Second time around?

No doubt you didn't expect to have to plan a second wedding! However, there is no reason why it shouldn't be as perfect and special as the first time around. You might be wiser and a bit older, and you have probably learnt some important life lessons; but you still deserve your happy ever after. You have got the opportunity to create a wedding day that is exactly what you want, without having to fit the expectations of others.

Blended Families - it is very likely that by marrying for a second time, you will have the joy of a brand new blended family. What better way to celebrate the love that you all have for each other by including the children in your ceremony and giving them an important role. Younger children might enjoy being flower girls or boys, whilst older children might enjoy the honour of being a groomsman or bridesmaid. Confident children could do a reading, or be the ring bearer. This is a wonderful way of making your children feel special and included in your new family.

Surprise wedding - some couples like to hold a surprise wedding. This takes all the pressure and expectation away and allows the new couple (and family) the opportunity to have their loved ones around them. Couples would typically arrange for the wedding to happen - perhaps in a nice venue, or even in your back garden - if you choose a celebrant. Couples then invite their guests to a party - and the surprise is that it is actually a wedding! This is such a fun way of getting married without any pressure from relatives and friends who might otherwise hold expectations that you do things in a certain way.

Budget Your budget might need to be smaller the second time around if you have financial commitments, but this doesn't mean that your wedding has to be any less special By shopping around you can find the most amazing things available, and of course you could rope talented friends in to help too. You might reflect on your first wedding and wish that you had spent more money on a big fabulous party, rather than on the table decorations! Well the good news is that this time, you know what you want and where you want to spend your well earned money.

Intimate Ceremony If your first wedding was a huge, lavish affair, you might prefer to hold a beautiful, intimate ceremony with just a handful of your friends and family present. This could be held in place that is truly special to you and could hold extra meaning for you both.

Unity rituals these are exactly that and can be particularly pertinent at a second wedding, if you have children for example. A popular ritual for second weddings is a family unity ceremony. One current favourite is a family handfasting, when the couple and the children are bound with coloured ribbons (each colour has it's own meaning) and make promises to each other that bind them as a family. After the wedding, you can keep the beautiful ribbons in your home as a keepsake.

Happy Ever After There is no reason why a second wedding should be any less special just because you have walked down the aisle previously. You are marrying the person you love and making a commitment to them to secure a loving and happy future.