My mind has been racing the past week with thoughts about my trip to Italy. I’m scared and excited at the same time.
I REALLY wish my husband was going as my guest (I am allowed to bring a guest). He is not fond of airplanes and honestly has no desire to travel abroad. It would also be a lot to figure out when it comes to the kids, school and our six pets too if we both went. In the long run it’s best that he stays home.
Italy could have been the honeymoon we never had.
My husband and I eloped, 16 years ago this coming October. We dated only 8 months and knew each other was “the one”. We just had to get married ASAP. My husband proposed to me on a Sunday night and we married at the town hall that Friday. Hardly anyone was there either. Just my mother in law and two of my husband’s siblings.
I love my husband with every fiber of my being. I certainly DON’T regret marrying him. But there are times I wish I had a “real” wedding with the beautiful gown, reception and honeymoon.
No one from my family was at our wedding. None of my friends either. If I had to do it over again I would make sure everyone was there.
I didn’t even have the opportunity to send out formal wedding invitations.
If I had to do it all over again I would love to have a wedding with all the “bells and whistles”. I’m not talking an over the top Kim Kardashian type wedding (no way!). Mine would be small, maybe 100 people or less.
The above picture is my “wedding reception” at my mother in law’s condo. My husband changed into a tee shirt and jeans and I changed into a sweater and jeans. 
I always wanted to get married in the church I grew up in prior to getting married when I lived upstate. I also thought a Christmas time wedding would be nice. I thought decorating a reception hall with small Christmas trees wrapped in white lights would be pretty. I would keep everything a Winter White color and decorate the tables with garland and pine cones and give guests ornaments as wedding favors. I think that would look so pretty.
If we were to get married again I would definatly make sure that we had a honeymoon too. I think that is one of the things I miss the most. Our honeymoon consisted of an overnight stay at a hotel, dinner and the comedy club. Not exactly ideal.
The good thing is that I got a lot of use out of my wedding dress. Since we had our wedding at the town hall I didn’t have a real wedding dress. My dress was off white and made of lace. I had a chance to wear it again two more times after that, so at least I got use out of it. Plus it only cost me $60.
Did you have your dream wedding? If you had to do it all over again would you change anything? I’d be interested in hearing what others have to say about it.
Kimberly
I wouldn’t redo my wedding, but I’m still waiting for the honeymoon. I had to go back to work 2 days after we got hitched and when we had time we went to the beach for a few days. My husband is like a ripe peach when he travel – delicate and bruises easily- but I would love to go somewhere warm and sunny.
I’m not married yet but I would definitely like to have at least a semi-formal wedding. I think it would be fun in your case to have a wedding do over! : ) A friend of mine had an October wedding and they actually got married in a barn and had autumn themed decorations and lights with bales of hay and pumpkins, the works! I thought it would be “red-necky” (LoL) but it was really beautiful and I wouldn’t mind doing something similar.
I thought about not responding, but I want you to know you aren’t alone in this. My first husband and I eloped because of a very long story. He promised me a wedding later and when I left him 12 years later, he had a big elaborate wedding with his mistress of 12 years.
My current husband and I had yours mine and ours (three mine, 1 his, 1 ours) when we got married. My husband had been laid off a year when he found a job, and we planned a wedding. I lost my job and then the plans went out the window and we got married at the JP afterhours which happens to be in the jail house office. Classy.
If I had it to do over I would have waited. Granted we would be common law by the time I could afford the wedding that would include 75 people at the most, but I would have waited. I love him dearly and am thrilled that we are married, but the little girl in me who used to dress up and play wedding everyday wishes I had a beautiful dress (I wore black slacks and a dress shirt from my business job and he wore khaki shorts and a golf shirt), flowers and all the works. It would be at a local park or at the pier, not fancy, but mine. My wedding night consisted of coming home with four kids and that was that.
I can’t change what won’t be, but I am with you in wishing my little girl dream had come true. The part about the strong knight in cammo and a big mud truck did come true
I used to think I would like to have a redo wedding, but after 31 wonderful yrs, I would rather take the money and spend it on a wonderful redo honeymoon. My wedding was at the JP, with my inlaws. I did my own little reception with a few freinds and family (14) later that day at our home. It was very simple. We did not have a honeymoon until 20 yrs later. I treasure the memories of our little wedding now, because I know that 2 people loved each other, and that was all that really mattered. It was nice to read your post and see that you are still in love after all these yrs. That is a rare thing these days. I would seriously think about having a honeymoon though. Ours was wonderful, and I would love to do it again. Have a safe trip to Italy.
My first wedding was big, over 250 guests. I did the formal dress with train and veil and we left for a 7 day cruise the next day. We knew each other for 11 years, were engaged for a year and 6 months after the wedding I found out he was dating a 16 year old (he was 27). When Don and I met we knew each other a little over a year. He was married before and they did the big wedding and neither of us wanted that so we had a small ceremony at his sister’s house. I wore a beige floral dress and he wore dress slacks. After the wedding we both changed to jeans and had a BBQ. Since we lived in different states and I had to fly in for my wedding he planned the entire thing. I gave him input on what I liked but the menu and everything else was him. I’m so happy with our wedding and wouldn’t change anything except for remembering to bring my shoes. Yes, when I was getting dressed for the wedding I realized I’d forgotten my shoes and had to get married in my bare feet.
We went to a wedding a few years ago in Destin, Florida on the beach and it was beautiful. We’ll be married 9 years in March and always say we’re going to renew our vows on the beach for our 10th anniversary but even if we don’t I’m the happiest bride. Our wedding was perfect because he was the groom.
I so understand why you would want to have a do over but coming from someone that did not have a big to do wedding its all turns out the same just without all the pictures. We got married in Vegas without our families but we did get pictures and stuff but we saved ourselves and my parents LOTS of money. The only thing I think I would change is the fact my Dad didn’t get to walk me down the aisle. This was my second marriage and my first wedding was even smaller. If I had the chance to have a do over I would have a wedding with my family there.
First of all, I must say, I’ll be your guest!! LOL
Second, It’s a very scary and exciting thing to travel on your own-I did it when I went to NY in 2010, but I haven’t traveled abroad before. It’s an extremely fulfilling experience
Third, it sounds like regardless of what you and your husband did the first time, you did it because you loved each other and that’s what really matters! Who knows, maybe one day you can have a second wedding the way you’d like
The only thing I’d change about my wedding is, the videotaping didn’t go right. The day before, I asked my husband-to-be to start the camera at the front of the church. The day of, however, my husband saw my dad and the photographer messing around with the camcorder, and he thought they started it. ::sigh:: The other camera we had, my cousin’s girlfriend was supposed to operate “’cause she took a class in school.” And she showed up after the bridesmaids had gone down, then couldn’t figure out how to run the camera. So every time she thought it was on, it was off, and vice versa. ::sigh:: I wish I had good video.
That would be so fun. I’m not married, but my parents and 3 brothers all had small weddings (chapel in Reno, church with family, 6 guests, etc) So I have always told my parents mine will be HUGE!
xoxoxo