Weddings : advice required

[kd73]

DP and I have finally agreed to get hitched after a horrible 2007. Looking at the options / budgets etc blows our minds and has stopped us tying the know previously. Now though it just seems important somehow.

We both have small families with quite a few friends. It was always important for me to include close friends to wedding, unfortunately though my closest friends have let me down over the last 12 months and as such, I expect people will be upset if invite some and not all friends, therefore I don't see this as an option.

If you had a small wedding with family only, did you regret not inviting friends?

Our 2 favourite thoughts at the moment are: -

Hire small B&B for family only for 1 night only and celebrate with the 2 families only having a really nice meal

OR

Hire a small venue, invite family only to the ceremony but then do an open invite to an evening do with buffet only and perhaps hiring a celidah band?

What are your thoughts?

get the legal stuff. the rest is just window dressing

Thanks pukka, I know the day isn't / shouldn't be important. I just don't want to look back and wish I had done things differently.

2

How about you sign the papers with your family present and then go out for a meal together. People can toast you and celebrate.

Then hold a whopping great shin dig at some point (a month on/the next day whenever) and invite all and sundry. Have a buffet and hire a place if you feel like it or just have it at your home.

kd, i think that you will always wish you had done things differently. its the neature of the beast unfortunatly.
just enjoy yourelf, as long as y ou know you aare doing the right hting in marrying each oter, the rest is just a party.

we had a civil ceremony - 50 people to the 20 min ceremony and to a buffet and free drinks for a couple of hours in a bar nearby. That was from approx 4pm-7pm and was about 50:50 family and close friends (and partners) Then we went to the hotel, rested a bit and had dinner and got changed into more relaxed clothes and met up with the same friends that had come to the ceremony but also a load of friends who we hadn't invited. We went to a lovely bar with a roped off terrace section that our friends had decorated for us and spent the rest of the evening/wee hours there.

It was really informal but really really nice. I live ex-uk and only invited 2 of my best best girlfriends and their families, several other UK friends were a bit offended I think but you can't please everyone, and it IS your day.

Thanks for your opinions here...

Went to a wedding fayre today, which almost put me of getting married!!!!!!

Pretty much decided to have a small registry office wedding with just parents in attendence. Go for a slap up meal somewhere and then the following week have a party for rest of friends and family

Good for you kd

Now can we help with organising a wicked party for you and your mates? What will you wear????