To not take leave on the day we marry?

It's completely up to you. For many people, myself included, the legal but was just paperwork and we didn't 'feel' married until we had our official celebration and wanted to wait for our ceremony to celebrate. It seemed like it would make the later ceremony feel like a bit of a farce if we had already celebrated

I took the morning off work (couldn’t book a lunchtime ceremony) and went back to work in the afternoon. We did go for brunch immediately afterwards, which was nice, but if I were you I’d stick with your original plan.

Why bother typing a thread about it at all? Nobody would comment or offer any opinion if they hadn't...

The only 'bossy' one is you, trying to police the thread when OP did actually ask, WWYD? It's right there in her first post.

Up to you obviously. But I was more moved than I expected to be by the registry office when we got married. Which was a 'traditional' wedding with guests on the day etc.

I'd want to take the day off and wouldn't want to go back to work.

Oh I would absolutely take the day off! Spend the morning rolling around in bed to enjoy your last moments of living in sin (if you are already, that is) and go for a nice lunch after!

It's completely up to you what you do. No one else's opinion matters.

I’m not telling anything, just offering an opinion on what I would do, isn’t this an opinion forum?

If it means nothing to you why waste AL on it?

I’d still mark it in some way with a nice lunch afterwards, maybe offer the parents if they want to come?? It’s still a legal ceremony! Even if you work in the morning and take the afternoon off. I wouldn’t want to go back to work after an important event such as this TBH. I know you will still have your main wedding but the legal bit is still important!

I'd do what you and your partner want.
Nobody else's business.

I’m not sure why anyone else has an opinion on it. Whatever works for you.

Edited to add I can’t believe how many posters are bossily giving you instructions to “take the day off” and “go for a nice lunch”. Why do they care. Weird!

Sure! Which is also a social construct, on some level 😉

Probably not the bit I'd be bothered about celebrating. Marriage IS worth celebrating, for sure - but marriage is more of a "journey" than an event (I hate myself a little for saying that) and I don't think the exact moment you are "officially married" really matters all that much. Celebrate when and how you like! Better yet, continue to celebrate in some small way every day for the rest of your married lives (even when he leaves the dirty cup on the surface directly above the empty dishwasher); your lives will be better for it.

Take the day off it's your marriage day. The other day just a party. You be counting your anniversaries from when you get married not the party day. It's important. Go for a nice meal. Congratulations

Up to you.

But it is an important step: it is the moment that you become a contractual partnership with legal and financial commitments. Everything about your legal and financial status changes. It isn’t ‘just’ anything, or ‘only’ the formal bit, it’s major!

If you are doing this as a low key event I wouldn’t have discussed it with all and sundry anyway.

Yeah I think it’s very odd not to take the day off. I’d buy myself a new outfit, do the ceremony then go for a slap up lunch just the two of you.

It’s also a legal contract.

I think it is ok if you feel comfortable with it. The two of you can have a romantic dinner that night to celebrate!

There was no religion in either day or either side of the family.

Anyway they’re divorced now, many lies going on 😬 absolutely does not reflect on the OP of course!

It depends on their religion. If the ceremony wasn’t Anglican, it’s possible that the celebrant isn’t licensed to perform legally-binding marriages. So the civil ceremony is basically like some extra paperwork that you have to do beforehand if you want to be legally married when the religious ceremony is finished.

Do what you want because it's your day. However, personally I'd take the day off and celebrate together with a nice lunch and a film because I think life is short and we should celebrate where we can.

I think you must do what suits you, there are no rules for this situation. There are many people who got married in their lunch breaks. Don't change your plans because other people would do things differently, you have to do it your way.

God life is way way way too short. Take the day off, op!

I know a couple who did just this. They both worked at my office, nipped out during their lunch hour and then came back to work. Worked for them and as far as I know are happily married 10+ years later! Do what you want with your annual leave!

“Important” in what sense?

Anglicans don’t have to make this distinction. Their religious ceremonies are automatically legally binding.

Devout Hindus or Rastafari or Pagans have to go to the inconvenience and expense of having two ceremonies, and then be told that the ceremony that means so much to them and their community is a meaningless “religious show”, and the government’s box-ticking exercise is the “important” part. That seems pretty crappy, to be honest.