Nontraditional second wedding ideas: Express who you really are.

If your first trip to the altar featured a long white gown, a traditional ceremony and a bevy of attendants, you may have different second wedding ideas. In fact, nontraditional weddings are gaining in popularity, and the list of possible nontraditional second wedding ideas is seemingly endless.

Included in this category is the so-called "destination wedding," in which the ceremony and the honeymoon are in the same place.

If you have a limited budget or kids' college tuition to think about-or if you want to invite a large group of people-a lavish wedding in a remote location may not be for you. Consider, instead, something closer to home: a beautiful state park, a country inn, even a river barge. Are you wine aficionados? Why not stage a wedding at a local vineyard? Do you adore plants and flowers? Botanical gardens offer lovely settings. Or try a fine historic building, a hot air balloon ride at sunset, or that special restaurant where the two of you had your first date. There are all sorts of wonderful nontraditional wedding ideas to celebrate your remarriage.

If you love a casual lifestyle, consider a more casual wedding

We live in a more casual time: The way we dress, the way we entertain and the way we get married are all evidence of this. Many couples today are rejecting the pomp and pageantry of traditional weddings and opting for a different kind of ceremony that better reflects their lifestyle and personalities. Have styles of engagement and wedding rings changed? Find out.

Are you happiest eating hot dogs and hamburgers at a picnic? Or do you favor a "casually elegant" aesthetic? There are all types of casual weddings, and there may be one type that's perfect for you. Of course, "casual" means different things to different people.

To you, it might mean a fall wedding in a grand lodge somewhere in the Adirondacks, with a roaring fire and a hearty lunch buffet. Or a barefoot wedding on a beach, with hard-cooked eggs and champagne afterward. On the other hand, your idea of simple may mean an intimate gathering in your aunt's Fifth Avenue apartment, with an elegant but limited menu of beef tenderloin, asparagus and a tasteful one-tiered wedding cake.

However you choose to express yourself, casual weddings usually avoid formal invitations, fancy bridal gowns, copious floral arrangements, elaborate menus and other staples of traditional weddings. But again, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to second wedding ideas. If you want to remarry on the beach in an elegant white lace gown with bare feet, take your cue from the old adage, "Something old, something new." -and do your thing.

The individual choices you make all contribute to the flavor of your nontraditional second wedding. These include:

Invitations: You'll want the design and wording of your invitations to reflect the wedding itself, giving your guests a sense of what to expect and how to dress.
Setting: In choosing a locale, comfort, fun and informality should dictate your decision.
Decorations and flowers: You'll want to set the mood with your décor. Aim for a natural, unfussy look. Bouquets and boutonnieres should be simple and in keeping with your attire.
Attire: There are very few rules anymore. What you wear will depend mostly on your taste and the type of wedding you've planned. The groom's attire, of course, should complement the bride's. Take care to harmonize the colors you wear to look great when you're standing together and in photos.
Menu: Think fun, festive and more informal. Buffets and finger foods are great for casual weddings. For your cake, forgo the classic multi-tiered confection in favor of something more fun, like wedding cupcakes or a cake festooned with edible wildflowers.
Music: Consider a jazz quartet, a rock band, big band music or better yet-a combo that can play a little of everything.

Second wedding ideas that include the outdoors: Mother Nature is in charge of the décor.

If you're thinking about an outdoor wedding, your interests, personalities and budget will dictate the specific type of venue you choose. Are you a romantic? An adventurer? A sports enthusiast? A history buff? Whatever you are, there's bound to be someplace outdoors that will set the tone you want. The seashore or lake, a mountain or forest, a city park or national park can all offer a splendid backdrop. Outdoors can also mean a beautiful yard or the grounds of your church or synagogue.

Outdoor weddings have unique organizational and planning needs. But if you plan well, they can be wondrous events, enormously festive and perfect for families with children.

