[Endresults01]

I have some questions about getting remarried that are not addressed on any of the pages. I am a 35 year old woman divorced with 3 children, ages 16, 12 and 10. I have been seperated and divorced for almost 4 years know. After coming out of an abusive 10 year marriage, it has taken alot of counseling to even get me to the place that I was able to trust and love again. He is a 47 year old man who was married for 24 years and had a wonderful wife and marrige. (She died from breast cancer 2 years ago) He has three children also all girls, ages 25, 23, and 18. Needless to say, none of them are happy about the two of us being together. It is not like we are strangers, we have know each other for 15 years. We live in a VERY rural area, and everyone knows everyone. But I was also friends with his wife and walked through this cancer with her. We both miss her very much and because of the fact that we were so close, it gives him a safe place to grieve. And he has, some days are better than others, and more of them are good than bad anymore. He truely has been able to bein again. I am by no means trying to replace thier mother and don't want any one to be hurt by this wedding, so we are planning to get married in August 1 , 2005 in the Bahamas. But we would like to be able to have a formal reception after we get back. Is there any proper ettiqute about formal receptions? I by no means wish disgrace the memory of my friend. But in the hispanic culture there is always a dinner and dance to mark a festive occasion, and for us it is. I just don't want to hurt his girls, my children are fine with it

[Etiquette Now]

Dear Getting Remarried,

You may have the same reception you would have if you had married here, as formal as you wish. Hopefully by the time you marry his children will have reconciled with the fact that their father is happy again.

Best wishes,

[Jill]

You are treating this relationship in a very sensitive way. No 'rules' here - have the formal reception just the way you want it.

Hopefully by then the girls will have accepted, and be pleased, that their father has found you and that you are going to be married. How wonderful for you both after difficult times.