Anyone got married quickly and cheaply in London

[Brownavocado]

recently?

Any tips? We're planning on a v small ceremony (maybe 10 guests, max) followed by dinner somewhere. Unfortunately our local town hall has completely closed to new bookings due to the covid backlog .

We found a nice venue for "only" £350 and I started feeling quite positive, but then I read that celebrants are upwards of £450

Is there any way to keep the whole thing under £500? We want to get it done asap for financial/legal reasons.

Thanks!

Midweek basic ceremony at central London registry office, about 350 3years ago. From memory certain days cheaper than others but was all on their website. Drink in the pub after.

www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/ceremony-and-reception/best-registry-offices-london/

@LucyLatimer that's exactly what we want but there are no spaces 😭

If you can do Monday morning, basic ceremony £57 at Islington registry office.

I see The Bull & Gate in Kentish Town does weddings. I went to a post-funeral gathering there for a couple of dozen people, and it was a lovely space, good food, drink and service, very near the station (Northern Line and mainline rail). Any good?

@LucyLatimer thank you. Do you have a link to that please? All I can see is references to the very fancy town hall..

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g thank you I'll have a look

www.sayidoislington.com/prices/

Just a random thought, really. I know lots of smaller venues like pubs do weddings. No idea whether the cost of the celebrant has to be added to venue hire. Registry office is probably going to be cheapest if you can find one.

Are people tied to their own area now for a registry office wedding, or can you get married anywhere?

Have you tried other register offices? We got married years ago but I left it late to book. Local register office had nothing available so I just started phoning around. Another in a different borough had a slot, so booked that and dinner in nearby restaurant after.

Loads of registry offices in London, OP. Just search borough by borough.

@LucyLatimer thank you - sadly they're all booked up till August 2022

Does it have to be London? Could have a lovely day trip out somewhere if you can find a slot elsewhere…

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g thank you. It seems to depend on the borough. Islington would have us (but not till next August), Hackney will only take their own residents.

@NoSquirrels it does really, unfortunately. DP is not in good health and travel exhausts him.

Do they have ‘cancellation’ lists?

We got married at Marylebone register office and we’d actually booked a slot several years before we finally managed it - I assume there must be people cancelling and they have to fill last minute slots…

We got married (18 years ago mind!) at Enfield Register Office and had a reception at the pub round the corner. It was super cheap but lovely. It's walkable from Enfield Chase station or you can get a taxi from Oakwood tube. No idea on availability but might be quieter than a more fashionable location!

Have you already given notice?

If so, you could call around and see if places will keep you on the cancellations list?

@TakeYourFinalPosition I thought you had to have your venue before you gave notice? Might be wrong though - I've never done this before!

I think you have to give notice where you live, and then you can book the actual wedding anywhere.

@LucyLatimer - do you not have to give notice for a specific venue though?

All registry offices are obliged to offer the minimum legal ceremony (£57) which is just the registrar, you and your partner and two witnesses. These are usually in the morning on a weekday. Probably best just to list all 32 London boroughs in ease of travel and contact them all to see if one has a spot.
Good luck.

Looks like Wandsworth town hall has spaces available in October - I don’t know if they only take Wandsworth residents though. Cost £200.

It looks like you do, I didn’t remember that bit. If you had a future booking, i think you can still get married in a different place/tone if you’d plans change. If I remember correctly, it was valid for a year, so if they have a cancellation list it might be worth a try?