Dear Annie:

Last summer my son got engaged. They set a wedding date for late summer. However, she became pregnant, so they are now planning to marry sooner at the local courthouse. But they still want to have their marriage blessed in church, so they intend to renew their vows on the original wedding date, with the minister who had planned to marry them.

What do people do? By the time of the vow renewal, the baby will be three weeks old. They are going to have the white dress, bridesmaids (dresses are already bought), guys in tuxes and 200 guests, with an informal reception at a park. I am not sure their plans are in good taste or appropriate for the circumstances. Am I being too old-fashioned? － Woes in WashingtonDear Woes:

A little. An unplanned pregnancy used to mean a forced shotgun wedding, but that isn't the case here. Your son isn't hiding his marriage, but the couple would still like to celebrate and the arrangements have already been made and, in some cases, paid for. Renewing their vows is a perfectly legitimate way to do this. Stop worrying about what others will think and enjoy the moment.

to get engaged   订婚courthouse  (n.)   法院to renew  (v.)   重做；重订minister  (n.)   牧师；神职人员bridesmaid  (n.)   伴娘、女傧相reception  (n.)   接待处；宴会circumstance  (n.)   情况；情势old-fashioned   老古板；守旧者shotgun wedding   奉儿女之命结婚；（因女方怀孕）被迫举行的婚礼legitimate  (adj.)   合法的；正当的