AboutGary & Teri Expertise My main specialties are invitations, catering, and banquet locations or in general, wedding receptions. Started as a family business over 75 years ago I now own and operate a catering & banquet facility for over 30 years and have catered small cookout events to large formal ones with everything in between. I even had an event that was attended by the President of the United States. I have been involved with over three thousand weddings and have been told that I have seen and done it all. I must reply almost, because something new always pops up.
Experience I have preformed almost every service needed at a reception from invitations, hosting and catering the event to photographing, dj and honeymoon plans with the latter being special circumstances. I have worked and hosted weddings up to 750 guest and other functions up to two thousand. With well over 30 years experiance of consulting with brides I have seen much of what works and does not.
I have also been involved with many business and orginizational functions and also have been listed in "Who's Who" business and executive edition.
Question My husband and I met in Japan, I was teaching English and he was flying for the Air Force. When he received orders to return to the States, we got married in a Japanese courthouse so I could return with him. To get married at the courthouse, all we had to do was sign a formal document and hand over some cash, boom, done, we're married. Once we arrived in the States, I began planning a ceremony in which we could exchange vows in front of our families and friends. I am now at the invitation stage and I'm wondering how I might express that we're already married (which everyone knows), but would like to invite them to attend a ceremony on the beach hosted by my mother and stepfather, and my father and stepmother (all four are contributing money). I'm also looking for advice on what our friend, who is performing the ceremony, should say at the end since she cannot very well pronounce us "man and wife," especially since she's not going to get a license to wed. Finally, my husband is a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. Is it proper etiquette to include this on the invitation, or can we go without...he doesn't like to make a big production out of it. As you can see, I am in great need of your expertise!
Answer Hi Martina, You did mention about parents paying for it but didn't mention if you want their names listed. Since you are married usually you just list your names. Also it is proper but not necessary to list military rank. In doing this the wording can be like this.
Captain John and Martina Smith invite you to join them as they renew their wedding vows
on Saturday etc. date time and location
As for your officiant I don't understand what you mean. Not being licensed is one issue but she still can say man and wife or more correctly husband and wife. After all you are husband and wife now and you still will be after.
