Shotgun wedding help please

[Suprima]

I’m a Londoner who wants to get married before my baby is born in July, but our borough’s registry office is booked until November 2022 My friends say the rest of London is similar with the covid backlog.

They have offered us the larger room (£650 more expensive) with availability when we want it- but we don’t want to have our wedding celebrations until next year when I am not pregnant and baby is older.

This registry office service would literally be a paperwork job- and I don’t want to waste the space, the cash or have extra fuss when we are just going to show up in jeans and then go out to dinner with our witnesses.

We have a car and are willing to travel anywhere to a little adventure- does anyone know any registry offices in their local area that have availability for May/June for the most basic ceremony? Or any other ideas?

Chelsea Old Town Hall. I am not sure about their space for 'statutory' ceremonies (only two witnesses) but they definitely have availability for their small rooms so you could keep it low-key. It's a lovely venue.

Register Office.

I can’t see their availability, but how about Brighton Town Hall? They have a small room there, easy transport links from London and lots of lovely restaurants for a meal afterwards l.

Gretna Green?

This doesn’t have availability but here’s a list of some very picturesque London venues if any of them take your fancy: www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/ceremony-and-reception/best-registry-offices-london-amp.html.

Or would you consider a civil partnership? There’s no ceremony, you just sign the schedule in the presence of two witnesses. Note though that opposite sex couples can’t then convert their partnership to a marriage at a later date.

Wandsworth has availability for the basic statutory ceremony in the Elizabeth Room (Mondays at 9.30, £50) on a few dates in May and June and some availability for other ceremonies in those months as well (£105).

Good luck!

Scotland

Much easier to get married here.

You could even go traditional and elope to Gretna Green.

Try Oxfordshire (offices in the city, Abingdon, Henley on Thames)

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/community-and-living/births-deaths-and-ceremonies/weddings-and-other-ceremonies

A friend of mine just booked Marylebone Town Hall for mid June, a Thurs afternoon so they might have something soon?? Not sure on the size of the room.

@ghislaine

Wandsworth has availability for the basic statutory ceremony in the Elizabeth Room (Mondays at 9.30, £50) on a few dates in May and June and some availability for other ceremonies in those months as well (£105).

Good luck!

You are a hero, this is just what I needed!!!

We did a two witness ceremony at Maidstone Register Office- they only offer it on Mondays, worth a try.
Beautiful ancient building too

Monday morning at 9.30 is usually available in Warwick

I agree with a PP... Gretna Green. Do it the traditional way

Gretna Green.

Get married in your local parish church, you don't have to have any extra elements just the marriage service and you need 2 witnesses but if you ask they may be able to provide 2. You need 3 weeks notice to do banns, would probably need to ge a weekday but they may be able to do Saturday morning. The cost is set, around £500

To everyone saying Gretna green- I’ve had a look and the packages are a bit pricey? Am I just looking at tourist trap websites?

How about Rochester? Lots of nice restaurants, easy train route.