How long is the actual ceremony?

[Rainsbow]

Registrar's service, not religious. If we just had all the compulsory parts but no "optionals", how long would it last?

20 mins max

Our was about 20 minutes

I think mine was probably about 20 minutes in all

Really? I was hoping like 10!

Not long at all.
You have people entering, the ceremony bit, and the signing bit, the taking pictures bit, people leaving.
They book 30 minute slots and it's all done in that time.

Rains. Its probably about 10/15 talking, 5 signing register.

Oh god. I was really hoping it would be mega quick instantaneous as I'm petrified about everyone watching me and having focus on me. Petrified as in panic attack petrified. 20-30mins of standing still is beyond my capabilities (anxiety makes me really restless). Oh crap.

Could you have the ceremony the day before with strangers as witnesses and then celebrate afterwards with family

You'll be too busy getting married to notice anything else around you

No it's all booked and all the bloody invites have gone out.

Or get proponal from gp

You won't be standing still for 20 mins.
I think people are talking about the whole thing, which includes signing the register etc.
The actual standing saying the words - maybe 5/10 mins?

I can't take beta blockers maybe I'll ask for diazepam.

About three minutes but we took the long version. The short version in our country is 'do you? Yes. Do you? Yes.' It takes about thirty seconds.

What takes so long if you strip out all the religious gubbins ???

Go get married in Sweden. Thirty seconds, seriously.

Or just elope. The thought of needing drugs to get through it isn't fun is it? Do you have to do this? Why put yourself through that? I hated the thought of everyone staring at me so it was a quickie do, then into the party where attention wasn't reallyon me any more.