Engaged and in debt

Smodlet

The best wedding I've ever been to? My own, obviously... also the second cheapest I've ever been to. The cheapest? My sister's, and it was the most fun since the wedding jitters were hers, not mine.

She and her partner asked people to bring food, not booze (though we all brought both) and held the reception in their house, after the registry office ceremony. Those who could cook did; mine and OH's contributions were ham and cheese rolls, twenty of each, I recall. Our mother paid for the ham and the cheese, we cooked the ham, bought the rolls and spread and made them in one hit the night before. We got this "production line" going; we had already sliced both fillings. I split and buttered the rolls and OH filled and wrapped them individually in cling film. By the end, I was throwing the rolls the length of the kitchen to him; he caught all but one of them. We did not send that one. We had a blast.

Once we were done, we packed them all into the car and drove a couple of miles to collect a large trifle from one of the other guests, then delivered the whole lot to my sister's house ready for the next day. Everyone enjoyed themselves so much and, I think, felt that little bit more invested in their future together because we had all, in our own small way, helped to make the day a success. I will remember her wedding for the rest of my life; I have forgotten all the conventional ones I've ever attended.

One person's wedding gift was the cake; he worked in a supermarket bakery and made it on his own time. I imagine the ingredients were way cheaper than retail prices. Everyone who was any use with a camera took pics (as at my own wedding) Neither we nor my sister and BIL felt in any way deprived. Everything was so much more personal, IYSWIM.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you both every happiness and a great future together.