Temple marriage but display civil marriage photos?

[Bini]

Is it acceptable to display civil marriage photos after having a temple marriage? What would it depend on?

Odd question but a valid one for me. My husband and I have a civil marriage, basically a judge married us in a court house. Since I had been married before, I decided that I didn't want to do the big wedding and reception, again. So we kept it simple. He wore a nice slate suit and I wore a black cocktail dress. The dress was very simplistic, tasteful I thought but was strapless, so garments couldn't be worn with it. While the whole event was modest and modest in attendance too, we still hired a photographer to take pictures, and I love how those turned out. We displayed several around our house to share with family and friends. So in the last couple years, we've decided to really push towards becoming temple worthy, we do well in most aspects expect for two things: attending ALL Sunday services, and tithing. We have a ways to go but I'm already wondering what's to happen with our current wedding pictures? When we finally marry in the temple, we don't want to have a ceremony afterwards. We just want to do the temple ceremony and then go home. I don't even want to invest in a special dress. So would it be acceptable to keep our civil marriage photos up, even though we've gone through the temple? I'm leaning towards it being okay but I guess you never know what's LDS etiquette.

[Jenamarie]

By all means keep them up. I can't imagine why it would be inappropriate to do so. It was the start of your marriage, regardless of where it occurred.

My grandparents were not Sealed in the Temple until they were grandparents (they were not converts, but had struggles with becoming Temple worthy), and they still kept their original wedding photos on display, along with the picture of themselves and all their family standing in front of the Oakland Temple on the day they were finally Sealed.

[LilyBelle00]

My husband and I were just recently sealed in the temple (June 29th!) and we are keeping our civil marriage pictures up. They are right next to the 8 x 10 of us and the kids in our whites in front of the temple. :)

I wouldn't even have thought to take our pictures down.

[mirkwood]

Of course it is okay. Why would anyone think it inappropriate?

[classylady]

Bini, read the opening statement on the Proclamation of the Family, and pay attention to the part I bolded: "WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children." You'll notice that the first presidency didn't say that only temple marriages are ordained of God. They said marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. Your civil marriage to your husband, not only was a special day to you and your husband, but a ceremony that still is ordained of God. Keep your civil marriage photos up. It is the day you and your husband became a family. God recognizes that, and so do you, your friends, and your family. The day you and your husband are sealed will also be special. It will be the day you and your family are sealed together for eternity. Take some pictures, and put those out for all to see too.

Edited July 12, 2013 by classylady

[Backroads]

A wedding photo is a wedding photo is a wedding photo and I am sure your dress was darling.

[Anddenex]

My parents were married civilly first and then a year, I think a year, later they married in the temple. The only pictures I remember of my parents were from their civil marriage, however I didn't know this until I was much older.

[Just_A_Guy]

I'm in the same situation as Anddenex.

By the way, Bini, I think you should do a little something when you're sealed. Not a full-fledged reception, perhaps; but at least some kind of opportunity for the people who came to your sealing with you to get together and enjoy each other's company after the ceremony.

[Smudge]

Here in the UK we have to have a civil marriage before a temple sealing can take place so it is common here for people to have both photos from the civil and temple marriages - although I have at least one friend who only has only her civil photos up

[Swiper]

So would it be acceptable to keep our civil marriage photos up, even though we've gone through the temple? I'm leaning towards it being okay but I guess you never know what's LDS etiquette.

I think its acceptable. I would actually put them up on the wall next to eachother, perhaps even using those frames with room for two pictures.

My wife and I only have pictures of our 'civil wedding'. No pictures were ever taken the day we got sealed in the temple.

[Windseeker]

For myself I would put the temple wedding pictures up as an example and reminder to my kids. But I don't think it matters a whole lot, it will be nice for your kids to see pictures of your wedding, either one.

[estradling75]

Is there any reason you can't have a set of pictures from both events?

Family pictures are about your family and the important events in your lives. Now for many LDS the events of marriage and sealing are basically the same event so they only have one set.

Anyone that has a problem with the fact that yours was not... well that is their problem and not yours. You go right on living your life and learning line upon line, precept upon precept