When it comes to second weddings, it would seem that people are of the opinion that second time around should be far more low key than the first time. Many would frown upon wearing white or having a church wedding, but the truth is you can have as beautiful a wedding second time around as you did the first time. Here are some tips to aid in your wedding planning for getting remarried.

Second Wedding Dresses and Attire

There is nothing wrong with wearing white second time around & you should wear whatever color makes you feel fabulous. For many who are getting remarried they will have had their fairytale wedding gown the first time & will probably choose something more demure & elegant this time. Cocktail or tea length dresses are a popular choice, along with beautiful brocade suits or an elegant evening gown. But if you want to have a stunning princess gown there is no reason why you shouldn’t & as divorce & remarriages become a permanent feature in today’s society the options for second wedding dresses are ever increasing.

Ideas for what to wear to a second wedding:

·You will probably have a bigger budget this time so why not go for that designer dress you have dreamed about.

·An elegant, floor length column dress in ivory or off-white.

·A beautiful skirt suit, in any color

·Go for the wow factor in a slinky slip dress.

Announcing Your Engagement and Telling Your Ex-Husband or Ex-Wife

It is important that the first to know of your impending remarriage are your children. Then you should share the news with your ex-spouses, although if you don’t have children telling them is not mandatory. It would be prudent to consider whether or not you are comfortable with them hearing the news from someone else.

Involving Children in a Second Wedding

When it comes to your wedding planning, you should give special consideration to your children & including them in the wedding. Their age will be a factor as to the role they could play. If they are very young then you could ask them to be flowergirls or pageboys or bridesmaids & ushers. If there is an elder son he could take the role of best man or give you away. Above all they must be comfortable being involved & the role you ask them to play.

Wedding Gifts for a Second Wedding

Etiquette would state that the giving of gifts for a second wedding is not mandatory. Traditionally wedding gifts were to help the couple set up home & so the presumption is that you will not need any of these gifts second time around. However, many guests would feel uncomfortable attending a wedding without giving a gift. When you look at setting up a bridal registry you may want to consider more fun items such as artwork, leisure equipment or even bottles of wine.

Bridal Showers for a Second Wedding

It is unusual for a bridal shower to be thrown for a second wedding, mainly for same reason as giving gifts second time around. But you may find that your friends will throw one for you anyway. Look at throwing a shower with an unusual theme such as a ‘bring a bottle’ party, where each guest brings a bottle of wine, champagne or liquor. Don’t forget to invite the back soon after to enjoy their choices!

Who Pays for a Second Wedding?

When it comes to the budget part of your wedding planning & deciding who will pay for it, it is usual for the bride & groom to pay for it themselves. You should never expect your parents to chip in any or all of the costs, although should they offer, you may want to graciously accept!

Your wedding will be one of the most joyous days of your lives, but the wedding planning process can also be one of the most stressful. For that reason many people will turn to the services of a wedding planner or coordinator to help them sort through the many plans & ideas they have for their big day.

So if you are undecided as to whether or not to hire a wedding planner, here are five great reasons why you should.

Stress-Free

This is the number one reason because wedding planners can dramatically reduce the amount of stress couples feel under when it comes to wedding planning. It is al too easy to become overwhelmed with organizing a wedding when you are trying to do everything yourselves. A professional wedding planner can take on some or all of the tasks leaving you free to enjoy the fun stuff!

Creativity

Hiring a wedding planner who has years of experience will also bring with it a host of creative ideas to help make your day extra special. They can also take your ideas & enhance upon them or give you an indication about how viable they are.

Precise Detailing

There are many small details with weddings & many are often overlooked. Many brides will feel frustrated trying to remember & organize all the little things that are required to ensure the smooth running on the day. A wedding planner will know all the details needed & will be able to make sure everything is present & correct for the big day.

Insider Information

Wedding planners who have been in the business for some time will have built up good relationships with vendors & can make a big difference to your wedding just by being able to negotiate prices, services or packages that you would never have thought were available to you. It can also mean that you are not wasting precious time calling vendor after vendor trying to get a good deal & ending up stressed, tired & frustrated.

Discounts

If budget is key, a wedding planner can help negotiate better prices on vendors & services because of their insider connections. This can make a huge difference to your wedding budget & can even allow you to have other details that you previously thought were out of your price range.