Due to health care reasons and the fact that I will be overseas for the next year, My fiancé and I have decided to have a civil marriage before our church wedding. I know that you can have a blessing of a civil ceremony, but is it possible to have that religious ceremony be the same (to those watching) as a wedding. Basically we don't want anyone to know we were married before our "wedding".

Of course you can do that. If it makes more sense to you and your fiancée to do this now and have a church wedding later, then by all means go ahead with your plans. Either way you'll be married, only twice.

It will depend on what church you are having it done in. For example if you are catholic, no, the priest will not do another "wedding" they will do a blessing. It will be up to the pastor, so you will have to talk and ask the pastor what he will or will not do. Most will not do the lie, and would tell the truth if asked.