I can only echo what everyone else has said. Do what you want. We got married in a registry office. I wore a Monsoon dress, DH hired a suit. Just 15 guests of family and close friends, pub lunch after, and then honeymoon in north Somerset. Oh and we hired a mini bus to transport everyone from the pub to the registry office and back, so no one had to worry about parking or driving around a strange town.
Nicest wedding I ever went to was my sister's which was done on a budget. About 20 of us at the local register office. All dressed as pirate just because she wanted something fun. Her bouquet came from Morrison's and was half the price of a florist. My husband acted as chauffeur. Afterwards we had a small reception in my mum's garden catered by the local fish and chip shop. I made the cake. Most people brought a bottle or a few cans and we had a wonderful time.
Nothing expensive at all just 2 people doing things their way with the people who mattered to them.
------------- Good cakes aren't cheap. Cheap cakes aren't good
In Scotland, the person officiating has the liscence not the venue. You could get married on a beach wearing wellies & jeans if you wanted. Or in gardens, up a mountain, George Brown got married at home, I think.The flowers at a friend's wedding were wild ones from a road verge, a big happy bunch. Other friends got masses of roses from Tesco, tied with a ribbon - so even a florist isn't essential. As everyone says, it's your day, do it your way. It'll be wonderful.
As already mentioned, this is your day so do what makes you both happy. This is an opportunity to make the ceremony personal to you as a couple.
We had a small wedding and it was beautiful. We chose music that meant something to us and we even wrote our own vows.
It was fantastic. A wonderful couple of days with our nearest & dearest (a grand total of 8 of us) in a posh hotel eating delicious food & drink and the warmest December day for about 70 years with sunshine & fluffy clouds.
We walked to the registry office in our finery (without coats!). My Mum organized beautiful dried flower and feather buttonholes and the registrars at Hereford town hall made us all feel welcome and relaxed. They played our song 'dance me to the end of love' by Leonard Cohen. Back at the hotel we had mulled cider for the toast before tucking into afternoon tea. We're now planning our caravan "honeymoon".
Thank you for all the reassuring advice, it helped us have the relaxed wedding day that we wanted.
So glad to hear that you had a lovely day and had your wedding your way. To me that's far more meaningful than a huge do because its what other people expect.
------------- Good cakes aren't cheap. Cheap cakes aren't good
Congratulations to you both, so glad to hear that you had an amazing day.
We had a video made of our wedding in 2014, and at the end some of our friends left messages. Occasionally we still watch them back and are constantly reminded of something said by one couple (who have been "engaged" for 20 years but never married). "Don't do what everyone else does. Find your own thing, and do it your own way". We wholeheartedly agree.
We got married in April. There were 24 of us - 8 of my family, the rest friends. We had a room in a local hotel and most of us stayed there. The meal was from the main menu so everyone could have what they wanted.
For the ceremony we had 2 songs which I put on a CD for them. As has been said, no religious songs allowed.
It cost us about £700 and it was brilliant!
We had a fabulous day, very relaxed, and I just remember laughing from the time we arrived the previous day to leaving the next day. And this was my third marriage - once divorced, once widowed and now very lucky.
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Civil wedding help please
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