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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Tell me, is this psycho or smart?

My bf and I have been together over 4 years now, we have discuss marriage often, and agree we will definitley get married. We have ring shopped, and picked out the rings, he just has to save a little longer and buy it. We talked about the who, what, when, where, and how much about our wedding. It’s dead set we’re getting married, we just haven’t actually decided when, but probably in 2 more years (a yr after I finish college). The thing is, is that we are not "officially" engaged yet, but I found the perfect wedding dress and it’s at an amazing price! (0)!!! I wasn’t even seriously looking, and there is was sitting on the rack all perfect screaming out BUY ME!!! It’s exactly what I want. So, do I buy it? Will it be a psycho move to plan and buy for a wedding and he hasn’t even asked yet? And my big question, should I tell him or just store it and surprise him with it later? (he’s be thrilled to save $ from the budget, and learn how much I saved). What should I do?
I’m going to marry him, we’re going to be together for the rest of our lives, so I think I can handle the next 2 years….

Our wedding will be on the beach, and I have always and will always want that. I hate churches (not to offend anyone, I just really hate going, and I’m not religious in the least) and I’m not paying a ton of money for a huge wedding. The beach wedding is us all the way, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

The dress is a style that I don’t think will ever go out of style, it’s pretty classic. Even if it does, I love it. My taste in clothes has never really changed, I’ve always had a classic flair, especially when I get dressed up. I’m not trendy at all! I KNOW I’ll still love this dress.

I’ve been the same size and shape since I was a teenager, and I’m in my 30′s now. My mother is the same size and shape she had when she was a teenager, and she’s had 4 kids and is 50. So, that isn’t a problem. I’m happy with my size and shape. I’m sure it won’t change.
And it’s only 0! That doesn’t put a dent in my savings account now, and it certainly won’t matter in 2 years, so it doesn’t matter to me if I do happen to change my mind….I’m worried if I pass it up, I’ll regret it big time. I’m very very picky when it comes to clothes, so to find something so perfect and at such a great price confuses me! I don’t know if it’s crossing the line, or if I should just get it.

Being together in 2 years, changing my mind about the dress, it being in style in 2 years, and being the same size are non-issues…

Not wanting to let the dress get away, and not making him feel pressured is… How can I have both?
And it’s only 0! That doesn’t put a dent in my savings account now, and it certainly won’t matter in 2 years, so it doesn’t matter to me if I do happen to change my mind….I’m worried if I pass it up, I’ll regret it big time. I’m very very picky when it comes to clothes, so to find something so perfect and at such a great price confuses me! I don’t know if it’s crossing the line, or if I should just get it.

Being together in 2 years, changing my mind about the dress, it being in style in 2 years, and being the same size are non-issues…

Not wanting to let the dress get away, and not making him feel pressured is… How can I have both?
alright Just Deal, do you feel better about yourself now? Keep the insults to yourself, and don’t act like you know my man! You have no idea what he would say or think, so maybe YOU need to pull your head out of the clouds. If your gonna have attitude, don’t bother answering any of my questions. I don’t need to hear the opinion of an ignorant bi(ch anyway.
I wish I could rate some of you guys, I’ve gotten some really great answers, and some real $hitty answers.


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