Anyone done it cheaper?

birduk

There is a really cute white dress in our local charity shop window if you are anywhere near Manchester. It can be dyed and worn again!

ellay864

ljbnotts wrote: »

Hahaha I wish we got paid the fee that it actually charged! No chance, just our usual lowly wage. The fees are set by the local council and GRO (general register office) and the higher price for a register to come out covers the extra time away from the office (on average an hour and a half at the venue and travel time there and back to the Register office) So in that time we could perform 4 weddings instead of just one! Plus there is 2 registrars not just one that could be doing other registrations in t hat extra time!

That first bit was said with tongue in cheek honest....I know what councils charge bears no relation to what their staff get paid lol
But I'm still intrigued as to why 2 registrars have to come out...I'd prefer to pay half as much and just have the one, I didn't get why they have to come out in pairs!

ljbnotts

ellay864 wrote: »

That first bit was said with tongue in cheek honest....I know what councils charge bears no relation to what their staff get paid lol
But I'm still intrigued as to why 2 registrars have to come out...I'd prefer to pay half as much and just have the one, I didn't get why they have to come out in pairs!

Haha I figured it was tongue in cheek!

As far as I know there are a few reasons that when going to outside venues why we have to be in pairs.

1. Lone working! They (the council) don't like us being on our own in case something happens at the wedding; you have back up for any legal issues and also personal safety.

2. There is always one person who conducts the wedding (superintendent registrar or a deputy superintendent registrar) and one who does the legal bit of actually registering the marriage (a registrar or deputy registrar). This is due to the time restraints before the wedding at the pre wedding interview and also during the ceremony. You would be waiting for quite a while whilst the certificate and register were filled out correctly. The registrar does this whilst the ceremony is happening, so it is ready for you to sign directly after the ceremony.

3. If something doesn’t run according to plan, interruptions, legal reasons or if something crops up in the pre wedding interview and the registrar isn't sure of how to proceed then you have someone else to ask. The registration law is huge, and it is impossible to carry the handbook with you out of the office, it is massive! We also have no internet to check the handbook on either and unfortunately you could register for 20 years and something will crop up that you haven't seen before, it is impossible to learn everything!

There a few reasons so hope that helps!

Also about the fees, the GRO (General register office, who are in overall charge of Registrars) and the government have made the decision to put the fees up. They haven't been increased since 2005 and it has been decided that the statuary fees will change.

The price will also change for certificates so if you want more than one copy of your marriage certificate then if you get it on the day it will be £3.50, after the wedding day it will be £7 whilst in a current register and £9 when it goes in to the archives.

Kavanne

ljb... how many people do you see doing what we're doing? A lot or not many?

TinyPablo

Sounds perfect, wishing you the very best of luck.

ljbnotts

Quite a few during the week, it's not uncommon at all and the best thing about low key ceremonies is that the people who are getting married aren't doing it for the wrong reasons, they truly love each other and just wanted to seal the deal!

We had a couple a few weeks ago that came with just their parents and their little girl. They wore normal everyday clothes and got married at 11am on a random tuesday morning! Our ceremony room holds 70 people, including the registrars and the wedding people there were about 10 people and do you know it really was lovely and intimate!

I think your day sounds lovely, I hope you really enjoy your day and you won't be stressed or in debt at the end of it! Hope the weathers good enough for you to have your picnic! That sounds lovely.

If you don't want to dress up you don't have to but why don't you buy a new pair of jeans or something practical that you can use again that will remind you of your day? (even new underwear!) x

svjenni

ljb - can I ask is there a limit on how many Wedding Certificates yo can order?

Whats the most you have been asked for on the day?

I want at least 3 so I can send the copies off without worrying what companies are doing with my document

Kavanne

Thanks for that ljb! Were doing it on a random Tuesday afternoon at Chinese dentist time (two thirty, get it? Ok a bit racist but it makes me giggle)

I think I could treat myself to a new pair of jeans and maybe a new jumper. good idea!

ljbnotts

No there is no limit at all, if you want 10, 20, 30 etc as long as you pay the £3.50 for each, thats fine! It might take a while and the registrar might send them to you if you wanted that many! But 3 will be fine! It's always a good idea to have more than one in case it gets lost!

A new jumper and jeans sounds like a good idea! Best of luck with your day! Any more questions, just ask!

(My DF and me went out for supper last night and his pint was £2.30 and the waiter said that will be chinese dentist time as well!)

jackieglasgow

I really don't get that!