DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for a year. It's my second marriage and his first. Because we were unable to afford a wedding at the time, we married at the courthouse.
We are now having a wedding so we can share this with our family and friends.
Some of our friends and family think we are wasting money or looking for gifts. We have not registered anywhere and have made no gift requests. Are we making a mistake? Should we simply have taken the money we're spending on this special day and put it toward a trip for us? -- BLUSHING BRIDE IN MICHIGAN
DEAR BLUSHING BRIDE: Your mistake may have been in calling your celebration a "wedding." If you had called it a "renewal of vows with family and friends" it might have been more warmly received. As to whether you should have taken the money you're spending and used it for a honeymoon, I think it's a little late to be second-guessing yourself -- don't you?