Strangers as witnesses?

[kedooo]

Hi, so me and my fiancée are getting married next week at our local registry office just the 2 of us and 2 witnesses allowed. The plan was to have my mother and his mother there but now my mother has to isolate for 12 weeks due to my dad coming out of hospital. His mother is unreliable at the best of times. I like the thought of just asking 2 strangers on the day but with track and trace the registry office want the witness's details before the day. Any advice or ideas on what we can do?

[PurBal]

Depending on where you are you could ask me. I'd do it!

[longtimecomin]

Ask the registry office, this must crop up from time to time. When I married in Vegas, the photographer was our witness.

[Tavannach]

Where's the wedding?
Witnesses have emerged from Mumsnet before - you'll get people here if you post the time and place.

[kedooo]

It's in South Wales, that would be so funny to get people from MN but def something I will think about if I need to! We should be able to organise some friends to come I just liked the thought of asking 2 strangers it seemed quite romantic, never mind! Lol

[MrsCollinssettled]

Can two of the registry office staff do it?

[kedooo]

Apparently they can't, maybe it's just a rule they have at the registry office we have

[IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0]

I have never understood this asking strangers to be witnesses to a marriage. Isn't a witness someone who would be there for you if you needed support of any kind later on? We chose two people who had known us all our individual lives and that know, even now, would only be a phonecall away if we needed them ( and it has been 22 years )

[HowFastIsTooFast]

Are you confusing witnesses with Godparents @IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0 ??

Sure it's nice to have witnesses who mean something to you and will be involved in your lives, but there's no actual expectation for them to be anything more than literal witnesses of your marriage and register signing. Strangers are fine if that's what the circumstances demand.

[NothingIsWrong]

Put the details on here, you would definitely get people to do it! I would, but not in South Wales.

[Toddlerteaplease]

I'd love to do it but not I'm not in South Wales.

[Bwlch]

Isn't a witness someone who would be there for you if you needed support of any kind later on?

No, they are merely there to witness the fact that a marriage has taken place.

[IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0]

@HowFastIsTooFast

Are you confusing witnesses with Godparents *@IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0* ??

Sure it's nice to have witnesses who mean something to you and will be involved in your lives, but there's no actual expectation for them to be anything more than literal witnesses of your marriage and register signing. Strangers are fine if that's what the circumstances demand.

No confusion between witnesses and Godparents. I expressed a personal opinion in my post but it appears that this is not wanted. I am not expecting anyone to agree / disagree, just exchanging on an open forum.

[Bwlch]

When you ask a question on an open forum, you shouldn't be surprised if you receive answers. Even if you don't like them.

[Timeandtune]

When we got married the registrar got 2 witnesses from the housing department next door.

[nasiisthebest]

Mumsnetters have been witnesses before for strangers weddings. You can keep up the tradition

[nasiisthebest]

No confusion between witnesses and Godparents. I expressed a personal opinion in my post but it appears that this is not wanted. I am not expecting anyone to agree / disagree, just exchanging on an open forum.

No you didn't. You asked a question and got a polite, reasonable and correct answer. So I don't understand why the tone of your post has become so defensive.