If you plan to marry outside, use this checklist as a guide:

Begin planning at least six months ahead, especially if you will be renting supplies.
If your wedding location is on public property, plan well in advance to get reservations and any necessary permits. Your local parks department or town hall can direct you to the appropriate office.
Pay attention to weather and climate. For example, don't plan a coastal wedding during hurricane season.
Order a tent. This is essential in case of rain, and not a bad idea for relief from a blazing sun. If your wedding is in a backyard and there's room in the house to accommodate guests, this can be your backup.
Some locations have on-site catering and dining facilities. They may or may not allow outside caterers to come in. Check into this before signing any contracts.
When renting supplies such as tables, chairs and place settings, ask for references, read the contract carefully and make sure you understand what your liability will be for lost or damaged items.
Be aware of parking facilities at your location. Depending on the number of guests and the parking facilities available, you may want to hire a valet service. If parking is difficult or the location is hard to find, consider hiring vans or buses to transport your guests to the site.
Keep your guests' comfort in mind. Portable bathrooms are usually needed. On the invitation, suggest that people bring a sweater or jacket in case it turns cool.

Special considerations if your encore wedding ideas include being near the water.

If you're most at home by the sea (or a lake), why not incorporate your love of the water with your nuptial events? There's nothing more natural than your bare feet in the sand and a salt breeze blowing through your hair, but remember, beach weddings require forethought. Before making that momentous march down the dunes, make sure to check local ordinances and obtain the necessary permits.

Your checklist will break down into three main categories:

Facilities (Are there electrical hookups, bathroom accommodations, wheelchair ramps, etc.? Is there a crew that removes beach debris every morning?)
Regulations (What time does the beach open and close? Can you serve alcohol and food? Can you bring pets, light bonfires, etc.? Is there a maximum number of guests allowed?)
Forces of nature (check the tide schedule, time of sunset, etc. Avoid mid-day weddings, when the beach may be crowded and the sun may be very strong.)

Unusual second wedding ideas: something completely different.

If you want to go beyond casual to come up with something highly unusual to celebrate your remarriage, there are all sorts of directions you can go in. Here are few nontraditional second wedding ideas that might suit you just fine, or spark a new idea that is uniquely yours.

Second weddings by the sea:

If the surf is your turf, don your bathing suits, grab your surf boards, catch a wave and, finally, exchange your vows among loved ones gathered on the beach.
There's a 160-year-old whaling ship docked in Connecticut's Mystic Seaport that has all the paraphernalia to make you feel like your having a nineteenth century wedding at sea.

Second weddings up high:

You can celebrate your wedding in a hot air balloon. Depending on which way the wind blows, you probably won't know exactly where you'll land until you touch down. If you're a couple that likes a little surprise, this may be the ideal venue.
Would you rather be skiing than doing just about anything else? Arrange your second wedding on the mountain top and then ski down for a ski-lodge reception. Transport non-skiing guests by chair lift or snowmobile.
Consider the Empire State Building or Chicago's Sears Tower to exchange vows. Once you're back on street level in either city, great restaurants and hotels are in abundant supply.

Second weddings for kids of all ages:

A wedding at Disney World is different only in the sense that this is a relatively new phenomenon. But it's become hugely popular, and Disney has an entire staff devoted to handling weddings at their parks. Venues include the Wedding Pavilion, Cinderella's Castle, or one of the themed resorts if you prefer a nautical or Polynesian motif, for example.
At a dude ranch, your guests can sit on bales of hay while you exchange vows, dine at rustic tables with wildflower centerpieces and eat cowboy food while a fiddler provides the music.
You can exchange vows at the front gates of Graceland in Memphis. Despite its name, the new Heartbreak Hotel across the street is the obvious place to spend your wedding night. It even has a heart-shaped swimming pool.

Second weddings ideas that are wonderfully quirky.

The Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia is home to the Enchanted Garden . If you're a literary type who's looking for something a little offbeat, this may be just the place for your wedding.

The Bridal Cave beneath Thunder Mountain in the Missouri Ozarks can offer you your own underground wedding chapel for a day. If your idea of romantic wedding decorations includes stalactites and unique onyx formations, this can a very cool setting (quite literally-guests are urged to bring sweaters!).

Find out everything you need to know to make a brilliant choice when choosing an engagement or wedding ring.

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Can you afford the wedding of your dreams? Learn more about the financial concerns of a second marriage.