Affordable Marriage. Is it possible???

jonnyb1978

Wanting to get married ASAP, dont mean tomorrow but a year or so time.
Except there is one big thing stopping us. Its RIP OFF.

Been doing a bit of research and abroad seems a good option but some you have to be a resident in that country for some time, so i have come up with Malta. Rent Villa, get married have honeymoon in Villa.
Small, immediate family over and instead of a big bash, book a posh restaurant and have a slap up meal and drinks after the ceremony.
Then have a party on return home for everyone else. Friends family etc.

Does this sound like a cheap skate or with a bit of thought and effort turn out to be nice rememberable wedding.

Anyone been in this boat with any experience.. Thanks

liz105

A wedding day doesnt have to be expensive, besides, if you go abroad you may be expected to pay for your guests tickets, now that really wouldnt be affordable.

You can get married for the cost of the license if you want to. I think it was £150. Go to the registry office, do the business, then all go down the pub for a meal and drinks.

Job done! To be honest (We spent about £2.5k on ours last year £500 of that was honeymoon in the new forest) If I were to do it again the above is exactly what I would do. Me and OH, direct family only, smart clothes (no dress, too much hassle) then off to a restaurant after!!

BernadetteN

Weddings can cost as much as you want. Ours cost around £1000 10 years ago and £650 of that was my dress. We had 40 guests, a lovely do and just as good memories as others who spent a mortgage worth.

It's all personal prefence - ours was to be moneysaving , except for the dress.

inkie

The only costs that are 'fixed', are the fees for the legal bits. The rest is entirely up to you! I am marrying a couple next month, and not charging them for the ceremony (they have to pay for registrar to attend and for certificate etc), but the rest is at their discretion. When my and hubby got married 15 years ago, we had what we wanted, and all for £750 at the time!

Boona_2

After 11 years together OH and I finally got married. It was a registry office do (?£60 I think) with only two witnesses but a week later we had a humanist ceremony (£200) (not really needed but this was the important bit for us) in a friend's garden with 50 guests, a large marquee, tables, chairs etc (hired from the local village hall) for £150; Music on an iPod with borrowed speakers; a barrel of beer (£50 inc glasses); a hog roast (£250 fully-tended and carved), about £120 of wine & bottled lager on SOR from Somerfield, huge potato salad, braised cabbage with vinegar and apples (all home made £10), and a selection of fabulous tarts with cream (£55). My wedding suit is still used for work in the summer when you can get away with wearing a cream linen suit Laura Ashley sale £55.

So for less than £1000 we had a really special day which we made our own rather than an "out of the box" wedding churned out by some hotel.

What ever you decide to do have a great day and enjoy it.

drowningnotwaving_2

Hi jonny, we got married abroad (Oz) with just my two brothers as witnesses and it was the best decision we ever made. We were able to spend the whole of our wedding day together, whereas most couples spend their wedding day wandering around talking to Auntie Ethel and cousin Jane who they haven't seen for 20 years! Plus, the other big complaints of brides is that the whole day goes by so fast and then it's over - once we had our wedding day, we then spent 4 weeks travelling around Oz and then, two weeks after our return we had a big party for family and friends where we had the cake, speeches, dances, everything - the only thing missing was the ceremony! So we got to do it all again basically!

The cost for the wedding - about £300 including dress and licence!

Honeymoon - £3,000 and one of the best holidays we've ever had!

Good luck!

Boona_2

Forgot to say this was only last year and we are still drinking the rest of the SOR booze (never quite got round to taking the leftovers back to Somerfield!!) so we have probably saved a bit on the housekeeping since then!

belfastgirl23

I'd say abroad is a good option. Although nothing to stop you getting married in a small ceremony at home and having a big party. I think if you make it clear you're having a big party, don't want any presents and don't expect people to wear wedding-y type clothes you'll have huge sighs of relief from almost everyone. I know I'd much rather go to that type of do than a formal stiff wedding. The costs of attending are not just for the bride and groom but also for the attendees and they can be enough to put you off going! Anyway it's your day so make the most of it. BTW I'd say there always seem to be arguments about weddings if parents are of the controlling type. If that's you then refuse to make any compromises because once you start there's no stopping and you still won't be able to please them. There'll be a row sooner or later so best getting it over with earlier!

arthur_dent_2

Ours cost £1200 8 years ago and that included ALL the wedding outfits, we put on our own food and all drink at night and we had a caterer for the reception at the pub. To be honest if it had not have been for mother insisting on the pub and hubby insisting on the church, we could probably have cut that right down to about £800.

Oh yeah and we told everyone just to wear what they would normally wear everyday.

TheWaltons_3

Ours cost almost 7k. Do I regret it? NO!

BUT, I think I have realised the value of money a little bit more now and only wish I had found this site sooner - I would most definitely have done it cheaper!

It is silly to spend thousands on a wedding, when you could use it as a deposit for a house... or take years off the mortgage!

welshgirlmel

I got married in Gretna Green and it was fab. It was also a very cheap option (e.g. photographer £135 with cd of photos of the wedding, and 20 prints in album !)
Its not all about spending money and outdoing everyone as you obviously know so I think Malta sounds a wonderful experience!

Good Luck