Not too long ago, encore brides wore a pink suit and wed in the clerk’s office at City Hall. Understandably, since so many weddings across the country are second or subsequent marriages, the rules for “proper” behaviour have realistically eased.
Trevor Booth Photography, Windsor, Ontario, will travel
The underlying theme this time, whether divorced or widowed, is romantic rather than innocent.
Check first with your clergy for any religious restrictions. You may then find this the perfect opportunity for a home or garden wedding or an intimate church wedding with a larger reception. But if you’ve always dreamed of a large wedding, go ahead. A Sunday wedding will allow you more choices for reception facilities.
Your wedding dress may be ivory, the new pinks or peaches, or the traditional white. This time you may have a lower cut dress, but forgo the train and replace the veil with a romantic hat or a sophisticated beaded headpiece or a fascinator, made popular by Kate Middleton.
A widow may want to have a male member of the family give her away, while the encore bride may walk by herself, or with the groom. A new popular custom is including your sons and daughters as attendants, or as flower girl and ring bearer, if they are young.
At the reception, there need not be a formal receiving line, and while most of the “fun” traditions remain, the throwing of the bouquet and garter and rice or confetti are usually reserved for first weddings.
Marriage Reaffirmations are also increasing in popularity. Once reserved for 25th or 50th anniversaries, they are now being celebrated as early as the fifth anniversary.
Many couples choose to recreate their wedding day, complete with original dress and attendants, while others opt for a clergy renewing their vows during an Anniversary Party. Couples are also finding this a great opportunity to redesign their wedding day and enjoy the ensuing celebration.
