registry office wedding - help and thoughts :)

PinkPrincess83

When we got married (in a registry office) the previous weddings had over run so my sister called my dad as we were in the car telling us to get the driver to go for detour and not to rush, the wedding was meant to be at 3pm and I think we got there about 2.50pm the end and there was the previous two weddings cars in the driveway- so my Mum ushered everyone into the waiting room whilst I had to wait downstairs!! I wouldn't have changed the location though.

When we finally did get started though it didn't feel like they were rushing us, and we had intentionally booked the last wedding slot of the day so we weren't rushed in having our photos taken.

FBaby

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

Just to comment on this, it might different depending on where you are, but in our county, you cannot choose your registry office. Maybe it is because the one in our town would be much more popular and they wouldn't be able to cope with the demand (already very stretched), and so unless you are a resident of a selected area, you are not allowed to get married here.

Also, wanted to comment on feeling rush, I felt the opposite! I was surprised how long and personal it was. We married at 12 noon, so right in the middle and they were full that day. I think they organise it so that you don't really see the other parties. We didn't before or after. The registrar had a brilliant sense of humour and we laughed on a number of occasions which we thought was great. Music, we picked what we wanted, they showed no interest in knowing what it was. They provided the equipment.

EllieJ-x

i have phoned them today to enquire about the dates they have and they said they only do 2 weddings a day on Fridays so i don't think i will get the feeling rushed part! That's really great news, but the first times are already gone so we need to get deciding on things!!

Alpha58

EllieJ-x wrote: »

... i just want to get married so that my nan and my oh's nan and grandad can see us do it...

Without wanting to pour cold water on it - is this why you are getting married?

page1

Me and my husband went to registry office after finishing our shift from work with my sister and his brother, both of us wore t-shirt and jeans. And then evening meal with close family. Then back to work next day. That was 33yrs ago.

valk_scot

I had a registry office wedding with just our immediate family, eight of us in total. We headed off for a meal after then had an evening reception do for 100 at the local rugby club, with two local ladies doing an evening buffet. I wore a cream flapper-style dress that I'd got from the Oxfam bridal shop, OH wore his kilt. We had a couple of brief speeches from OH and I and then got on with having a good time I didn't have a bouquet or flowers, we used pre-printed invitations, a friend of mine made us a two tier cake as her present and we just used taxis to get around rather than hire a car. We walked home from the rugby club, it was only round the corner. About twenty of our friends came back too and the party finally finished at dawn so it was a good thing we weren't going on honeymoon (borrowed my FILs holiday cottage for a week) until my OH sobered up.


Cost? It wasn't that much more expensive than say booking the rugby club for a 50th do plus buffet, a meal for eight and my dress, which was £100 iirc. The registry office wedding room was attractive, nicely laid out with plush carpets and good seating plus flowers, much like a small chapel but with no religious bits.


I hate to say it but it was a far nicer wedding than many of the ones I've been too that cost tens of thousands. Who's got time to stress about whether the ribbons on the favours match the bridesmaids dresses?

Islandmaid

We,ve been together for 7 years too, and just decided its time.

We,re having a simple reg office ceremony, I,m wearing a plain long ivory dress, 15 guests inc my 3 late teen teenagers (our witnesses) champagne and stawberries in the park whilst photo,s are taken, then we,ve booked our fav local restaurant for a meal and will be having a rasberry pavlova instead of a cake - just cas its our favorite For us it,s about the marriage, not the wedding - and of course having a knees up with our closest friends... Enjoy it whatever you do x

Maybe_its_because

valk_scot wrote: »

Who's got time to stress about whether the ribbons on the favours match the bridesmaids dresses?

THIS!!!!

The number of friends/family weddings I've been to where the bride's high stress levels has been over such tiny things.

OP, try your best not to worry about the inconsequential things and pick and choose what is and isn't important to you. Weddings can be so much more flexible and personal.
Know your budget and don't feel pressured into spending money you don't have on things you don't want. (especially if its just to please others!!!)
Its great you've had offers of financial help. Accept them (as long as they're not conditional)

Try to enjoy the wedding planning - we found it so much fun, once the big decisions were out of the way like where and when. Looks like you'll be at that point really soon

Good luck

MIB