To be upset about my wedding venue?

[IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow]

Name changed
Basically have a tiny budget. We were going to cut our guest list but we don't want to. We love everyone on it.
Have been offered The British Legion as a venue for free. Best man works evenings there.
We have decided to take it so we can afford to give everyone a nice time. Its bloody ugly inside. Has lovely big field though/n pretty outside etc.
I know I chose this, and I am not wanting to save up for few years as I just want to marry dp and have all our friends and family there. And would be stupid to not accept such a generous offer.
Just venting I guess... and wondering what to do about the fading carpet, chipped paint, arcade machine...

I have no idea why, but I seem to have found myself watching the Superscrimpers Wedding episode on 4seven right now.

They have just made some tissue paper decorations that looked quite effective.

The couple have a pink colour scheme so they used large layers of tissue paper in various pink shades.

It was at the end.

They also baked their own three tier wedding cake for £30.00 and it looked really effective. Three victoria sponge cakes, one on top of the other, with a pink ribbon around each layer and a couple of real roses on top.

And the guests brought food instead of presents and all seem quite happy about it.

Ooh I think I'm seen some of that program Sarah Did it air a year or so ago? I watched it a bit. I tried to find it again recently, just couldn't seem to.

Would you mind telling me what Series & Episode numbers please?

Found it. Love the cake.

Ok, here's an idea for the sten ( better than hag) party/ies.

You ask people to come round and cook with you, and bring a bottle.

Then you all make chicken casserole together and dump in freezer and get as arsed as a cork. You feed them on French bread and cheese and grapes.

They will know you are on a budget. You are seeing them, you make them chop the veg, brown the chicken, etc . And IME the men take over. Ok, you end up with the washing up but you would do anyway. And cheaper than fish and chips.

But I don't give a shit for convention unless it us specifically what you want. I loathed my hen party that a school friend made me have, and h hated his stag one too. Whereas my marmelade making parties are great. Ditto my fireworks parties where everyone brings a firework and a bottle and I provide house room and garden, mulled cider and sausages. They know I work in the public sector and finance is tight and they just like coming. And demand it year after year. and the new year street party open house. And the after Christmas party. And they just want to be loving and supportive.

So I would say, do what you want. And don't worry.

Our joint stag/hen because known as the Shag party, quite apt when two of our number copped off together and were PG by the wedding :o

Bogeyface
Oh I'm surprised (in a nice way) by this. I thought people were going to be all that's we've decided not to bother. Just it seemed silly to us when we have so many fab friend of both sexes that they would miss out. We've made a lot of couple friends since we've been together too. Just seemed logical to us that we share the celebration with them, together.
What did you do for your hen anchient

Meant that's why we've decided not to bother

They are still together 14 years and another 3 children later, ex DH and I are most definitely not! Just goes to show!

Sorry Bogeyface

Shit Greek restaurant with my bridesmaids ( tick) and people from my repellent school, whom I hated then and would still hate now if I saw them ( nul points)It was all "
Organised for me as a surprise".

I was and am fat. They were and are critical. They could talk of nothing but wedding arrangements, what I was going to wear, whom I was inviting ( not them), whether my ring was bigger than theirs ( yes, but only because it was family), how much my stbh earned ( not a lot)), and what sort of car I had.

Poor expensive vino too. That, tbh, was prob the killer.

After 2 hours I got a " migraine". And had to be in work exceptionally early the next day. I therefore missed the stripper. What a pity (not).

The humiliation...

Gosh, hadn't thought about it for ages. Clearly bitter and twisted..

Anyway, it's more important that you and your guests have fun. They will, you know. As H says, everyone is rooting for you. And you can be as eccentric or conventional as you want to be. It's not presumably as if votes, promotion depend on it. If you are looking happy, I promise you all but the most twisted will be, and who cares about them.

Shit Greek restaurant ( cross) was v famous and v v fashionable at that point. And expensive. And crap service. And not v good food ( half Greek ex hated it).

The only good thing was my bridesmaids but how they had this lapse of judgment I shall never ever know.

anchient Did you manage to do something you wanted?
And what did you dh do for his stag? Curious nosy

I hope so, it sounds ok if thats what your into, but if you're not then not very fair on you

I think this thread is amazing it makes me want to do my wedding all over again

we chose morning has broken for our hymn made everyone smile and we didn't have a choir my cousin played guitar in the church, you could get your dc and any other child guests to sing a song rather than a choir

we had wildflowers picked ourselves, ask people to save their jam jars and bottles etc to put them in

I went to Debenhams make up counter the week before and asked for a demonstration make over, came away with some handy tips and a load of free make up samples

You could have your afternoon tea outside, get some pasting tables and cover them with cloths, ask friends and family to donate bits and pieces of china plates, cups etc you will end up with an eclectic collection that will look so cool if your worried about seating outside then ask people to bring along deckchairs or camping chairs with them

As for party games if you have a cricket pitch you could actually play cricket or rounders or something similar.

Personally I would not go for a photographer I had one and while he was very nice and the pics were lovely I was annoyed that it took so much time while everyone else was having fun

Hope this helps and hope you have a fabulous day (only slightly jealous and excited for you)

Pipgems Your wedding sounds great. I think that's a brilliant idea with the guitar! I never even thought of that. What songs did your cousin play?
I don't think we're going to have a photographer because of costs. Think we are going for the website idea up thread, where we ask guests to upload them for us.

He plays Spanish guitar so it was a bit like a jam session, he did the same at his wedding that's where I got the idea from.

Website idea sounds much better just remember that you and your dp should have a camera too after all you know best of all what you want to remember.

Do you think acoustic guitar would sound okay in a church?

Ooh how clever. I've never seen the bride and groom with a camera.

Not really sure would depend on the size and layout I think you would have to have a trial run, ask your church warden they will be happy to let you into the church when there is nothing on

Op, yes it would be fine. Just give the guitarist time for a rehearsal before hand . Our local children's choir often uses acoustic in modern to mediaeval churches.

Do you want jam jars? I have about 20 waiting for a good home and live not far from you. Diff shapes and sizes.

DH had a dinner with his brother in law and those friends his family thought suitable plus his best man. Very Forsyte Saga.

anchient Poor you and your DH. What did you want to do?

Okay, we're going to it I think! Not quite sure yet what yet, will think of something. Has to mega cheap, & we don't have a garden. Other wise would do the bring a bottle & firework.

I'm so thankful to every one on here. In my RL this is becoming a bit of a nightmare with the judging I've been bought to near tears over the ugliness and it's so nice to pop on here and just have a re read to boost myself.
I know what's important is that I'm getting married. Just I like pretty things and I thought my wedding would be this beautiful show piece. However I think the way we've planned it on here is far better and I cant wait. Wouldn't swap it for all the pretty chairs in the world. Yes, I did get told I would be judged on the crap chairs.

Meant to say its other people that have bought me tears over it. Not me being self pitying