A simple wedding for us 60 yr olds ❤️

[Palava57]

Getting married for the first time & OHs second. Probably about 50-60 guests. Would love some ideas to make it simple but memorable...

I just can’t make this a massive project as we both work long hours

Also I have searched through SO many wedding dresses & nothing seems anywhere near suitable - all too frothy or princess for me. Some of the 50s styles a possibility though I’m not sure I’m slim enough 😏

My dad and step mum did something similar.

Ceremony in a City of London church (meaningful for them), then drinks in a private room in a nearby bar (on a Saturday, so v quiet and easy to book), then family only for a fancy dinner. Was lovely.

Oh god how lovely. Congratulations. I really loved the Dutchess of Cornwall's look for her wedding to Prince Charles. A fabulous hat goes a long way. Are you getting married in a church?

Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage

This would be me if I ever get married again and I wonder if you've considered a tea length wedding dress? They can look very elegant, are often more suitable for mature brides and you can get away with a few frills and flounces in a way that might be OTT in a floor length dress

www.cuttingedgebrides.com/1950s-60s-vintage-wedding-dresses-c26

www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/bridalwear-articles/tea-length-wedding-dresses_768.htm

www.fairygothmother.co.uk/collections/bridal-wear?page=1

Wedding dresses are not compulsory Just find something that fits and flatters.

My mum got married (third time) in her mid 60s and wore shift dress in her 'best' colour. Ceremony in a registry office then lunch in a local pub. Still had flowers, one flower girl, a poem/reading, music. It was lovely.

It still took a bit of organising, sorry

You could take a look at [http://www.honeypieboutique.co.uk/ Honeypie Boutique]

They do a range of 50s style dresses, which actually is good for bigger sizes. Made to measure and a whole range of colours, including wedding dresses.

I've already decided this is where I'll get a dress from if I ever get married.

Not sure why my link failed but you get the idea 😊

I think you should look for a wedding dress. I got a lovely dress from wed to be for my vow renewal when I was 44. Not frothy or princess.

Thanks for so many great ideas already!
Off out now but will look in more detail when I’m back
I’m 5’5” and a 10-12 and can’t manage very high heels so not sure what I can carry off style wise
We could get married in a church - there’s one in walking distance which I like the idea of - but am open about venue. There’s a village hall we could use & I would like there to be dancing 😊

Friends had a church wedding and then walked across to the lovely village hall where they had afternoon tea, followed by dancing and a hog roast. The children played on the village green where they had giant Jenga and other games and straw bales to sit on. It was very relaxed but really beautiful.

Congratulations!! How lovely.

Have you considered a civil wedding celebration ceremony?

If you aren't set on a Church wedding, you can complete the legal formalities in a Register Office for about £50. That's you married.

But - and this is the good bit (!), you can then organise a bespoke civil wedding celebration ceremony wherever you like. It can be at home, in a hotel, in a marquee, village hall, restaurant, on top of a hill, at the golf club.... anywhere (as long as the owners are happy with it).

The ceremony can be personalised to include your own promises and vows (if you want them), readings and poems, music, contributions from family and friends, exchange of rings - whatever you want. You can also include religious references, hymns and so on.

I'm off to complete my Family Celebrancy training next week

There’s a village hall we could use & I would like there to be dancing

Sounds perfect, with all the potential for a lovely wedding without a crazy bill at the end of it

If you have family and friends keen to help, can I recommend involving them in the kind of jobs that somehow make it feel much more "personal" than using suppliers? I offered to do a dear friend's flowers and thought myself mad when it ballooned into church decorations as well, but I loved it - even if my house did look like Kew!! - and though I say it myself it did look very nice

Not suggesting you should ask for anything major like this of course, but even little jobs can create a lovely feeling of togetherness

Op, have you looked at the Monsoon wedding dresses? They don’t tend to be frothy or princess.

Yes I have thought of tea length dresses & Monsoon lacey midi dresses (they don’t seem to have anything suitable at the moment though). In the end I might get something made locally, maybe boat neck and a bit flared.

The afternoon tea & hog roast sounds like our kinda thing 😊 We can get a good local caterer for the roast and even ask people to bring afternoon tea cakes & scones etc instead of presents. Hope that would be okay - everyone around here makes the most amazing pudds! Would just need to source a good band for the dancing.

I need to think more about what sort of ceremony - having never really thought about this stuff in all this time... 😂

Many thanks again for your good wishes & great ideas

Congratulations. It sounds amazing. Please don't wear white!

Not even cream? My favourite colour is purple...

I know I'm probably ridiculous but I think an older bride in white looks a bit try hard in white. Sorry, it's only an opinion.

Sorry about that nonsensical sentence too!

Marry in a nice suit perhaps?

When my grandfather remarried, step grandma was in her late 60s and wore a lovely purple skirt suit and a simple hat, which looked really nice.

So a purple, boat necked dress with flare, matching shoes with an ivory trim and a bouquet of ivory roses to keep it suitably "bridal" ... what could be lovelier?

One of the loveliest weddings I went to was a church ceremony, followed by a bring and share tea in the church hall. Everyone mucked in, people talked to each other rather than staying with friends/family... The couple had no money (students), so all of the flowers/decorations were origami which was such a lovely idea and really personal.

I think you should wear white of you want to, the duchess of Cornwall second wedding outfit was white and looked nice on her. Its your first wedding, wear whatever you want to wear. I wouldn't think anything negative about seeing an older bride in a classy white ensemble

And when I say white, I mean ivory, cream, whatever light colour you like

I think you should wear what the fuck you like. You are 60 not 90, you are in your prime.

I hope you and your husband have a very long and happy marriage.

My dad and step mum married in their 50s. His 3rd (but first where the bride wore white) and her 2nd. They both wore very traditional wedding outfits, though her dress was more gold than white. They both just looked radiantly happy. Don't invite anyone who would judge you for what you wear.

The hall and dancing sounds lovely. They had a picnic in glorious sunshine.

I think you should wear what the fuck you like. You are 60 not 90, you are in your prime. I hope you and your husband have a very long and happy marriage

Agree!