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What if your heart falls in love for the second time? Frightening, isn't it?  Many questions arise in your mind especially once you're engaged. The first question that your mind has formed may be what the wedding etiquette for a second marriage is.

It is a difficult question but it needs to be answered. Knowing the wedding etiquette for a second marriage will help you lessen the pressure and tension that your first family (whom you love so much) has unconsciously thrown at your back. You need to bear the situation like any reasonable adult.

Before, it was widely believed that a second marriage should not be elaborate, extravagant and formal the way a first marriage is celebrated. But today, this belief does not carry much weight. You can still aspire for an intimate, smaller and quieter second marriage but you can also celebrate a festive one, if you prefer and your budget permits you to do so.

What is imperative is that your second marriage is celebrated the way you would want it to be. Don't restrict yourself and do what others expect you to do for a second marriage. Remember, it is you who would be wed and not them. Besides, you would not violate any wedding etiquette by following your own wishes. 

Here is some information for you about wedding etiquette for a second marriage.

Revealing Your Engagement

When getting married for the second time, your major concerns will be the second marriage's effect on your children, if you have any, and to your close relatives. If you intend to remarry, your children should know first of your decision. You must prepare your children for having a new family and new brothers and sisters. Combining two families would not only be stressful for you but for your children, most especially.

The next to be told the good news are your parents. Of course, they should be in your wedding and informing them is a sign of courtesy to them. Next will be your former spouse, especially if you have arranged joint custody for the children. Your ex should know that there will be some changes in your household.

In addition, twice-betrothed women should wear their new engagement ring. There mustn't be any trace of old flames on your hand the moment you begin planning and announcing your second wedding.

Deciding on the Dress

Widow brides who get married for the second time were traditionally expected to wear lilac or lavender dress. But this tradition does not hold true nowadays. Wedding etiquette for a second marriage gives brides a chance to wear a white gown again. Divorced brides can also wear white dresses, although they could remove the veil and tiara and instead simply wear flowers on their heads.

The Guest List

When planning for your second wedding, don't assume that you should invite any person you want to attend to your wedding. Abstain from inviting former in-laws and ex-spouses, even if you are on good terms with them. Guests may also feel awkward seeing and spending time with them.

If your children, however, requested that their other parent should attend the wedding, try to talk them out about it and tell them how awkward it would feel for the new in-laws and the new stepparent to see an ex-spouse around. Wedding etiquette for a second marriage does not compel you to invite an ex-spouse to your second wedding, although you may do so if the situation warranted.

But if your new spouse agrees to the idea of inviting an ex-spouse as requested by the children and your ex-spouse agreed on it, then you may ask your ex-spouse to attend your second wedding.

But there is a more reasonable idea than inviting your ex-spouse to your wedding. Invite your ex to a dinner, perhaps at your home, with your children and new spouse, if everyone is up to it. Tell your children that the dinner replaces the wedding invitation and your children may finally agree on not inviting their other parent to the wedding day. You may execute this before or after your wedding or honeymoon.