Mr.S and I are getting married next June. So we've been talking about this topic a lot... or at least I have. Since we'll be living together for at least six months before we get hitched, and that goes against everything my family believes in and all that shit, I won't be having a big traditional wedding ceremony. Don't really want one.
This will be my second marriage. My first one officially ends on Dec.1, and I have to wait six months before marrying again, which will make it in early May. As of right now, Mr.S and I will just go down to the courthouse as soon as we can to make it legal. We're having a commitment/betrothal ceremony before we move in together, so we'll feel quite married anyway.
Here's the special part: On June 12th, we're throwing a big reception. It's my parents' wedding anniversary, so we'll be killing two birds with one stone. Our reception will be very special because we'll be the entertainment. Mr.S has a degree in theatre, and I've always been a theatre buff, and we both really love broadway and musicals and all that jazz (pardon the pun). So we're putting on a show during the reception. We'll be singing, dancing, doing skits, monologues, comedy, etc. A lot of audience participation. It'll be the perfect way to introduce each other to our respective clans, and wonderful evidence of the great match we make.
It'll have the cake and dancing of a regular wedding reception, but this one will be really personal and very much a part of who we are separately and as a couple.