So Dp's not asked, nor do I have any inkling whether he intends to or not but!

[NoIHaventChangedMyName]

I want to get married! And before anyone says why don't I ask - I won't. I can't. And you won't change me mind!

So although I am jumping the gun I'd like to know - for people who did it inexpensively can you give me a rough idea what it cost? I'm thinking registry office (I showed DP the picture of our local one today - he seemed slightly miffed... ) then some kind of hotel reception. Is this the cheapest way of doing it? Any tips would also be welcome. I'd like to get married by 2010!!

I know you don't want to ask, but it is a leap year this year, so it's traditional for you to do the asking.

why did he look miffed?

If you don't have any inkling of wether he intends to ask you, why don't you just ask him outright, so he knows you'd be open to the idea?

ohhh, I think he knows!! His friends are gradually marrying off, we're the only ones with kids at the mo, his sister is also now engaged. I feel like the time is right. As its a leap year I think it would be nice to break with the break in tradition and ask me .

He looked miffed because he hasn't asked me to and yet I'm looking up stuff online!

We got married the day after Boxing day, invites went out the night before as we knew everybody was on holiday and we then sneaked of to Bulins with the kids. Total cost abot £200.00

wow! To hire the room at the registry office costs more than that here though!!

It was 17 years ago. But I should think if you arn't going for frills and flounce it can still work out cheap. For your Honeymoon try
www.thomsonauctions.co.uk/
They are really really cheap compared to the main web site.

We did ours at the local methodist church and the whole shindig cost less than £2000 and the dress was the best part of 900quid.
We didn't pay much for the church (and it was a very beautiful art deco(ish) church) and we booked a local hall for about £150 for reception, catering was done by friend of mum's.

I don't think I want a church wedding - we're not religious and I don't like singing hymns! I don't think we have anyone to rope into catering.

Well I just went ahead and booked ours. DH STILL hasn't proposed!

Surely a registry office is cheaper though, and you could probably get a good, reasonably priced caterer by asking around.
We got photographer etc at reasonable rates just by asking people for recommendations.

You don't have to have any reception at all - you only need two witnesses. We had a party in our flat with cake and wine - I think our biggest expense was taking seven taxis to Brixton Register Office.

We got married in our registry office, had a small reception at home and spent our wedding night in a 5* hotel. Altogether under £500 including booze and catered buffet for reception. I went to a local sandwish shop near work that did all teh sandwiches etc for meetings in the office and they did a load of stuff for £120, fed 26 people and we had loads left.
It is just under £100 to get married in a registry office.

I'm not sure we'd bother with photographer. I hate having picture taken as does DP - friends would all have cameras. Not proffesional perhaps but still a way of capturing the memories. Registry office is £300. I'd like a reception though! Problem is Dp will want to keep up with friends - they have all so far had lovely weddings.

And you don't have to bother with all that wedding car palaver, we just dressed up my BILs car with a ribbon.

Or have a civil wedding (not in registry office or church) but at nice location, all under one roof. Roughly, where are you? Perhaps MNers can recommend somewhere nice that didn't cost the earth. You can look licensed venues up on hitched.co.uk I think or just type licensed venues into a search engine with your location.

have the reception in your own home?
or a parent's home

or a meal in a pub.
does your dp want loads of guests and/or do you?

we live in a two bed terraced house. My mum is too far away and Dp's parents live in a 5 bed house alone, but didn't have enough 'room' to put DP DS and I up for a night which says all I need to about their hospitality. In fact DP and I had discussed a foriegn wedding as we assumed they wouldn't come until MIL stated 'I'd go to anyone's wedding abroad!'. Suddenly the idea of spending a week or two with all our families seemed too much.

hmm, meal in a pub. I think we would probably have between 50-70 guests, some children, some (if we went down that route) evening invites.

Anytime I go to a wedding I take lots of pictures, and nip out to the nearest quick print place, between the wedding and reception, and arrange for a 1 hour print. I then arrange for a taxi to pick up the pho's an hour later and bring the pictures to the wedding. The pic's are usually presented just after the speeches, and are really welcomed.

We didn't have a photographer, we insisted everyone brought a camera and nominated 2 people to take 'behind the scenes' photos as well as the posed ones, it worked great adn we have loads of fab photos.
Our house is teeny, it's a terraced house as well with a small garden and we just moved a load of furniture upstairs (cupboards etc) borrowed some more sofas and spilled out into the garden. Fitted 26 people.
Do you need that many guests? We only invited immediate family and 6 friends, no-one who wasn't invited minded as they knew how small it was.

It seems strange to have not even discussed this with your DP

We ahd 2 DDs and a mortgage by the time i got round to telling DH he'd better marry me or else - was fed up with being the only person witha different name!
Had a big party at home - only invited close family - no second cousins or mothers, brothers, girlfriends. Close friends came too - Had a hugely good time - thoroughly enjoyed it. Our house isn't large either - oh and no silly frock or posed photos. (although if i'd had lots of cash they'd have been nice)

Oh we have discussed it. He knows, when I'd like to get married who we'd invite and who we'd invite. But I'm with the man who pre children used to take me to the jewelers every time we went shopping so I could show him the rings I like - he's dreamy and romantic really. But rather, well, how do I put it? Needs gentle pushing, directing and a kick up the ass!