Saving up to get married is frustrating and seems to take forever to the point that im wondering whether it would be cheaper and easier to just get married at a registry or elope and then have a party so to speak for the family and friends. Would approaching a venue for a "party" rather than a wedding cut costs or would they still slap the price up as its wedding related. I also wonder wether this approach would work as all the weddings ive been to have had the actual ceremony and the sit down meal etc. Dont know what to do as I want to get married but they cost so much money just for the enjoyment of friends and family.
Just because some people have ceremony and sit down meal doesn't mean you have to. Our original idea was registry office and then BBQ in the back garden, which we then decided upon hog roast catered instead. The house we were hoping to have moved into has not happened and my friend offered her garden but H2B wasn't keen. In the end we are having the wedding at the registry office and then all going to a wildlife park where we will have mocktails & canapes on arrival and then access to the park all afternoon and a room for the buffet and dancing in the evening. It worked out not too much more than the original plan. BUT it was less than half of what we were being quoted at local wedding venues. There are also other options ... we happen to love animals so this suited us. What do you love to do and can something be done around that?
We are having a 4pm ceremony and then a hog roast at 6pm and then an evening party. All at the same venue. And because it’s a Friday in half term in November it has worked out quite cheap! It can be done! We also told he venue their original price was too high and they gave us the dj and a couple of other things for free x
It's your wedding, so do what you want to do. You can hire function rooms v cheaply (sometimes free) and have a big party there with a buffet or something. If you still want a traditional venue, then you're probably going to pay quite a bit still, but some places have lots of different options for catering etc which brings the cost down. You could look for deaks depending on how many guests you have as some places do packages for 50 guests at reduced prices etc.
We had register office and reception at my in laws house in their back garden came to under 2 grand xx
Unless your desperate to have a no expense spared day your better off doing what you’d prefer.
Try out of the way venues and different places they will likely be more reasonable or if your happy to risk the weather have a garden wedding and just ask everything to bring a bottle/dish.
It is true the word wedding seems to double most prices, and I can’t see a genuine reason why other then they know people will pay it 🤷🏼♀️
We're getting married abroad but then having an evening reception at home for friends and family that can't make the wedding and is costing 1600, will prob end up a little more with the bits I want to add (props and selfie sticks, sweetie jars and a kids corner with colouring etc) but will all come under 2000. We have chosen to do it this way for the same reasons you are! If your doing it last minute most venues will be happy to have an available night filled so u can try negotiating too! X
We had a mid afternoon registry office ceremony followed by a buffet evening reception. Saved lots of money and had an amazing day.
You could always have a 3/4pm service and then just have a hog roast or evening buffet x
Some advice I had was to tell everyone like suppliers and venues etc that you're having a gathering for x number of people and agree a price and only mention it's a wedding when they're going to draw up a contract or at the last minute! Because they've already agreed a price they can't put the price up!
If you are doing it for other people, you are doing it wrong x
I had literally nothing saved up when we got engaged then 6 months later my grandad found out he was terminally ill so we decided to get married asap, we did it in 5 months and it cost less than £3k, we were incredibly lucky that both of our families chipped in to help us, but we could have easily done it for about £1k if they hadn't. We had a 5.30 pm register office ceremony with immiediate family (50), then went straight to a local social club and had a big hot and cold buffet, and invited everyone else (150), and put out a message on Facebook that the buffet would be opened early due to the late time of the ceremony. It worked well for us, we had the room professionally dressed which made a big difference to the aesthetics. Remember your wedding is what you make it, just because you've only been to fancy all day in one posh location weddings doesn't mean that's the only way to do it, I wouldn't change a thing about my wedding xx
Go abroad/registry office that’s what I plain to do one day .... then have a big party .... a wedding is a moment between the couple ... not for everyone to comment ...ooohh I didn’t like the cake wedding venue whatever ... just make it special for you and close family xx
Am getting married at St George's Hall liverpool then party in function room with a buffet x
We got married on a Thursday in a registry office with 38 guests. Cost us £150. Then we went to a local restaurant and had a buffet that was £10 a head (we booked it as a 'family get together') with free venue hire. If someone was to give me a mound of money to do it all again. I'd hand it back and I would do it exactly the same. Hope this helps
Get married at register office safes he'll of alot and it's just as nice they decorate the room an everything then hire a hall out for reception and party hire a cheap dj of Facebook and your sorted you can also get cheap catered of fb for the reception too
We were thinking of eloping but we've decided to go to the registry office with both our parents which costs £46 pounds then hoping of for a bit of a tour around Ireland. We can't afford a wedding but can't wait any longer so we are doing it for ourselves not to benefit everyone else. And too many people judge and have been 2 faced to us so we don't want to entertain them really. Do what you want. They only thing is i can't a afford a dress which is a bit gutting
My original idea was punting down a river , finding a field putting down a rug & enjoy strawberries & champagne with family & friends .....only because my mum couldn't as she was so ill that we had to have a sit down meal .....
The world is your oyster with your imagination you can think outside the box ....
Warm wishes
Enjoy your special day
Love Sarah
Me and my h2b tried different places as we wanted 2 get married and with the prices we thought it wuld never happen then we were told about a place out of the way and it was absolutely stunning and we couldn’t believe the prices cut the amount well over half way down and now we can’t wait doing it the way we want and if ppl don’t like it they can leave the way I c it is it’s r day not theirs good luck and I wish u all the happiness xx
We had 18 guests at a registry office and then a ‘family party’ in a pub function room. All for less than £2,000.
We're getting married in registry office with a carvery meal for 30 and evening reception for 60 guests in the evening. Excluding suits, bridesmaid dresses and my dress total is £2500. It can be done cheap. My view is that the most important part of getting married is the marriage itself not the day so why spend too much on one day.
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