Opinions please!

[Lj8893]

Hi all.

Me and my dp want to be married, however we don't want/have lots of money to spend on it, and don't really want a big fancy do anyway, its just not "us".
We would be quite happy just going down the registry office and doing it but feel we will regret it later in life if we don't celebrate it somehow and know our family and friends will kill us if we don't have a party!

So this is our idea.....
A winter wedding. Beginning on dec next year maybe.

We would have about 80 guests (I have a huge family!!)

Church ceremony at 4pm.
Then to my DPs mums pub.

The party would be in the skittle alley (pretty room and lots of potential to decorate nicely and opens up to a small terraced pub garden)

The only thing is although it holds more than 80 people, there isn't room for loads of tables so it would be more of a stand up do (there will be a few tables and seats but not allocated)

Hog roast for the meal.

Baileys or mulled wine for a welcome drink.

We would supply wine and champagne etc and of course there will be a pay bar.

Later on in the evening (to soak up alcohol) we will put on a cheese, pickle, bread buffet thing. And some mince pies and stollen!

And then we will have a band to dance the night away. Before the band starts we will just have music piped through into the room.

How does this sound? Do you think it will be a pain not having set up dinner tables or will it work fine?

Any other suggestions will be welcome!

I think it sounds lovely, although some older guests may well struggle with standing so long. How many seats do you plan to have? Dont see lack of tables as a problem, more lack of seats. Would people to go to other parts of the pub for a sit down?

We got married last February and we had registry office at 3pm, then all went back to my mum and dads (there were about 50 of us) for champagne and nibbles. We brought a bottle of champagne/prosecco (about half and half) with the shopping each week for about 6 months so absorbed the cost. We also ordered £100 worth of buffet food from Waitrose and decorated the house with balloons and banners etc. Waitrose buffet stuff was lush and £100 brought us a lot of lovely food.

We then all went for dinner at a local pub/restaurant at about 7.30pm in taxis.

It was lovely, the whole thing cost less than a thousand pounds all told (including dress, registry office etc) and a good time was had by all. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Was brilliant.

Meant to add I don't think it would have mattered if we hadn't gone to dinner. Everyone was having a grand old time just staring around drinking, eating and having a laugh.

We wouldn't have that many "older" guests to be honest, but one side of the entire room is benched and we will have tables all along that side with chairs too so enough seating for maybe 20/30 people. And yes people could go and have a sit down in the main part of the pub, that wouldn't be a problem.

Thanks dizzy, your wedding sounds lovely!

I think that all sounds fine!

I think that sounds great - go for it!