Ceremony at licensed venue

FBaby

We thought we were having it easy! Started looking for a venue only last week for a wedding on 14th September and found a place we really liked. It is licensed venue so can get married there....except that our register office have said they can't get someone there on that day

My main question is: I understand that you have to have your appointment before the wedding at the registry of your local office, but does the person coming to the venue also need to be from the local office? Is there any point trying to contact the next one away and ask if they would come to our venue?

The other question is: If the above is not feasible (and we don't want another date as hotel and family not available!), we could marry at the local register office at 1:30 and then go to the venue for the breakfast meal. That would mean most likely sitting down around 3:30. The venue have said that would be fine (although they would then need to get people moving to clear up for evening meal). From experience, do you think this is ok, or is it pushing things a bit late (the venue is only about 5mns drive from the register office) to get there, take pictures, settle in etc... We also have an evening reception. Thanks for you advice!

moonbabe58

Unfortunately I believe the registrar has to be from the same 'district' as the one where you want to get married in.

The timings for the ceremony and the meal sound fine to me!

wendz86

It would need to be a person from the local office if you venue is in that location too. Our venue is in a different place so the place we gave notice and where the registrar coming from is different places.

jtr2803

FBaby wrote: »

We thought we were having it easy! Started looking for a venue only last week for a wedding on 14th September and found a place we really liked. It is licensed venue so can get married there....except that our register office have said they can't get someone there on that day

Jeez, what area are you in?

In my area the council says:

We guarantee that whatever date and time you are able to book, a Kent County Council Celebrant and Registrar will be available.

And that's under the approved premises section.

daisiegg

FBaby wrote: »

The other question is: If the above is not feasible (and we don't want another date as hotel and family not available!), we could marry at the local register office at 1:30 and then go to the venue for the breakfast meal. That would mean most likely sitting down around 3:30. The venue have said that would be fine (although they would then need to get people moving to clear up for evening meal). From experience, do you think this is ok, or is it pushing things a bit late (the venue is only about 5mns drive from the register office) to get there, take pictures, settle in etc... We also have an evening reception. Thanks for you advice!

I'm confused what's the difference between a 'breakfast meal' and an 'evening meal'? The 'wedding breakfast' usually is an 'evening meal'!

bubbles0169

daisiegg wrote: »

I'm confused what's the difference between a 'breakfast meal' and an 'evening meal'? The 'wedding breakfast' usually is an 'evening meal'!

wedding breakfast means first meal after married so if you have a buffet or sit down meal after your married thats the 'breakfast'

unfortunately you do have to work around the registrars
the day goes so quick though those timings are fine

daisiegg

bubbles0169 wrote: »

wedding breakfast means first meal after married so if you have a buffet or sit down meal after your married thats the 'breakfast'

Yes I am aware of that.

I still don't understand what the OP is talking about though - they are planning to serve two sit down meals?

FBaby

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough, all new terminology to me!!! As bubbles stated, I meant Breakfast meal and then buffet for the evening reception!

Thanks for confirming that there is no point in contacting another registry office. As it is, it's not as bad as I thought as they did have a slot at 12 noon rather than 1:30 (interestingly, they had told me there was availability at 12, but told my partner that only 1:30 was free some days later, to then confirm to me by email the following day that the noon slot was still available, all this by the same person!).

jtr, grrrr, I'm just next door to you, but clearly not so flexible here It's ok, in a way, it's not a bad thing as my family comes from France and they would find it very odd to have the ceremony at the hotel rather then the equivalent of the 'Mairie' and now they will get to eat at a more 'civilised' time (try to get a French person to have a proper 3 course meal at 3:30pm and that could be the start of war again!).

Thanks all for answering my query and good luck with your wedding arrangements.

daisiegg

I think your timings will be fine....we won't be sitting down to the wedding breakfast until 5pm and the evening reception isn't starting until 8pm (with buffet served at around 9.30 or 10)

Good luck with your wedding!

daisiegg

jtr2803 wrote: »

Jeez, what area are you in?

In my area the council says:

We guarantee that whatever date and time you are able to book, a Kent County Council Celebrant and Registrar will be available.

And that's under the approved premises section.

That's quite a bold claim though isn't it? What if you book a Saturday in July and there are already 10 weddings going on at the same time and only 9 registrars? Just curious as to how they can make that promise!

This message does not require a reply from anyone, it is just me idly babbling... :rotfl:

cats2012

daisiegg wrote: »

I think your timings will be fine....we won't be sitting down to the wedding breakfast until 5pm and the evening reception isn't starting until 8pm (with buffet served at around 9.30 or 10)

Good luck with your wedding!

We're 4pm and 7pm respectively and this was suggested by the hotel - so 3.30 is definitely fine