Wedding Tips start here...

andertoonz

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

I usually leave final decisions to the very last minute but am a star at pulling everything together in the end.I think thats why my MIL got stuck in at the beginning and I thought she was a real dragon,it was just that we like to do things differently.She plans her xmas list for next year on 26th Dec and doesnt sway from it and I plan my final one about 2oth of the current year(very last minute).I guess she just didnt trust me to get organised in time.
I am different with the wedding though,decisions are being finalised way in advance.I am not telling anyone else about them though yet,let them stress.

I have not been printing stuff off and putting it in my wedding folder lately,I find I am running through my ideas,worries and choices on this forum instead.
Note to self,must update my wedding folder.I could even upload all my inspiration photos,venue photos etc in a slideshow to my bebo.Yay!Thats my weekend planned.

lol! thats what i would get excited about too. we are sad but i don't care hehe! we can be sad together! :beer:

*starla*

We did think about having a later ceremony and then a hot buffet for everyone to avoid feeding people twice, but it actually didn't work out cheaper-

For a 3 course meal in the day for 70, at £25 per head, then a sandwich buffet for 140 at £4.50 per head will be £2,380.

For a hot buffet for 140 in the evening at £15 per head plus £250 room hire (it's free if you have 3 course meal) would be £2,350.

So only £30 more for the meal. Also as our wedding is on a Friday if we wanted everyone there to eat we'd have to wait until about 7.30 - 8 ish as we don't want people who aren't coming to the ceremony to have to take time off work.

Andertoonz I really like your idea of doing the speeches before the food. Have suggested this to the groom who probably wouldn't eat much with a speech looming, so we've decided to do speeches at the drinks reception after the ceremony, which will make them nice and informal.

Anyone who is wanting to lose a few pounds before the big day, I've found a good free food tracker, you enter what you've eaten, it gives you target calories, breaks down what you've eaten into carbs/protein/fat - it's really useful for getting an idea of what you're actually eating. I used tesco tracker for a while but found it didn't work too well.

jorichste

We moved our wedding to late afternoon so just had an evening buffet to pay for. can you delay an hour or 2 before serving food? maybe change time of service as we did.................or really long speeches?????

pixiesmum

Hello all,

Well a week into reading this WHOLE thread and finally i can post!!

Last saturday, me and OH set a date for our wedding, after 7 years of engagement!! We have decided on aug 8th 2010 (not into rushing things us two!!). I was very excited about finally making plans for our wedding, but i have to say that now my hopes are floored. I mean, seriously, where do people start??

I have always fancied a church in our local area, but as we are non- religious, we will both have to be baptised, and attend church for 6 months prior to wedding, and become part of the parish electoral role... this in my eyes is very long winded!! And slightly hypocritical, we have been living in sin for almost 7 years and have two children out of wedlock!

Sooooo, i've decided on a civil wedding. Which is where it all becomes sad. Our local registry offices only can seat 35ppl for the service.. we need at the bare minimum 70 places!!

From there i decided to look a liscenced venues for wedding, and i nearly had a heart attack!! Why is it that almost all venues wish for you to have the wedding, wedding breakfast, reception, and evening buffet?? The initail quotes i have got for the whole day (wedding, breakfast, reception, buffet) are all coming it at a staggering 3 - 6.5 k!!! Seriously folks, i have no idea what to do.

I have looked outside my area for other registry offices, and only finding 1 (32 miles away) that can have 100 people for the service. Im not sure if i am asking too much for relatives and friends to travel so far out for what i understand from this thread is a pretty quick ceremony, then ask them to travel the 32 miles back for a reception!!!

Did anyone else have a similar problem, or anyone have any advice on what i could do?? I am at a complete loss!!

Thanx in advance for help... jen

Krystaltips

Have you tried a non-conformist church? E.G Baptist/Pentecostal... They tend to be a bit less restrictive than Anglican churches... Although they may still want you to attend some services (You should give it a try, you might like it )

*starla*

Have you had a look on the list of registered venues in your area and contacted any that aren't hotels - they may not expect for you to have the full day there.

