registry office wedding - help and thoughts :)

ellay864

Loads of great advice here...and you'll find even more on the weddings board. Have fun
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=142

Seanymph

Unlike a church you can choose any registry office - so pick one you like (that was a nice linky above!).

OH and I hired a campervan for our honeymoon - went to France to house shop for two weeks - and we drove that the ceremony.

We had our three grown up children as witnesses (they were all allowed to sign the register) and I wore a Monsoon dress off ebay (£22.00) and a jacket.

We were all going out for lunch together - but were worried about traffic reports on the way to the ferry, so we got married and then changed in the car park and went off to France.

You do whatever suits you - go and look around some registry offices, they make an appointment and show you the room.

You could have everyone back to yours for a meal, or hire a hall for a buffet, or have a nice pub meal - you don't even have to have a private room.

There are no rules, just make it the day you want.

Seanymph

Oh, just thought - we did it on a Tuesday lunchtime because it was the cheapest time of the week - it varies.

In fact my youngest was at College nearby and came in her lunch hour wearing jeans.

It really was the most low key experience, and we loved it, both cried all the way through (well OH says he didn't, but he did!) - and it was lovely words.

We had two registrars there, and they were both wonderful, welcoming, we chatted and joked, they took pictures so did the kids - and it was very relaxed and amazing.

Crowdpleaser

I had a reg off wedding. After 10 years 2 kids it was more important to us to be married rather than a huge wedding. I wore the big dress amd 2 daughters were bridesmaids
Dh and bm more wedding suits. All wore buttonholes. Mum did a reading. Had a great time and huge party after. X

EllieJ-x

ah thank you will check out the link!!
yes we are the same and feel after hoe long we have been together it just important to get married now, we always said we didn't want a long engagement and its ended up a 5 year one buy the time we would have done everything else we have planned to do we would end up engaged forever lol!!

InsideInsurance

Things vary considerably by registry office so certainly check locally.

I would echo others opinion that it can feel a little like a production line and state of equipment etc isnt always the best.

Ours was a tiny reception office job. The misses was late to it which possibly made things worse. Whilst small our plan had been than she'd come in with her small "big dress" to some music however you need to individually speak to the registrar before the ceremony and they decided to leave her in the room and bring our guests and I into the room with her already there so she didnt get her big entrance and they claimed their tape player was broken so no music.

A friend did the bigger registry office with readings/ songs and theirs went fine other than the room was supposed to have a webcam so that the overseas family could see it but it didnt work properly.

You can wear what you want, it is however a "serious" event and some registrars may take issue and refuse to perform if you arent appropriately dressed (eg fancy dress, t-shirt and shorts etc).

I believe our friend did have some of her own flowers in the room but it was effectively conditional on them being there at the start of the day and being left there afterwards. There is very little time between the ceremonies to reset the rooms as it is without having people switching out flowers etc.

Remember everything has to be non-regligious; whilst the rules have been relaxed, Robby Williams' Angels used to be banned, its worth clearing anything with the registrar that they are happy with it. Again they can take exception if you decide to use Iron Maiden's Bring Your Daughter To the Slaughter instead of the wedding march

his_missus

My best friend got married in a registry office.

She wore a long bridesmaid style dress (like you get at Debut in Debs) her Hubby wore suit and top hat and tie to match her dress. His best man wore the same minus the waistcoat. I, as the maid of honour so to speak, wore a dress that complemented their colour scheme. We both had bouquets. Her brother walked her down the "aisle" with me following behind.
There were about 60 guests I think. They drove to the local park where a few friends took posed photos.

Afterwards we went to their local pub for pie n pies and a karaoke in the afternoon then back to their house for a mini family and close friends get together with takeaway pizza.

themull1

First marriage i got married in a regester office, didnt like it, it was too quick, second marriage got married at Comlongon Castle in Scotland - stunning, and they cater for couples upwards, third(and hopefully final)marriage, i got married at a local hotel, and had a meal, buffet and disco there, was fab!!

DigForVictory

"Shop around"!

You can choose which registry office you want, and also which day & at what time to marry - which will affect costs.

They're all neat & tidy places, usually with static flowers, so we picked one near a park for photos. That said, the room was pretty lush, so we didn't exactly have to hit the park, we just wanted to.
We didn't have formal photos at that stage, so my suit (previous season's Jaques Vert, glorious gold silk) is barely on record. Parents, sisters, matron & daughter flowergirl, best man - it was tiny, but all we needed. Wore the suit jacket over a very boring maternity dress to other weddings! Nice to say "I can still wear"....

We then had lunch, changed into the fancy dress (hired suit, long white, yadda) and had the chapel blessing with all the friends & relations we could pack in. (Looked and felt like a service, just out of boundary since 12something!) The vicar is a relative, who'd married 4 of his 5 daughters by then (all 5 now!), so while it was all essentially a family party the photos look 'official'!

Within reason & with agreement with the registrar, do what you want. After the ceremnony, whether you go to the best hotel in town or picnic on the park, so long as you are happy with it, what does it matter? (I like parks. Spacious, colourful & my "bride on swing" photo always makes me smile!)

Just do not use the "Wedding" word as the price leaps up something daft. "Family party" quite as true, and a sight more affordable.

MrSmartprice

I think a register office wedding is ideal. No fuss, no stress, no ridiculous wasting of vast sums of money, what's not to like?

The ceremony for ours was actually no more than 10 minutes, then you sign the register and they leave you to take a few posed photos in the room. You have no input into d!cor, flowers etc, but there is often a choice of rooms of different sizes. It is very friendly and informal.

You can be 'walked down the aisle' if you wish, but it's down to choice. Ours had a choice of 3 readings if you wanted them, and 4 pieces of music. All were strictly non-religious, and we were told beforehand that no religious content was permitted whatsoever, which suited us fine.

We never got the feeling of being rushed, or it being a production line. Afterwards we went to a pleasant area behind the office for more pictures, then strolled up to a hotel for afternoon tea. We timed it all to fit together and had a great day.

If it's what you want to do, then go for it. It's your wedding so let nobody else try to persuade you to spend a fortune on fancy venues if it isn't your thing. As others have suggested, the 'wedding industry' is an absolute racket that some people feel compelled to get into. Just enjoy the day!