My sister who is 39 is going to be getting married this year. She was planning on next year but just e maild me an "idea".
This is the second wedding for she and fiance and they both have grown kids. (Well 17 and 18) They initally planned a wedding in the park and an outdoor reception. She was going to wear the long dress and they were having bridesmaid, mest man, etc...
Well she e mailed me this morning and said they want to do a surprise wedding. SHe said they dont want gifts or anything like that. They want to go to the justice of the peace and then throw a "surprise" party and make the announcement.
I think it is kind of a cool idea..
Any thoughts??

I think it shows that they know whether they are married in a formal ceremony or in a JP's office--they are still married. I think that it shows that they know that a "formal" wedding will cost a lot of money and it would just be for "show".

I think that a small intimate little ceremony and then a nice reception type thing for friends and family would be AWESOME!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

"If I knew then what I know now", I would do it this way too. To me, I no longer see much sense in going to all that effort, money, and stress for the big-show wedding. I think she has a great idea there!

cj/

I always think low key, simple is best. And if your sister and her fiance would be happy to get married and then have a party as their reception/announcement....why not? They have to do this for themselves. Since they're not young kids having first time marriages, no one in their families should be offended by this. Besides, it's the marriage not the wedding that's important!

I think that's a great idea! Even though it's small and informal, it is sooooooooooo much classier than sending out fancy invitations with registration information!

I love her idea...especially since it's both their second marriage. I guess anyone has the right to have the kind of wedding they want, but I just don't like it when it's this big, expensive, fancy affair, if they've already done that before...Now maybe if they didn't have the fancy wedding the first time I could understand more...but...I think a surprise party sounds like a great time! ~Lisa

I love the idea!!! I'm not much for spending alot of money so I thin they should go for it if that's what they both want. My DH and I were married in a tiny chapel in Maggie Valley,NC that would only hold 20 people and we loved that it was small and cozy.

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"Let me watch my children grow to see what they become
Lord don't let that cold wind blow til I'm too old to die young'

Wow does Maggie Valley bring back memories! I remember my parents talking about it when I was a child....we lived in East TN. And then moved to Nashville but several years ago started going to Cherokee, NC again...it had been years since I'd been there and we sometimes cut through Maggie Valley...small world!

My parent's used to take us to Ghost Town every summer when we were kids and I have fond memories from that. That's one reason we chose to get married there because it's such a beautiful place and I've always enjoyed going there. We live in Jonesborough so it wasn't that far of a drive for us either.

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"Let me watch my children grow to see what they become
Lord don't let that cold wind blow til I'm too old to die young'

There is a street sign in Maggie Valley with DH's name on it.
I took a picture of him standing next to it!
He has a fairly common name.

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

I think it's an awesome idea-and it takes an awful lot of pressure of the guests, as far as what to bring as gifts, etc. Even though someone would mention, no gifts please, I would always feel compelled to bring *something*. I think this is a totally cool idea-and very classy as well.

but I would probably do a simple ceremony at the "surprise" party. Just say they are throwing a weekend BBQ but then get married and have a fun time. I guess this depends on how big the family is and if anyone would be invited to the real ceremony. I would be afraid there would be someone I wouldn't think of that would be upset they missed the "real" wedding.

Have fun!

Love it!.....Fabulous idea!

My first go round was a big wedding....HOWEVER the 2nd time around, we went to justice of peace on our lunch hour and returned to work afterwards.....Been married 11 years and have never regretted a thing!

Save the $$ and tie the knot....Love their idea!!

Let us know how it turns out, please!

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email is moserlara@yahoo.com

I think that's a great idea and I think a lot of people are doing that now for second weddings...and desination weddings are another option. When David proposed in December 2005, I thought that was something we would like to do, but he really wanted to have a ceremony here so his family could attend. It was also important for him to get married in the church. So...that's what we're doing. Nothing this time around is for show...it's for fun and for us. I didn't have a wedding dress the first time I was married (I was married for 23 years), and I always regretted that. Now, I have one and it's beautiful, and I can't wait to wear it! One thing that really helped me was talking with other women on the "Second Weddings" forum on Weddings and wedding planning! Wedding dresses, engagement rings, wedding cakes and more.. I received a lot of encouragement to do what I WANTED and not worry about what others thought. I think that idea of a surprise announcement party is super! I think it's cool that she's doing what she wants to...wish I would have had the guts to do more of that when I was younger!

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If you're not living on the edge, you're wasting space.

I think it sounds great! DH and I snuck of and got married....more to do with our parents taking over with wedding plans.....but I have never regretted it. I think to many people these days are in love with the idea of a wedding and not a marriage.

Congrats to them

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"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

We are also on second marriages. We had the party at his parents home (we live in the mid-west. All his people are in DE, all my people are dead- so we went there). We had a Judge come to his parents' backyard and marry us on the deck with all of his relatives milling around the yard. I think the Judge charged $50. Everybody dressed in casual clothes like chinos not shorts. One small problem---No one remembered to take pictures. I am the usual photographer for all events and I was a little busy. Anyway, ask your sis if she knows a Judge- but remind people to take pictures!!

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Lyn Clarke

I think it's a great idea but would make sure to give plenty of advance notice of the party so people don't miss out. (They might choose to go to another function if they don't know it's a reception) Good Luck!!!

Rebecca