Cost and shoes for no key civil partnership

[Coatnshoesconundrum]

signing a civil partnership between Christmas and new year. No guests, just a quick in, sort the docs and out. aiming for respectable appearance. I am wearing the Boden dress attached - maybe dull by some standards but it is cut well and hangs well. I’m not sure what coat or shoes to wear. I maybe using public transport and have to walk a bit so need to be able to do that. I already have a black Jaeger winter coat and Kurt Geiger heels but I’m not sure black goes with navy and the collar on the coat is a v neck when a rounded collar might go better? Any suggestions? I’m 50 plus and size 14/16 in a coat.

I wouldn't bother trying to match coat to dress. Wear your winter coat there. It'll be closed anyway, maybe with a scarf to fill in the neckline for warmth, and take it off at the registrar's office.

So far as shoes, black goes with navy, but I personally wouldn't wear heels with that dress.

Ooh good point on the scarf - I am so far from a fashionista, that didn’t even occur to me. I even have something that partner to be bought me, so that’s a good shout. Also good to have confirmation that black plus navy is ok. I may just
get the coat dry cleaned.

Since it will be winter, you could wear a nice pair of boots with the dress eg ankle or knee-highs.

Go for it. Wear the high quality stuff you have. But, this is your best excuse ever to buy new high quality essentials. So, if you need/want new shoes, do it!
I stalked a reasonably priced pair of sandals for my wedding. Waited till they were on sale and got them! I still wear them as my 'nice' summer sandals.

Agreed with Unabletomitigate and IveHadItUpToHere

Boots perfectly acceptable. Your existing black Jaeger coat, perfectly fine but if you want a new winter coat- go for it, but don't fret about having to get a coat to match the dress.

Thanks guys! I just spotted this coat in new from Boden (I do buy other stuff honestly… ) any thoughts? I like the green the red AND the camel!
Boden coat

I love the coat in green - in fact I may buy it myself as an early Christmas present.

Any of them. They will all go well over a blue dress and black shoes.

Green coat ordered in two sizes. I think the green might go out of stock more quickly than the other colours. I’ll stick with the black shoes and I have a black bag too. Thanks all.

The coat is beautiful and will look amazing.

Hope it all goes well OP.

(Despite the autocucumber working overtime on the thread title)

Fat fingers, small phone! 😀

Sorry to jump on this but can I ask how much you paid for the civil partnership all costs included please ?
thanks and good luck cx

When you receive the coat, would you post an updated pic, please? I’d like to see it.

I'm doing exactly the same thing with my partner. We paid £70 to the local authority for notice of registration, and about £80 to the registration office for the 'ceremony' - which is actually just the fee for the smallest room they have available for (as we will not be saying any vows) a glorified signing of documents. So £150 all in for the pair of us.

@MarleneH I think cost varies from county to county and can vary by day and time and room size. I was surprised at how hard it is to sort out and we are still not home and dry due to a bizarre system where the notice can only be given in a very narrow window of days and the appointment to do this isn’t prebookable very far ahead 🫣

I think it is £50 for the ceremony, £11 per certificate, £75 each (£150) to give notice, so under £250. Price is no lower than wedding fees even if you have no ceremony. No choice in room size. Lots of register offices have closed near me. Used to be 4 or more and now there’s only 2. Cuts maybe or more people have civil weddings at other venues?

@GDIL Coat has been dispatched so I will update. I have wide shoulders so I’m a 14 in a Boden shirt though I don’t have big boobs. I fear the coat may come up small so I’ve ordered a 14 and a 16. As someone who was once asked why I always wear shoulder pads (😖) i fear it might still be tight. I will also report back on the colour match and fabric weight.

I think the green coat - which should be delivered in the next day or two - over the navy dress will look really good. Pic?

Thank you so much my lovely and a big congratulations x

@GDIL the coat is much darker green than the online photo suggested. It is well tailored and the 14 fits perfectly. The fabric is ok but it doesn’t scream quality. This is a lot of money to me and I’m not sure I’d spend it without having a specific occasion to wear it. Boden has got so expensive lately. The label implies the fabric is Italian and it’s made in Turkey. I’ve not had a chance to try the dress on with the coat but I think the dress is maybe an inch longer.

Well tailored Italian fabric in a perfect fit sounds exactly what you need for such a special occasion. The coat and dress look good together. Have a wonderful day.