Teeny Tiny Wedding!

daisy111_2

Hi All,

Does anyone here have any experience with very small informal weddings??

After almost 19 years and a 5 year old daughter, my boyfriend and I have decided to get hitched... hopefully next month!! :eek:

The plan is to get married at the registry office on a week day, with 20 close family and close friends only, do off to Blackpool for a couple of days (without DD, a treat in itself!!), and then have a party when we get back on the Friday or Saturday.

Obviously I can't start planning anything until I get a date - we have an appointment with the registrar next Monday (28th)...

Anyway, my concern is what to do after the wedding - do restaurants open for that few people? Would they expect us to hire the whole place? I would prefer a buffet to be honest - would we be expected to have speeches and stuff? What's the etiquette??

Gah!!!! How do people worry about this kind of stuff for a whole year?!!!

paddingtondoo

I'm sure you will find a restaurant that will cater for you - just don't mention the W word or the price goes up :rotfl:.

I had 11 months of planning sort of although once the venue was booked I didn't really do all that much until April. I know some people on here are booking now for 2010 :eek:. I couldn't cope we've have far more rows since we set a date than we ever did before :rotfl:

karen_newcastle

Most restaurants would welcome you with open arms but you may not have exclusive use of the place. But look out for places that have quiet private corners that they can cordon off for you and maybe some outside space so you can wander out if the weather is nice. Look at nice pubs too. As for speeches.....there aren't any laws and you can do whatever you want! I think small weddings can be lovely and intimate and I am sure you will have a great time.

Just make sure you give all your guests as much notice as possible as they may have problems getting time off work with it being summer holiday time etc.

EricaB

we went to a wedding on saturday and they used a local brewers fayre who gave them the top floor - think there was about 30 people altogether
only thing is we had to pre-order meals before the day

Elizabeth_739

Hi Daisy 111 - why not get caterers in at home? they can set up a buffet with wedding cake etc. and you can pitch the cost at whatever you want to afford. Also, big factor, you can buy your own wine, champagne etc. without restaurant prices or corkage. I am getting married on Aug 15th, RO wedding, reception in the garden but as there are only 30 of us, I think I would still have done the same even in the winter. Much more personal and we can keep going into the evening as long as we or our guests want to stay.

Good luck anyway, Elizabeth

lhd4

when my husband and i got married, we had a buffet at home, Registry office, 20 people, m&s wedding cake with decoration from local cake making place and my father in law bought the champagne

daisy111_2

What is RO wedding??

You know, a reception at home isn't sounding too bad - especially as the in-laws-to-be have a lovely big garden...

Thanks for the ideas, it's all food for thought for when we get the date next week... now for my dress, and more importantly the star of the day, our daughter's dress!!!
xx

MsChazzer

I remember seeing a wedding party in a local restaurant one afternoon, it was only small and the restaurant closes between lunch and dinner so presumably it was a bit of extra income for the restaurant.

As for speeches and etiquette, whatever you want. We're dispensing with speeches entirely (although we will say a few words of thanks).

karen_newcastle

daisy111 wrote: »

What is RO wedding??

You know, a reception at home isn't sounding too bad - especially as the in-laws-to-be have a lovely big garden...

Thanks for the ideas, it's all food for thought for when we get the date next week... now for my dress, and more importantly the star of the day, our daughter's dress!!!
xx

RO = Registry Office

karen_newcastle

daisy111 wrote: »

What is RO wedding??

You know, a reception at home isn't sounding too bad - especially as the in-laws-to-be have a lovely big garden...

Thanks for the ideas, it's all food for thought for when we get the date next week... now for my dress, and more importantly the star of the day, our daughter's dress!!!
xx

Get yourself down to Monsoon they have all their wedding dresses half price!

claireac

My first wedding was tiny, and we got caterers in and did it in the garden.

I should point out that I'm now arranging wedding number 2 and not 10 as "my first wedding" sounds a bit strange :rotfl: