To not want a ridiculous wedding?!!

[pyjamasinbananas]

Basically money is quite tight- trying to do it on £1500 budget. I thought church service then workingmans club reception with buffet and BBQ. iPod on speakers and DPs friends band doing a bit of music.
DP suggested Alice in wonderland theme as it's mix and match, all over the place so we don't spend a fortune to have everything match.
AIBU to think that a) the theme might seem naff and tacky
And
B) people might think we didn't give enough of a shit about them to put on a proper sit down meal wedding etc

I'm tough I can take the honesty!!! And if I drip feed I'm on my phone and it won't let me scroll up what I've written!!

[BatsUpMeNightie]

Themed wedding - soz - naff and beyond tacky.

Small intimate celebration with friends and family - much more classy and dignified. IMO.

[loveglove]

If you aren't happy with alice in wonderland don't do it! You can get matching paper napkins from the pound shop, and decorations if you would like things to be cohesive.

[usualsuspect]

Your first idea sounds like the sort of wedding I love

Themed weddings are naff

[Earthymama]

I agree, a small celebration is fine but the theme idea is not so good.

You'll look back and regret it and there will be guests who hate it. (that would be me!)

At least if you buy an outfit for a wedding you can ensure it is something you will wear again.

[CleverClod]

It's tacky, don't do it!

You can have a really lovely wedding on your budget, just shop wisely. Google, Google, Google. Compare the expensive things you want then think how you can put that in to practise on your budget (eg: expensive invites? print your own instead - M&S do nice ones). Flowers - obviously, do them yourself/family do them for you. Bows and swags for chairs - ebay/Amazon sell the stuff, you just put it together.

Nothing wrong with the WMC and a nice buffet along with your iPod etc. It's the dress/rings/photographer/cars which really cost - think how you can bring those prices down.

[ThatsNotMyBabyBelly]

I wouldn't bother with any theme - it is easy to get cheap things that tie in into each other, usually by being very simple. And I think simple tends to equal tasteful anyway.

Regarding food, I think it is more important that there is enough, it is nice and it is filling, than it is served on fancy plates at a sit down. Make sure people can get a seat, can get a drink and are full. Everyone will be happy!

[GlendaGoose]

a) No, why does a wedding need a theme, the idea is you get married and people are there to help you celebrate that. You don't need a theme or a colour scheme, just you two looking incredibly happy, in love and enjoying your party.
b) Yes, people understand money constraints, nobody will mind that you're not having a big sit-down do. They're your friends and family, they want to share and enjoy your special day with you (and they'll probably be quite pleased that you've chosen a place that doesn't have over-inflated bar prices).

[pictish]

Small wedding yes. Theme no.

We did our wedding for £1000 all in. Registry office, and piss up reception afterwards in pub fuction room. It was a brilliant day, and I didn't stress it.
Our theme - informal.

[squeakytoy]

Good god, it isnt a childrens party.. it is a wedding. Why does it need a bloody theme... :)

We did ours on a budget. Got married at the registry office, went back to local social club for a buffet, no seating arrangements, no place cards, no top table, just a relaxed time..

And definately nobody dressed up a the Mad Hatter or a white rabbit...

[pyjamasinbananas]

DP wanted the theme not dressing up just the mad hatters tea party thing for the tables and the eat me, drink me labels

I wasn't sold on this!

[usualsuspect]

Informal is the best theme

The best weddings I have ever been to are the piss ups in a local working mans club

They beat the formal ,stuffy sit down weddings hands down

[Trills]

Presumably no-one wants a ridiculous wedding, so YANBU.

YmightBU to think that this theme would be ridiculous.

There's a whole Weddings topic you know, might be a good place to ask for advice on how to do a non-ridiculous wedding on a budget.

[pyjamasinbananas]

I definately don't want formal and stuffy. I want people to eat well, get pissed and have a laugh really.

[pyjamasinbananas]

And I hadn't come across the wedding topic thank you I'll go check it out

[Pakdooik]

Small and informal great. Themed is simply tacky - you'd not want to be too embarrassed to show the photos in years to come

[wineandcheese]

Just Say No to schemes and themes. Naff.

[Erica1001]

If its not what u want don't do it I had a budget wedding had a bit more money only due the the fact we got a lone, simple reception, dress £150 from BHS (not gonna where it again so who cares), mother inlaw made cake, managed to get in red lion before it closed, but the most expensive part for hall, dj sit done for 90 and buff for evening, sister paid for decorations and friends dad did car still cost about £5000. U do what u want and don't let them tell u otherwise its ur day.
Budget weddings is when ur true friends will come to the rescue.
All for one.

[wibbleweed]

Definitely go for a small and informal wedding. We had a wonderful day and kept the whole thing within £1000. Church wedding, reception for 40ish at our house/garden (fortunately it didn't rain otherwise we'd have been bulging at the seams in our tiny house) - buffet with lots of M&S nibbles and gallons of cheap cava. Then evening do in our local pub's function room - prepared minidiscs (before days of IPODs) of music - lit room with candles and lots of dancing. A very happy day that was enjoyed by all :)

[celebmum]

The only themed weddings I have been to that have 'worked' were ridiculously expensive set ups! IME themed weddings don't do so well on a budget.

That being said some of the loveliest weddings I've been to have been informal on a budget types, you can still make your wedding your own and keep it classy with more subtle coordinating touches..

Whatever you decide, enjoy!

[mummymccar]

You don't necessarily have to go all out with Alice in Wonderland and make it obvious. Just have a vintage tea party style. You could have wildflowers on the tables in mismatched crokery (this'll save a lot of money on flowers too if you and guests pick them the day before). I grew up in Oxfordshire so an Alice style garden wedding is something I've been looking at for a while. If you PM me your e-mail I'll send you my mood board. We're on a similar budget to you too so you may get a few ideas from there. Yes, it can be naff but as long as you steer clear of rabbits, blue dresses, aprons and the like then it could turn out to be very pretty. Check out the DIY section of rockmywedding.co.uk too.

[mummymccar]

Something like this ?

[pyjamasinbananas]

I have that saved in my ideas folder great minds and all that

[VikingBlood]

We spent a grand total of £200 for our wedding (not in UK, so no ridiculous fees to lay). I bought a nice summer dress, made my bouquet from wild flowers and got my shoes from a charity shop. We got married in the local registry office with 11 guests plus DS. We then went back to our flat for home made cakes and a pot of tea! Friends left at around 6pm, we had left over chilli con carne on the sofa in front of Dr Who that evening. The 11 guests gave us a voucher for 2 nights full board in a lovely hotel of our choice as our honeymoon. If I could do it all again, I would only change one thing: to buy DS a decent pair of shoes, because the socks and sandals with the smart trousers and shirt looks a little odd on the photos!

By not spending huge amounts of £ on a wedding we were able to buy a house 2 years ago.

[Quenelle]

No, sorry pyjamas don't like themes. Keep it small and intimate to keep costs down.

I know a couple who asked their guests to dress as animals for their (very expensive) reception. My friends went in furry, woodland animal costumes. You're not going to get multiple wears out of that wedding outfit are you? Not like you would with a Coast dress anyway.