If you’re curious about how to plan a second wedding, simplify the process into four steps. We’ll go through the second wedding expectation to help you avoid wedding planning stress.
You’ll also have some idea about the etiquette for second weddings. And for the financial needs, please refer to who pays for a second wedding.
How To Plan A Second Wedding: Planning Second Weddings With Ease
Have the talk with families
- The first consideration when planning a second wedding is talking with the families
- In the second marriage, the bride, groom, or both of them likely have children from previous marriages; involve your kids in your plan to get married
- Discuss with your partner how to navigate ex-partners; some families are blended and have good relations with each other, but it’s best to ensure that you and your partner are both comfortable if the ex-partner were invited
- It’s less hassle in second weddings to not invite friends and relatives who might be unsupportive or prefer the previous partner
- Besides letting your kids know, second wedding planning should also be realistic and that you’ll only have the number of guests that your budget allows; if your budget only suits an intimate or small wedding, be firm with your boundaries and communicate to family and friends that you can only invite few people
- Understand that it’s no longer expected for the bride’s family to shoulder most wedding expenses during the second marriage
- Don’t forget during wedding planning to secure the wedding date
Secure the venues
- The next step when planning a second wedding is securing the wedding venue
- Use your budget as a guide when choosing a wedding venue; it should also fit with your theme and can accommodate your guest list size
- Choose another venue for the second wedding instead of getting married in the place you had your first wedding
- The wedding venue should also be convenient for you and your guests
- Avoid wedding peak season to get the affordable rates at venues
- Don’t forget to book an area for your wedding reception during wedding planning
Send the invitations
- After securing the wedding date and venue for your second marriage, you must send the invitations to help your guests free their schedule
- Make sure your invitations have information that is easy to decipher
- If your second wedding is a destination wedding, send the invites earlier to help guests book their travel and accommodation needs
- Alert your guests about their responses, so you can tell your vendors the final number of guests you’re having
- To save on postage costs, use your wedding website for some of the wedding information
Accomplish wedding needs and vendors
- The final step when planning a second wedding is accomplishing all your needs and vendors
- Make sure you have all your wedding legalities; if the ceremony you’re having is more of a union event, you should get married legally beforehand to avoid issues
- Some second weddings happen as quick civil weddings; then the couple will just have another ceremony to celebrate with their family and friends
- Secure your wedding attire
- Book vendors such as the florist, caterer, baker, decorator, DJ, and photographer ahead of time to avoid higher fees with rushed requests
- It’s perfectly okay to have a simpler ceremony and reception for your second wedding
Please read what to wear for a second wedding if you haven’t decided on your wedding dress and suit yet.
What Is The Proper Etiquette For A Second Wedding?
When planning a second wedding, the couple and guests must know the expectations and etiquette for a second marriage. Of course, cultures vary in handling second weddings, but here are some of the norms practiced when someone gets married the second time:
- Guests are not expected to bring a gift or give a monetary gift to the second wedding, especially when they’ve already gifted the bride or groom during their first wedding
- The couple is expected to pay for their second wedding; it’s assumed that people who get married the second time are already financially secured, so their families no longer need to sponsor their wedding
- Make sure that the children, if you have any, from previous marriages, are involved in the second wedding
- For guests who will toast or speak at the second wedding, refrain from mentioning the previous marriage or partner, even as a joke
- There’s no need to recreate the first wedding ceremony or reception
- The second wedding can be more lowkey than the first
- Spread the news about the second wedding with tact; avoid announcing it in a way to embarrass or hurt the previous partner
- You can still have pre-wedding activities like the wedding shower
- Only invite guests who you think support your second marriage to avoid awkward moments at the wedding
- Make sure that all the legalities for the second wedding are accomplished
What Is A Second Marriage Called?
The second marriage is called remarriage or digamy. This is a legal marriage if the spouse’s death dissolves the person’s previous marriage.
On the other hand, there is bigamy, where a person gets married the second time even if they’re still married.
Conclusion
And that’s it! You just learned how to plan a second wedding in four steps.
Start by contacting your families, securing venues, sending invites, and booking vendors. It’s essential to fix your needed legalities and involve your children so that the wedding will be supported and comfortable for everyone.