So gutted about registry office venue.

[malificent7]

We originally booked 2 beautiful venues but had to increasingly scale back due to lack of funds ( hence swapping to a smaller venue.)
Eventually we just thought sod it and booked a registry office in a local seaside town.
I only just had the chance to look at it today and I am so gutted. The council really havn't looked after the facade and the flower beds that looked so lovely in the photos are bedraggled. Moreover there was broken glass all over the driveway. I had to mention it to the registrar who to be fair did get it cleaned up.
I did call up and complain about the glass and they said that it's because there are a lot of drunks and alcoholics in the area.
The car park is behind a wall of graffiti and has potholes.

At the least the restaurant afterwards is lovely. I just feel embarrassed to have my guests there.

With 3 weeks to go we can't change the venue. I guess we left it so late as we have been so busy and have run out of options financially anyway.

Sounds complicated with your dad.

I'd try and ignore it all. You will look your most gorgeous on your wedding day. Even if you're wearing normal clothes. Every bride seriously looks radiant on their wedding day. Even those that are ill.

That's the best but. No debt.

*bit

That’s so sad for you and I’m sorry that happened.

the OP is still allowed to be upset though.

We are in debt which is why we are going for the bargain wedding.
I think I am going to pay my dad back for the money he gave me for the wedding.

Got married in a register office myself less than a year ago. We parked in the shopping centre car park and took a filthy lift downstairs. The walk through town was hilarious/embarrassing - it was raining, everyone around us was rushing around/looking miserable, when we got to the register office we just had to stand outside getting soaked until eventually someone turned up to open the main entrance…. Things can and do go “wrong” at weddings Op but that’s okay, that’s not what you look back on.
The room itself was beautiful and intimate and in the moment of saying the vows you truly do not care about anything else.
We went to a gorgeous hotel in the afternoon for stunning pictures… absolutely stunning. The sun came out and it was just magical. That’s what I remember.

Have a wonderful wedding day and more importantly, a long and happy marriage.

I feel like paying my dad back out of the money he gave us monthly...bless him.

Where you marry and how you marry really doesn’t matter. WHO you marry is what counts.

What a shame that the council have let such am important venue fall into disrepair with poor grounds maintenance, graffiti, potholes and broken glass - then to blame it on the local ‘community’ not their lack of investment in and care of their property; especially when people are paying them for their weddings there!!

Its lovely that your family are offering to tidy it before hand, but they shouldn’t have to - and I’d not let them as they’d probably get told off, and definitely wouldn’t be covered for any injuries that resulted.

I second the PPs who suggested googling local parks and using the beach/sea front as possible backdrops for the photographs (just make sure to check about rules for releasing confetti and request guests use dried flower petals or similar as an alternative (or perhaps bubbles) so they, or you, don’t end up being fined for littering.

My first wedding was in a 1960’s office block type church with no outside space so we went round the corner to the old magistrates court building and had all our photos taken on their lawn (lots of people do this, it’s not a private garden or anything). My brother’s wedding venue was in a council office building where the only outside space is a public car park so all photos taken outside the venue look like you’re at the supermarket - they just made sure they did the bill of photos in the garden at the pub where they had the reception - result was much more relaxed and lovely photos of everyone enjoying themselves.

Like both those examples, you’ll find something that works for you both and will have an amazing day to look back on; the registry office part has to be done but doesn’t need to be the focus of the day. Hope you have glorious weather and an absolutely cracking day xx

That sounds lovely. I rather like the idea of that type of wedding too. I did get married in a church but only in the chapel as we had a very small wedding, followed by lunch and then we went off on honeymoon by bus in the afternoon. I enjoyed it far more than I would have a huge full-works day.

may I just say its not just the day its the marriage after. it does not matter if its not a stately home maybe get someone to go on ahead and any waste on the path just sweep it up. also as many have said take photos elsewhere i am sure you are having som at the venue you did say you were at a seaside place so maybe some by the sea dream come true for many.

Our friends got married in a plain registry office but then we all jumped in our cars and drove to a local country park with a beautiful old house and took pics there.