I don`t want to drip feed so this might be a bit long so apologies in advance.
We live in France, my parents in a village in the peak district. We are not particularly romantic but are finding living here without being married quite complicated. We would be very happy with just us and dc at a registry office but neither of us could do that to our families.
We knew it would be a bit last minute (May) but decided to try and sort something out for the week between Christmas and New Year. I was really lucky to find a small family run hotel near my parents with availability for that week. We could have a meal and all stay over with the added bonus of needing all the rooms so would be exclusive use meaning for those of us with small children we could put them to bed if they are tired but still return to the evening.
All perfect so booked registrar. Invited our families (13 adults and 10 children) Parents visited hotel on my behalf and confirmed booked (offer of a deposit was refused as I was due to visit myself in July and they were happy to wait for me as I would have been paying the full amount).
I think you can guess where this is going. Last week I was in the UK and I called to make arrangements to visit, pay and discuss menu. After a rather odd conversation with the female proprietor who seemed to have no idea who I was, I received a return call from her husband to say very sorry but due to ill health they had been advised by the doctor not to take any large bookings and would have to cancel!!!
So back to the drawing board, I cannot get a hotel that has enough rooms to take everyone, we could do a pub meal and I can split us all up (my parents and brother can return to their own houses) and can find rooms for all family members but not necessarily in same village. I don´t want to do this as I am asking my in-laws to travel quite a distance (realistically for those with dc about 7 hours each way) just for a quick wedding, pub tea and then stuck in a hotel room all evening with their dc. I have tried to find a large cottage to rent for us all, I am quite happy to cater it myself but at this notice they are all booked up.
I thought of getting married somewhere in the middle of both our parents but as we don´t live in the UK we have to stay 8 consecutive nights in the district we are going to be married to establish residency. As we are a bit short on money we can stay with my parents but can´t afford a week staying somewhere else.
So if you have managed to make it this far, I thank you and ask wise MNers, do I cancel and revisit once I have more time (buying a house, organising mortgage, school holidays etc. I am currently bribing dc to sit quietly with ice-cream and tv so I can type this) and no pre-booked date ? Or can the collective genius of MN think of something I have not thought of??
All suggestions welcome budget around GBP2000.