Anyone had or know of someone who has got married abroad then had blessing later at home?! Help!

Do you know what I think a wedding with both your parents this christmas would be lovely. You don't need to stress about anything and it'll give people something to look forward to in the new year when you have your wedding after-party (not sure you would need to wait until November tbh). I would invite everyone that you would like to (as Cyprus may be within people's budgets) but also be aware that few may be able to come along due to the time of year. In the invitation you can let them know about your post-wedding party!

I think you should go for it if you're both happy to get married there

Although, we got married abroad we had most of our friends/family come to Portugal, we had a party on our first anniversary for friends and family. Two of my friends who got married abroad had a party exactly 1 month after they're wedding (mainly so they could still fit into their dresses ?)

Thanks for your response

The reason we would wait until November for the after party would be because of the travel for his job, so November next year would really be the only time we could plan anything! If we were to have the wedding in Cyprus it would be more like just us and our parents. I know that my brothers and my bridesmaids would not be able to make it on that short notice as they would be travelling from the other side of the world. And while I have friends close by it wouldnt seem right having them there when those closest to me can't be if that makes sense?

I guess I don't want to miss out on the planning of something big and special with all our family and friends when they would be able to make it next year and November might be allowing enough time to do this and almost be like a one year blessing... I know it is very complicated.. I am very lost on what to do at the moment... Adding to it I have already paid for half a dress that wont be made by Christmas..

I am getting married in Cuba on 9th November and we are having a reception party for friends and family a few days after we get back. we are away for 3 weeks. Really looking forward to it now.

Hi there - my brother is just returning form Vegas today, they got married there and had no family with them. They are having a blessing and reception next weekend - can't wait. I think you do what you want to do its your wedding after all xx

I don't think it would take anything away - I got married abroad, and then had a full on 'second wedding (but not legally binding, of course!!!) 3 days after we got back...

But with your situation, I think to maybe plan it a year to the day would be lovely!!... wouldn't be a sham at all, but you'd maybe like to consider it not looking like a 'wedding' but being more like a renewal of vows type thing, so not as full on? Of course if you wanted it full on then there is nothing wrong with that either!

Good like with whatever you decide on!

Thanks heaps for your responses guys! It's good to hear that it's not such an insane idea! I'm still not sure exactly what we will do but great to hear similar stories x

We got married in Mexico then had a reception when we got back. It was perfect. Do whatever feel right for you!

My friends got married in vegas and only a handful of us went, I was her BM and so me, the best man and both sets of parents went...

I then came home with the best man with all their stuff and got the dresses cleaned etc ready for their party 3 weeks later...It was lovely and everyone got to see them in their wedding gear, they had a cake and photographer etc so it was just like a wedding reception.

She said it was the best decision ever as she had 2 weddings and the excitement lasted for weeks!!

they also know exactly where they will go for their 10th wedding anniversary!

So they had just a reception/party when they got back?

I'm looking at the idea of like a blessing and reception. But of course it would be very odd for me to wear the dress as would be almost a year on.. Actually the dress I've ordered won't even be ready for this Christmas So don't know whether to cancel it as it won't seem right to wear it almost a year on???!

If we had something this Christmas would be very low key, don't know if I'd even tell many people, just our parents would be there. Would see next year as our wedding celebration and this year as our special private commitment... Does that seem really wrong? Might help if I explain we will be spending up to 6 months apart next year already because of his job as it is (he's in the forces) which is part of why we can't plan anything until much later.

Also already asked Bridesmaid and Best Man so kind of completely counts them out if they are not here for Christmas and there is no bridal party for blessings (I think)...

Still battling it over in my head a lot!

x

Yes they just had the reception when they got back...you could always have a small registry service to make it official with a small gathering at a pub/restaurant and then renew your vows one year on and celebrate it with a bigger party then??

It depends on what is important to you right now not what other people are going to think...we were meant to marry this yr but couldnt afford what we wanted so we postponed, however we cant afford the wedding and the honeymoon at the same time-its important for us to be married so the honeymoon wont happen until a year after the wedding..

xx

My SIL is Hungarian so they got married in Hungary in June 2009. They then had a party in England in Sept '09 which was nice but just felt like a party IMO. It was a lovely evening but would have been nice if they'd been in wedding attire (or at least something similar)

I think a samll ceremony and a blessing next year would be lovely

We got married in Turkey in September and had a reception 2 weeks ago for everyone else. Everyone who came to Turkey wore the same clothes so it felt the same. I wore my dress again. I vote go for it!

Your plan for a blessing is something I have come across many times over the years. Don't worry about it in any way....you will have a blast planning the blessing.

Hubby and I got married just the 2 of us on a beach in Thailand and then the week after we got back, we did it all again in the UK including a church blessing and then reception. It wasn't massive but we had everyone there that we wanted. I wanted to have my UK 'wedding' very quickly as I wanted to keep in the spirit of the wedding but that was just our personal opinion and everyone is different in their ideas and preferences. Do whatever makes you (and H2B of course!!!) happy.