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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset about my wedding venue?

996 replies

IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 13/10/2013 16:16

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...

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 28/10/2013 20:50

I agree it could make them look worse, sometimes I think that trying to hide things makes them stand out more.

and it was Charlesroi who first suggested the cake/pool table! Happy to take the credit though Wink :o

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 28/10/2013 20:53

Charlesroi Blush Think its a great idea!

OP posts:
Charlesroi · 28/10/2013 21:08
Grin
Bogeyface · 28/10/2013 21:10

Dammit, thought I could have pinched that one :o

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 28/10/2013 21:22

Grin Am sorry Charles

I really need to comb through this thread again & note any thing I havnt already down. I did a while ago, Just there's loads now. Lose track of who said what & when, & that wont do.

OP posts:
HorryIsUpduffed · 28/10/2013 21:56

That's going to look just lovely in the summer sun. Exciting! That outdoor space is excellent.

I agree about the smokers' randomness and not bothering to cover up the fruities, although insist they be turned off! I also agree about using the pool table as a display table - why on earth not?

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 28/10/2013 22:35

Horry It will look lovely, yes. I'm excited now!

Smile
OP posts:
Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 31/10/2013 09:28

Can't get my head around the dance thing! Keep looking on youtube and just can't. Confused

OP posts:
HorryIsUpduffed · 31/10/2013 09:43

They're just holding on to each other and looking at each other and going

step-together-step-together

with the odd twirl. Very straightforward, very copyable and very easy to see what they're doing because they're practising at home so you can see their feet properly.

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 31/10/2013 10:15

That's fab Horry Thank you!

OP posts:
Kerosene · 31/10/2013 10:16

If you're still looking for a dress, my dress was made for me by Lisa from Gin and Sin - I couldn't recommend her more. She was so lovely and the dress so perfect that I'm about to buy another dress from her. £200, and I was picking the expensive options, including the world's most flouncy petticoat, which was immense fun.

I would recommend having a poke around Etsy as well, if you haven't already - I've a two and a half meter string of pearls that I picked up for £16.

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 04/11/2013 00:43

Had a little browse through Etsy. What a lovely site.

OP posts:
SecondStarToTheRight · 04/11/2013 08:43

I have tons of tea- lights which I can send you with the invites, if you want

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 04/11/2013 14:58

SecondStar Ooh have you? How lovely of you. Will message you.

OP posts:
SecondStarToTheRight · 04/11/2013 20:10

They were only going to be freecycled so you can have them - that way they'll be for a nice purpose.

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 04/11/2013 21:20

SecondStarToTheRight Flowers

OP posts:
Flumpyflumps · 04/11/2013 21:25

Sorry to butt in, but does OP have a dress?
I've scanned and can't see definitively.
I have a dress, veil and hair band thingy you are welcome to if it fits and/or you like it!

fibrecruncher · 04/11/2013 21:32

Have totally missed all the other comments, sorry coming late to this post but hope it all works out for you. As for the dancing - I can give you a few tips - I am a ballroom dance teacher. The video that the op put up is very cute. My feedback would be to try and relax the arms so they look more natural especially when doing twirls and turns, often people straighten their arms and get a bit stiff you want to try and keep them curved and flowing with the movement. Good luck and do let me know if you have any questions :)

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 05/11/2013 09:55

What a lovely offer Flumpyflumps Flowers I think I have a dress sorted, however thank you so much. Wine

fibrecruncher So pleased you posted. Grin Please help me! I can't dance at all! I have watched the video, & it actually has been a great help. I've mastered the steps they did through bribing my poor 11yr old to practice with me while DP is at work However, just cant figure out my arms. Confused

OP posts:
mitchsta · 05/11/2013 12:13

My friend had hers in a grubby village hall. You wouldn't have recognised the place by the time we'd decorated it. She bought loads of fabric on eBay to wrap around the big manky-looking pillars (which she will now sell to someone else) and she wound battery-powered fairy lights round those too. Use bunting, lace, fabric, lights, balloons, flowers, co-ordinating napkins, candles, etc (lots of places only allow tea lights - not tall candles - so best to check) and she did the whole lot on a small budget. Gorgeous wedding.

No-one will care about the carpet.

TheNaughtySausage · 05/11/2013 13:53

I have a huge string of white satin bunting that I made for my own wedding day which you are welcome to have to decorate the venue. It criss-crossed the village hall three times so there is plenty. It's satin cos I was going to make a little bag to carry but it didn't match my dress so it got turned into hunting instead.
You might need to untangle it but if you want it, it's yours.

This is one of the nicest AIBUs I've ever read!

Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 05/11/2013 18:51

mitchsta Sounds gorgeous. Am going to hunt fairy lights after Christmas.

TheNaughtySausage That would be perfect. Thank you. Will message you Wine

OP posts:
Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 05/11/2013 19:19

So I have been trying to work figures out. I really think, as cheap as the chip van is, & as much as I love it, Its going to be too much.

Just can't justify over £500 on the food. I know its a massive bargain, still its too much from what we have in reality. Plus they'd be the tea cost, which breaks my heart as I love this idea will add to it.

So (maybe) back to the drawing board on this one I think.

OP posts:
Original poster
IfIDontKnowAndYouDontKnow · 05/11/2013 21:07

Was thinking perhaps a barbecue, or a picnic. My butcher sells BBQ meat packs for 25 people. If I bought 4 of these, the meat alone would cost just over £2pp. Thats very good. Then would just need to buy in sides for it. And find someone to cook the barbecue? Confused

Or fill picnic baskets with deli items? Ie 1 basket per family?

Or anything else anyone can think of?

OP posts:
HorryIsUpduffed · 05/11/2013 21:34

Was fish & chips going to be £7pp?

I thought your afternoon tea was going to be donations? In which case the cost would be teabags and coffee and a few rounds of sandwiches, more like 50p-£1 per person.

What facilities are there at the Legion that you can use? How many friends and relations can you rope in on the day? I'm just wondering how far you'd get with Iceland - curly fries, chicken satay, samosas, hot beige buffet kind of thing, with a Baileys cheesecake and mini chocolate eclairs?

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