To want a really small wedding? Cheap but fun ideas please!!

[Mumof3almost4]

We have decided to get married, both second weddings so church not an option. DP would like a big wedding but we have barely any money so can't.
I'd love a smaller wedding but I have no idea how to make it minimal but fun. Please can you send me your ideas and experiences?
Thank you!!

Find a friend with a large garden,,buy some hay bales and cover with picnic rugs get a fire pit and bbq going or hire in a hog roast company and have an evening picnic,Getting married later in the day or even eving will save loads. Best wedding I ever went to was like this ..so relaxed so special it was wonderful.When it got dark all the solar fairy lights came on and it looked amazing, My own wedding was registar office with 2 witnesses and then off to the seaside for the weekend,It cost nothing really and it was perfect for us,

@Lottapianos

ToryStelling, that sounds just so lovely. Can I ask what you did about witnesses?

@Lottapianos it’s so easy to get married in NY, you literally just need your passports as far as I can remember! And our photographer was our witness, you only need one

That's good to know, thanks so much. Your day sounds just lovely

@An0n0n0n

I'd get married in a registry office and then come home for an all day BBQ with plenty of food and drink!

Than is exactly what we did! It was amazing (for us).

I do wish I’d done this OP. My friend had a “budget wedding”, she saved loads of tins from soup, beans etc, took the labels off and rinsed obviously, she had a cheap heart shaped cutter from Amazon and punched hearts a third of the way down the tins all the way round then glued some brown twine round the top of the tins, popped tea lights in (hers were battery operated but I guess real would be fine if careful. They were her centre pieces and they looked so good.

@Ineedaneasteregg

I had a larger ceremony and afternoon tea. The I booked out a lovely small bistro for the evening for 20 people.

So not tiny but not a fortune either.

My cousin did similar - she has a huge family on her dad's side (I am on her mum's side) so we all had afternoon tea in the church hall, and they then had a meal with immediate family later.

It makes sense to have the larger part of the reception after the ceremony so people can go to that and then celebrate with you (instead of evening only guests missing the ceremony or having a split day)

Boho inspired garden wedding like this:

Haha sorry for the Gram flour pic posted with it!!!!!

One of the nicest weddings I have been to was in a park. Celebrant led service, followed by afternoon tea (catering including wedding cake delivered direct to the park and put on trestle tables which had tablecloths on them). Wine, beer, champagne and fizzy drink in cooler boxes, water in glass dispensers. A few chairs and picnic blankets, most people stood. Dress code was specified as 'picnic casual'. It was lovely.

But I live somewhere warm and sunny. If in UK, a hall with an outside play area for children might be best.

@Happinesscomesfromwithin that pic made me chuckle 😂

I love all the suggestions. I'm not opposed to a registry office but our local one is being done up and the alternative venue is really clinical and not at all nice. Can you get married in one outside the area?

If you're having music, get each guest to pick a song or 2 before hand. That way, everyone gets music they like and that tends to encourage dancing/singing/fun without too much effort.