Getting Married - Again

This year the Dad and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary and we plan to celebrate it by renewing our wedding vows.

Somewhere around our 5th wedding anniversary The Dad suggested we do the vow renewing thing but it was my opinion that it was too soon for that, that re-confirming our love for each other should take place after we'd been married at least 15 years if not longer... well, it's longer now.

The Dad wanted us to do it when we were in the Bahamas in January but I convinced him that the re-marriage should be a family affair. Since we now have children that they should be included because they are a part of the commitment we have for each other.

So we've decided to do it in the Bahamas next spring with the kids and our parents but I'm starting to plan now.

Our original wedding was lovely but I'd like to do something particularly special that reflects our maturity, our family and our love and commitment for this one so I've been browsing wedding sites looking for that one special idea.

I'm looking for some special wedding favors as I'd like to give our few guests something meaningful to thank them for celebrating with us. I don't want just your standard run of the mill baggies of almond candies... a bottle of wine with our picture is nice but you either drink it and it's gone or you don't drink it and it's tucked away somewhere and forgotten. I want something that people will enjoy and use or display because they actually like it. I want a unique wedding favor that our guests will appreciate and that looks like we actually put thought into it.

I found some nice ideas at www.charmingweddings.com. In their unique wedding favor section there were some nice little fortune cookie keepsake boxes in gold and silver but although they are nice, they don't quite fit with the theme of a Bohemian beach wedding - besides, the minimum order is 25 and we aren't going to have 25 people... but that's the kind of thing I had in mind.

Then while browsing the site further I saw much to my surprise, a whole section on beach wedding favors with just exactly the kind of thing I had in mind! I particularly like the frosted sail boat tea light holders but I also like the idea of a picture frame and since it will be all family that are our guests, a picture of us isn't a bad idea - besides, they can always take out our picture if they want and use them for something else.

I'm really looking forward to this. I can picture us all on the beach at sunset celebrating a strong marriage and a strong family and I think it will mean a lot to the kids to be truly involved in the ceremony and celebration.