Different dates of civil registry and wedding reception?

Question

Hi there,

I'm a F1 student visa holder in the U.S. Due to the visa status, my fiancé and I decided to get married as soon as before my visa is expired. We are planning to have a civil registry (just two of us) - then we'll have a small wedding reception (with his family and friends) here (JAX, FL) - then will have a traditional Chinese wedding banquet (with my family and friends) in Hong Kong.

Here are the questions I would like to ask:

(1) In our civil registry, do I have to wear my full gown or just a white dress as it definitely will be only two of us? Would you provide me some websites for inexpensive white dress?

(2) Except families, do we have to inform/notify his/my friends about our civil registry since we won't invite them there?

(3) If not, when we have our wedding ceremony/ reception after couple months here, how do we tell people we actually have married? How to write/ mention in the wedding invitation?

(4) If following the traditions, do we have not to see each other the day before our wedding reception/ceremony? And, how to start the date after wearing my gown?

(5) Do you have any suggestion for an inexpensive reception in Jacksonville, FL?

Thanks and have a good day!

Answer 1

1. you don't have to wear white at all you could fill out your civil registry in jeans

2. i don't think so but i do know when you get married by a judge you have to have a witness, but i doubt if you'll need to

3. you probably should say in the invitation that its just the reception

4.you guys don't not have to be separated the night before  

Answer 2

1. you don't have to wear white at all you could fill out your civil registry in jeans

2. i don't think so but i do know when you get married by a judge you have to have a witness, but i doubt if you'll need to

3. you probably should say in the invitation that its just the reception

4.you guys don't not have to be separated the night before

Answer 3

You don't have to wear a dress, although nobody would look down on you if you wanted to.  :)  You don't have to inform anybody.

In the invitation it can be worded something similar to: "Joe and Donna Smith (if you've started using his last name, or separate names if not) request the honor of your presence at a reception in honor of their marriage.  Joe and Donna were united in matrimony (joined in wedded bliss... or whatever wording you prefer) on June 6th, 2009.

I would recommend taking as many of the traditions and applying to them to your wedding as you want.  As it's informal, nobody will look down on you for not following some, but it's always fun to throw in a few here and there.  :)