
This is not a traditional wedding and therefor does not follow traditional wedding etiquette. This is a destination wedding…where there are no clearly established etiquette rules. I want this day to truly be ours and make the both of us happy…I don’t want to follow "etiquette" to please others, rather than ourselves. I am not looking for whether or not this follows etiquette…just what peoples overall thoughts are.
Thank You
Thank you for all of the positive comments and advice so far.
Yeah…I really don’t want it to look like a "second wedding" and understand that it is not considered a reception after the wedding day. I don’t care about the showers, bachelorette parties etc… although I am not sure how my friends will feel…and they may decide to still do it anyway 
I do not plan to wear my wedding dress to the one year party, if we do go through with this plan. I do just want to be able to make friends & extended family feel included in the process and be able to gather together to celebrate =D
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Tagged with: amp • bachelorette parties • destination wedding • dj • fiance • friends and family • grandparents • honeymoon • marriage • marriage celebration • parents • second wedding • showers • siblings • traditional wedding • wedding day • wedding dress • wedding etiquette • wedding night
Filed under: How To Save A Marriage
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Of course you can have an anniversary celebration – have some great food, cake, dancing, etc. What’s frustrating to guests is when you throw a "fake dream wedding" even though you’re already married. Make it a party instead of "wedding, the sequel," and you’ll have a blast.
I think any reason to party is a good reason. But this isn’t a reception this is an anniversary party. Treat it as such.
I think it is a great idea! Go for it! Sounds like fun
Well one person called it a fake dream wedding once already married. No baby it is called a vow renewal. As for your situation it sounds great almost what my husband wanted to do. See we did plan a big wedding had money saved and I got pregnant so we moved our date a year got married in city hall had a nice dinner with our close family and with the money we had saved used it as down payment on our first home and bought a family car. Then on our one year anniversary he wanted to do this big wedding thing but I did not want to because I was still losing the baby weight and I thought I was pregnant again and did not want to go on some quick crazy diet and be pregnant. Well I was now we have two babies LOL. Well we just celebrated our 2nd Anniversary and we decided to renew our vows for our 5th anniversary and yes I am having my big big wedding and I am saving and planning as we speak and who does not like it does not have to attend.
Since you are not expecting any gifts, I see not problem with having an elaborate one year anniversary party. Make sure that your anniversary party invitation clearly states that only presence of the guests is the what you wish for. (aka no gifts please)
Also, no showers or bachelorette parties or whote dresses and stuff since you are already married. It will be an aniversary party.
Good luck
no one I know or have ever known has done that. I think it’s tacky to have a wedding at any time other than WHEN you are married. if you elope or have a destination wedding, you forfeit the big wedding reception, all the guests and gifts they bring, etc. you can’t have it both ways.