London wedding on a budget- 127 guests. Help!!

[WanderingNotLost]

Ok first of all I know that 'budget' and '127 guests' don't exactly go hand in hand. Here's the breakdown- DP's family- 15. DP's friends plus spouses and children- 39. My friends, a few with guests- 20. My family- 53.

Now I know the obvious answer is to shave a chunk off my family but here's the thing- in the last few years we've had precious little to celebrate- my father died of cancer a year and a half ago- so I feel that my wedding will be something that can unite my family and that they'll really make an effort for. There are certainly a few I want there more than others, but I would feel absolutely awful, not to mention rude picking and choosing among my cousins, only two of whom are only children (Irish family=shitload of cousins).

DP and I will be paying for virtually the entire thing ourselves with minimal family contribution- realistically we're looking at about a 10K budget. Wedding will ideally be in London or Essex, within the next year.

Help!! Any ideas/suggestions/recommendations/pearls of wisdom??

May potentially chuck this on AIBU/Chat for traffic.

Trafalgar tavern Greenwich?

A late afternoon wedding would save costs... We went to a lovely wedding where the ceremony was at 5pm then the meal was a served buffet (you took your plates up by table and they served you the meat, BBQ style, then sides were a buffet). It meant they only fed the guests once and it was really lovely. Didn't feel short or cheap, we met up with other friends first for lunch and it was a really lovely day. Something to consider?

Sorry should've said- central/north/east London. We'd be happy to go to a pub but struggling to find one that can accommodate those numbers, regardless of what they eat!

Have the wedding as late in the day as possible, so that you only need to provide one meal, rather than 2.
Don't bother with wedding favours, expensive table decorations etc, no-one cares, and small bunches of flowers in ( for example) Ikea vases, or vintage containers look lovely.
Personally, I wouldn't bother with professional make-up - I'm sure you know how to do your own just how you like it.
If you have lots of bridesmaids and groomsmen, you'll be expected to pay for their outfits, so bear that in mind.
Will you be having a religious ceremony, or do everything at one venue?
Think about getting comparative quotes on things like wedding cake, photographers etc, or maybe you know someone who will do it for free or mates rates?
Don't read too many Brides magazines, they will give you loads of really expensive ideas.
You can do a very personal, individual sort of wedding, but it depends very much on what you and DP want. Have a good think about what you consider essential and what is superflous - it will be different for everyone.

The Knights Templar on Chancery Lane does excellently priced wedding packages for 100 with capacity for more guests. It's a Wetherspoons but you'd never know it apart from the signage. Such a stunning building.

Not impossible! We did a cheap-ish mondo wedding. The list of stuff you don't need is long... Have it mid/ late afternoon, I think our ceremony was at 4 at the town hall then everyone walked to the pub. The only flowers we had were a bouquet for me and buttonholes. The pub put candles on the tables when it got dark and it looked magical.

No favours, no fancy stuff, we found a cheap photographer (I think a photograph my student? Can't remember!).

Look up nice registry offices /town halls (Camden,Hackney, Islington, Stoke Newington) then look for pubs within say 20 min walk. You will find somewhere!

Mondo?!thanks autocorrect... I meant London !

I'd ideally have a church wedding. Not fussed about a make-up artist as I'd prefer to look like myself, although I probably would need a hairdresser. The things we're prepared to spend the most on are venue (inc food etc) and photographer. Already have a idea for cheap favours.

I think it's called the King's Oak, or King's Head, high Beach, near Epping. Apparently lovely venue and not too expensive. Maybe don't pick a Saturday. Bank holiday I think is OK price wise.

If north east London/ Essex, Sophie Dunne is a fab photographer, but you save costs by getting all photos on a disc, you then make your own album or canvasses etc, a big money saver.

I got married in east London. Loads of venues that usually close over the weekend (around the city) do free venue hire. We gor married in a registry office then had a glorified piss up. Was great

Try the Trinity Wharf Lighthouse in East London - I know a few people who have been married /are planning to get married there. It's just opposite the dome, great location for outside drinks/photos and they don't charge for corkage so can be very economical if you bring your own booze.

Thanks for the responses everyone Bobs that is exactly the type of thing we're looking for, just with a slightly bigger capacity

Forty Hall?
www.fortyhallbanqueting.co.uk/weddings/weddingreceptions.htm

Wandering, I'm pretty sure the Knights Templar can accommodate 130 guests. They just base their standard package on 100.

I got married at 4pm in church in the city and had the reception in the Dickens Inn at St. Katherine's Dock for 120. The Dickens served Pimms and Water on the terrace outside (summer wedding) before we headed to their private room for a hot buffet meal (people got up and it was served to them). We had three choices of main meal and two dessert choices. The staff looked after us really well and cost was around £40 per head, which also included two bottles of wine on each table and the toast. They even waived the hire charge of £500 as we had over 100 guests.

We went to a wedding at Islington Town Hall and the reception was at the Oystershed in the city. They had fewer people than you, maybe 100, but I know their budget was pretty tight. It was a really nice wedding, and the venue is right on the Thames so beautiful as the sun went down.