Hello everyone!

My name is Jennifer and I recently became engaged on Valentine's Day to the most wonderful man on earth! (Well, the most wonderful man to me anyway!) We have been together for a little over a year and a half and have planned the special day for September 27th of this year. I am so excited! We are trying to plan a traditional wedding on a tight budget, but I think it will all work out. If anyone has any ideas on how to save a little money or crafty ideas that we can do on our own, I would be glad to hear them.

Also, I have 2 children from a previous marriage and we have a daughter together so we are interested in hearing how others have incorporated the children in the ceremony. The children will be ages 10,7 and 1 by the time we get married. Here is what we have thought of so far. My son Wyatt, who will be 10, is going to actually be one of the groomsmen and he seems pretty excited about it. My daughter Gracie, who will be 7, is going to be a flower girl, of course and we are hoping that our youngest daughter, Cheyenne, who will be 16 months will be able to walk with Gracie as a flower girl, but I am thinking we will just have to see when the date gets closer. We would like to include the children in the ceremony as a way of uniting the whole family on this special day. Any ideas?

It is so exciting to be planning this wedding. I didn't have an official wedding with my first marriage, it was done in the courthouse by the Justice of the Peace with no reception and no honeymoon. I guess that should have told me what kind of marriage it would be, huh? Anyway, this is his first marriage and the first wedding for both of us and we want to make it extra special!

I would appreciate any ideas or advice from anyone. I feel like a giddy schoolgirl and can't wait for September 27th!

Thanks,
Jen

Hi jen!
Welcome to the forum!
Congratulation on your engagement!!!
We are getting married sept of 09. I have a son who is 10 (and he has a 8 yr old)....My son will be walking me down the aisle with my dad. We were together for 5 years just the two of us... and I thought it was important that he be a big part of the wedding. We also are going to do some short, yet sweet vows.Durring the vows we will present the boys with a gift...which will be an engraved pocket knife. My FH wants the boys to walk out with us... but that probably wont happen!!! We also are not taking a traditional honey-moon... but a honey moon with our boys! We are planning a trip to Disneyland. Their is so many things that you can do to incude the kids.. I googled a few things, and thats how I came up with my ideas! Hope this helps you!
Rachel

Hey Rachel!

Thanks for the information. We are also looking into giving the children a gift during the ceremony, but haven't narrowed it down to what exactly. We are also going to include the kids when we light the unity candle and I think, David, my FH is going to include something in his vows that will say how he is not only committed to me, but to them as well. We are going to take a traditional honeymoon, mainly because our relationship from the beginning has always included the children and we figured that we needed some time to ourselves. We are one of those couples that even takes the kids out with us on "date" night and when they are not with us, we feel like there is something missing. I know it is going to be real hard for me to be away from them during our honeymoon, but I am very excited on the thought of having my FH all to myself for a few days. We are looking into renting a cabin in the mountains or going to a Bed and Breakfast and have decided that each year on our anniversary we will do something similar and with the kids in tow. Well, I had better get off of here! Have a great day!

Jen

Hey! I know when my mom got remarried she and my stepdad presented us w/ family medalions. It is a pendant of sorts with three interlocking circles. I am not sure where you can get them, but I am sure anything given to your kids on the special day will mean a lot to them (and the two of you know your kids better than I do). As for including them in the ceremony, I like the idea Rachael had of the oldest walking you down the aisle, or maybe even walking down with the girls? He and the oldest daughter could walk on either side of your little one and help her down the aisle, then she could go sit with the grandparents. Just a few ideas. :-)