Have you been to/had a wedding at home?

[ExplodingCarrots]

If so, was it a success or a nightmare?

We're a couple of months in planning. Aiming for 2018. To set the scene: Together 9 and a half years, 1 dd , own home, both very laid back and don't tend to follow tradition.

We've been looking at venues and such and we are just at the prices. We have initially set a budget of 20k (we would like change) but we are finding that if you go down the traditional route of venue , caterers, flowers, photographers, evening do etc it's coming out to being a very expensive for what you get and just very samey.

Location wise we're not fortunate to have the luxury of a huge choice of venues. I also don't want to travel and drag our families hours away.

Anyway, here's an idea we got. Tell me if you've had or been to something similar and if it's a good idea.

•Afternoon Civil ceremony at the castle 5 minutes down the road.
• Back to our house for nibbles (like cake and sandwiches) followed by a hog roast or Bbq in the evening.
•Hire a marquee to put in the garden and lots of sofas and tables
• Do our own entertainment. Hire bouncy castle, sound system and lights.

The only snags we are hitting are room and the surrounding neighbours. We live in a 3 bed detached. The house isn't particularly large but the garden is a decent size (not acres of land btw). We'd be inviting a few of the neighbours but not all. Would we go around the neighbours a few weeks before and warn them about noise in advance and promise music outside would be off at a reasonable time?

Parking may also be an issue but we're hoping people will get taxis and we'll hire transport for people who live 5+ miles away.

I'm just afraid people will get bored of just sitting around..even though it'll be an afternoon ceremony. Guest list is at 80 so far.

We are starting to think maybe a big venue wedding isn't for us seeing as wev been together for so long and a lot of our friends will have kids . Plus our dd can sleep in her own bed etc

Yes or no?

[steppemum]

about timing - ours was afternoon wedding, back to parents for afternoon tea (scones etc ) while photos were taken, then food, band etc. We finished with fireworks at 9:30 and were then waved off.

[mamadoc]

Our wedding reception was in my parents garden (admittedly it's s big garden).

We got married in the church across the road at 2pm then drinks, canapés and photos in the garden. It was July and was lovely and sunny. We had a Buffet Dinner in the marquee, band and disco with a bar and fireworks to finish the night.

We had about 80-100 people and we hired portaloos. Parking wasn't an issue as I think most people stayed at hotels in the town and parked there.

We had a great day and guests said it was lovely (maybe people always say that though).

I'm not sure it was loads cheaper than a hotel though because you still have the marquee, furniture and decoration, flowers, food and drink, music, photography which are all big expenses.

[ExplodingCarrots]

That's what I'm afraid of. That after everything is tallied up that it'll end up not far off the same price as a venue.

We're trying to make everything pretty straight forward and laid back.

[notoTTIP]

We did it in a tiny house, but we only had about 40 guests. It was a great relaxed day. We bought loads of booze, and paid for a chef to make all the food and a waitress to help with serving and clearing up etc. There was tons of food and was not as expensive as a venue.

[notoTTIP]

Oh and we invited the neighbours and it was over by ten. (had been an all day) In fact it was better than my first wedding which was a massive affair with evening do, all I can remember is my bridesmaids being exhausted. I'm not a fan of evening do's.