Erm also we had it suggested to us by our venue that you can have a very small legal ceremony with just witnesses, then have a ceremony type thing in front of everyone afterwards, apparently no one would know the difference except for yourselves. This was suggested as our venue is a golf club so we could have had the bit with everyone there outside, or anywhere. We didn't like the idea of it, but it is a way of having a ceremony with everyone there, and as it's not the 'real' thing, the place doesn't have to be licensed.

Otherwise I think you might have to make the decision to either drastically cut numbers which may not be an option, or get the guests to drive. Could you have the reception nearby this other registry office to cut down on travel during the day?

loopy-loo73

Hi Everyone,

We are getting married on Nov 15th of this year & am very excited :j I've read all the tips (which took me ages) and thought it was about time I introduced myself. We've been together 9yrs & engaged for 2 of them, we have dd1 (11yr old from previous marriage) and dd2 3mnths who will both be bridesmaids. We are getting married in the same hotel we are having the party in & we aren't having a big sitdown affair with speeches (infact definately no speeches) just a disco & buffet in the evening. So far we are spending ...

Registrar £300 (already paid £60 deposit)
Hotel room hire for ceremony £200
Buffet for 100 @ £10.95 per head £1095 (already paid £300 deposit)
Disco £160
Honeymoon Suite £120
Honeymoon 2 nights at b&b in Lakedistrict with flowers & champagne £295 (already paid by df)

My Mum is buying my dress & bouquet and also dresses for the girls & flowers for dd1 hair. Df is wearing he work suit & just buying a new shirt & tie to match my dress. We aren't having cars as all in one place. We aren't having flowers but i'm hoping to get balloons for the tables & table confetti, I had considered doing this myself but not sure if i want extra things to do on the day so might look for a local place to do this. No photographer, we are asking friend to have our camera & giving him a list of pics we want, also df will make folder on home server & give access for guests to upload their own pics so we can do an album from them, also having disposable cameras on tables for evening. Am hoping my grandad can do my cake for me but if he's not up to it then I will get from m&s and just put ribbon round tiers & topper on top. Haven't thought about drinks for a toast yet either!

What do you all think? Have a forgotten anything?
Lou x

pixiesmum

hmmm.. never thought about a pentecostal church, i thought they were quite strict??! I will have to look into it and see what happens! I dont mind going to church as such, but decided a civil ceremony might be the best bet all round. thanx for the tip krystaltips!!

Starla - yes have tried looking at ALL licensed venues (believe me i've searched.. even came up with a railway station and a zoo!!) (pps.. wayyyyyyy to expensive!!) The small ceremony with just witnesses sounds fab to me, only problem is, if the mother and MIL found out what they are seeing is not the REAl thing then our lifes wont be worth living lol!!! Can i ask how much your venue will cost you minus a real onsite wedding?! ss if too nosey!

We've got a few nice golf centres round here, but they are out of league too... its amazing how when you mention the 'M' word the price almost trebles for exactly the same thing. As for having the reception near the 'other' reg office, hmmm not a bad idea. I just worry about the other guests who will be coming to the evening do who aren't invited to the wedding.

How anyone gets married and stays sane is beyond me!! Now i know why oh and myself have left it this long lol. On a good note, ive managed to email 4 different venues (3 liscened) for quotes today, as well as dealing with 2 kids being sick, 3 trips to shop and being here!! yay not bad if i do say so myself!!

Jen x

paddingtondoo

Is there a venue near to the registry office that seats enough people that you could hold your reception in?

Other than that have you thought about a Friday or midweek? Lots of venues don't charge for room hire during the week and reduce the minimum amount of guests you need to cater for.

pixiesmum

See paddingtondoo, im not even sure on a registry office as yet!! Im desperatley searching for a place for ceremony for 70 people. the reception isnt so much of the problem, its the ceremony!

I live in luton, and the 2 nearest reg offices only hold a max of 35 ppl.. so i will be looking for a venue/ liscenced building for the ceremony, which isnt going to cost the earth to do, and wont rope me into paying for sit down meal and evening buffet. I hope this makes sense to you all.. im rather tired today.

The weddings already pencilled in for a sunday, and i have noticed this cuts costs..(thanx to all who suggested this )

Had an email from one of the venues.. they apparently cant help me as the prices will change in 2010. Funny thing is, i asked if it is possible to have the ceremony there, without a sit down meal!! Never even asked for prices lol!! Makes me wonder if the person actually looked at my email hmmm.