Is it cheap and nasty to consider having wedding this way?

[Orangeworkclock]

Basically we do not have a lot of money to spend on our wedding. We want to get married next July, however we have nothing planned. Just can't afford it to be honest. We wanted a simple do in a barn/ pub with all our nearest and dearest only. Will be quite a few kids coming.
We have searched and searched, every where is too much for us.
We are now toying with the idea of getting married in Brighton- Bandstand or registry & strolling down to a'50's style American diner for burger, milkshakes and beers with chocolate wedding cake ( home made) for afters.
They have music , sound system or duke box (?) and it's decorated so no cost there. Will put the bridesmaid's in colorful knee lenth dresses. Will have it on a Sunday so dont need after do.
We obviously will need to try the food before hand. I like 'naice food'
We plan to get there Friday and leave Monday. Perhaps combining a joint hen/ stag if can afford it on the Friday night. By this I mean a comedy night with however wants to come along. Think about £10 per ticket.
That's it really. We seriously only have about £2000 to spend on this and we want people we love there only. Is this sounding ok? Or very tacky?

[Orangeworkclock]

however=whoever

[PoppadomPreach]

Not tacky, and nicely different - if I got an invite to a wedding like this I'd be quite pleased! Good luck!

[Absy]

I think it sounds fabulous and quite fun!

[Rufus44]

Sounds great to me. If its the diner I'm thinking of it seems busy so must be pretty good food

Have a fab time and congratulations

[MissBattleaxe]

Sounds wonderful! I would love a wedding like that! Overpriced country hotel thing has been done to death.

[Rooble]

It's unlike any wedding I've been to before and I think it's rather cool.

I'm inclined to think that if you and your guests have fun, then it's been a good wedding, and this sounds fun!

As long as they all know the venue and therefore the likely food I can't see there being any issue whatsoever.

[sebsmummy1]

I think it sounds great too!

[Katz]

how many of your guests live in Brighton? will everyone have to stay in hotels?

Could you hire a hall (church local council masionic) near where you do live?

We've had a couple of friends who done the reg office bit as a formality no guests and then hired a nice hall and done their own ceremony, with a friend presiding. Much cheaper way of doing it as the hall doesn't need to be licensed to marry you as you officially married.

[TheWoollybacksWife]

I think it sounds fabulous

Go for it if it expresses what you want. I say this as someone who had the wedding that convention and tradition dictated and I've spent nearly 25 years regretting it. (The wedding, not being married )

Don't look back in years to come and say "I wish we'd done..." Just do it!

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

I think it sounds great :) A lot of fun and I'd look forward to it.

The important part here is that you want the marriage not the fancy wedding!

[nobutreally]

I think it sounds fab ... but do you/your guests live in/near Brighton? Hotel for a weekend in Brighton (in July) could be expensive, so not a cheap wedding for them...

[nosleeptilever]

sounds lovely. We had a morning wedding and then invited about 50 people for a nice lunch. One bridesmaid, no flowergirls. If I hadn't fallen in love with the most expensive dress in the world we would have been around 4000. If you have less people then you can definitely have a great and special day on your budget. I still think my wedding day was the best day I've ever had, and we were home by 6!

[caramelwaffle]

I'd love to attend a wedding like that.

You'd have to confirm with the diner that you'd have exclusive use for a few hours I should imagine.

[ClaudetteWyms]

It sounds great, do it. We got married abroad, just us, then had a simple party when we got home for closest family and friends - under 40 people. Was lovely, and non-stressy.

Go for it, you won't regret doing it your way.

[ouryve]

Sounds fantastic to me.

[pippop1]

Sounds fab. Brighton and parking doesn't mix well though unless you are v rich.. Could you spend a little on hiring a coach which leaves from a nearby car park so that guests can leave their cars - preferably for free? Maybe an out of town hotel that has a big car park would let you do this if some guests were staying there?

[MrsLettuce]

It sounds like an excellent idea!

[FurryDogMother]

We got married at Brighton Register Office, and then went for a full English breakfast (beans, black pudding, the works!) at a café nearby. We only had 5 guests, because we got married on special license and the authorisation only came through the previous day, so it was very last minute!. Flowers from the stand at Brighton Station! Given a bit more time I would have got a cake from Cloud 9 (in the Lanes) - they do wonderful 'big cupcake' style cakes for a pretty reasonable price. Had one from there for my Dad's 85th birthday last year.

Hope you have a wonderful day whatever you decide to do - my wedding was wonderful, and very, very cheap!

[nilbyname]

Oh I love that idea! Go for it!

[Orangeworkclock]

No.. Guests live about 40mins away from Brighton-most of them. It IS nearer to them than to us though. We live in deepest south Kent. We were looking for a venue near to them ( we used to live their way, have recently moved) and both here( Kent ) And there (Surrey) is so expensive. We are about an hour away from most guests.
We did also look at hiring a bus. Its on the motor way, 30/ 40 mins driving than off motorway.
We have searched their area as it was important to us they can get home afterwards easily.
However I think village halls have caught on as every website we looked at had a 'special wedding package' hire charge. :( Every penny counts with our budget. Then to get caterers in. Too much.
It was becoming rather stressful with costs, venues etc. We want it to be fun :)

[BucketsnSpades]

This sounds lovely, dh and I went to Brighton for our honeymoon, we ate in the american diner near the beach, we only had dessert and hot choc but it was delicious and we would love to go back for a full meal. Go for it but beware people with kids may want you to hold the wedding in school holidays and then the accommodation will get really pricey. Also be clear to people what they will be expected to pay for because it sounds like an expensive wedding to attend with the stag night, whatever they do on Saturday then if they want to have a drink after the wedding accommodation for Sunday too. If I were your guest I'd have to work this into our annual budget as a mini break.

[Orangeworkclock]

Furrydog Will check out Cloud 9 . Cheers

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

I think it sounds great. Your guests will get to see you married, have something to eat, drink and celebrate with you. That's all I want from a wedding!

Because it's a bit unusual I'd do an itinary with the invite explaining what will happen on the day.

[Orangeworkclock]

Perhaps we should leave the hen night/ stag do then? We were only going to have one if it didnt eat into money that could be spent on wedding. We have a lot of couple friends and opposite sex friends each, so thought about just having an anyone come along type thing.
We have been together nearly 7 years and have 3dc so aren't fussed about our last single night.