A large, formal wedding is no longer reserved only for first time brides. The days of second weddings taking place at city hall or before a justice of the peace are long gone.

With the dramatic rise in second, and even third, weddings these days, it is understandable that the rules of "proper" etiquette have changed. The traditions and aura of a first wedding focus on the innocence of the wedding couple.

For the encore wedding, whether you are widowed or divorced, the focus is on the romance. The encore bride can select a dress of ivory, pastel or even white. There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a wedding dress for your encore marriage.

Since it is a second wedding, feel free to go with a lower neckline, but forego the train and replace the veil with a romantic hat or possibly a beaded or floral head piece.

With an encore wedding, you might find a significant change in your wedding party. An encore bride may walk down the aisle alone, with family members or the groom. If you have children, include them in the ceremony, either as attendants or flower girls and ring bearers.

Something new that is happening at more and more encore weddings is to have the bride's children accompany her down the aisle.

If you are currently happily married, but missed out on a large wedding the first time around, reaffirmation ceremonies are increasing in popularity. You don't have to wait until your 25th or 50th wedding anniversary to plan a reaffirmation. Some are now celebrated as early as the 5th anniversary.

Whether you are starting over with a new partner or reaffirming your current vows, it is your special day and you should plan for the wedding you want, not necessarily what tradition dictates.

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