Hope you wise MNetters can help me. DP and I want to plan our wedding but are having great difficulty deciding what would be best:
We are both early 50s so don't feel a "big" do with all the trimmings is necessary, but with option 1, it would be "big".
DP - first marriage, no kids
Me - second marriage, widowed, 2 adult kids
DP parents - happy to attend wherever it may be
My mum, late DH's family and aunties - mid eighties, unable to travel far without a lot of assistance
Friends and Family - lots, i.e. over 130 and vast majority would expect an invitation.
So, what would you do? I do have a reasonable budget, but some of the quotes/prices have made me think, eeeek!
- DP has family connections enabling him to marry at Tower of London, which he is keen to do. However, it is London - very busy, little parking, many awkward pavements - approximately 30 miles from home. My mum, late DH's family and aunties say they won't travel to London, even if I get taxi/chauffeur for them.
- Local venue, maybe whole day in one location. Sounds reasonable but having visited a few, they all seem a bit conveyor belt ish. And a room mocked up to look like a church doesn't do it for me or DP.
- Local church and reception in nearby venue. Might be best option but likelihood of my mum and aunts attending still in doubt, which would piss off DP who would prefer Tower of London.
- Go abroad with a few family members/friends and have a reception on our return. My mum couldn't/wouldn't get on a plane and doesn't have a passport, so she wouldn't feel guilty for not attending. Hopefully she would attend a local reception, though she has history of letting me down at the last minute.
Sorry that was long.
Would welcome your thoughts.