Rush wedding, what am I doing?

[HopeSpringsEternal2017]

My partner has recently been diagnosed with cancer and while expected to respond well to treatment it has made us realise we want to get married. We have decided to try and get it done in the next 6 - 8 weeks before he starts treatment which will leave him unwell for quite some time.

Is it doable? We just want a registry office ceremony with 2 witnesses and our dd and then a party afterwards with our family and friends. Our budget is 1000 - 1500 which isn't a lot but with an uncertain future we don't want to get into debt.

I would really appreciate any tips and advice anyone is willing to share!?

Where are you located?x

Hi Hannah I am in SE London

Doable in the timescale. We did it in 5 weeks. Book the ceremony first. Everything else can fit round that.

It's possible as long as the registry office has space - I would get this booked ASAP

Then get your invites out

Buy your outfits off the hire street or hire rather than buy

What are you thinking for your party? A meal / hire a hall and have a disco? xxx

Hi we organised our wedding within 8 weeks. My advice would be to get a few dates ready and call the registry office tomorrow morning. Then go dress shopping for you- can be a big dress or whatever you want. Then book the party. It is all easily doable and will be fantastic x sorry for your news but I hope you have a truly magical day.

Then book a party venue. It'll be summer so how about a village hall type do, especially if there's an outside area if the weather's good. Lots of bunting, cloths on trestle tables, posies in vases, mixed up china or pretty paper plates.
How about everyone brings a big dish of food to share if your budget doesn't allow it? You could then spend you cash on drink. Hire glasses.

Definitely doable. You could probably get a budget hotel package out of that which would minimise stress..

I would love to be asked to contribute to a bring and share thing. I think people will feel happy to be doing something personal for your day and the busyness and mucking in would make for a cheerful party atmosphere.
All the very best to you both.

I've already emailed the registry office with a list of dates. We don't mind doing mid week which will hopefully help.

There are a few social clubs near me who hire the halls so I will be making calls once I have confirmed a date with the registry office. That will also take care of the need for drinks and glasses.

I was thinking of a buffet with disco for the party? Everyone bringing a dish sounds like a good plan. Do people find there is a price hike if you tell people it's for a wedding?

Don't know sorry. We borrowed a cook tent from the scouts and had ours in the garden.

A disco sounds great though. If you want a posh or semi posh car, I'd do that next after booking the hall.

I was thinking about going into a wedding shop to discover what style suits then have a look online. I'm a size 24 so would probably struggle to hire

We arranged our wedding in 5 weeks: date for ceremony first, the village hall, caterer (used a local farm shop), live music. No car, no photographer, no favours, cake from m&s, load of fresh flowers, dress from monsoon, suit from next, best friend as bridesmaid in a dress from debenhams... it was lovely.

Best wishes and to your future DH.
Hope you have a lovely wedding.

Definitely doable. We changed our venue 9 weeks before the wedding and it was relatively big (about 100 people; we both have big, close families).

Have a wonderful day. Your wedding sounds perfect.

Please, please have a look at this website, I donate my services when they are needed to this and so do many, many others.

This charity is AMAZING and are experts in quick weddings for unfortunate reasons.

I'm sorry but I don't know how far your partners cancer has progressed, or what treatment he is going to be getting. Please don't be put off by the word 'terminal'. I have donated recently to a couple who were in a similar position to yourselves, they wanted to be married before his treatment started as they were unsure how he would respond to it.

If they can't help, they can certainly give you lots of advice and point you in the direction of people who can.

Wishing you both the best of luck

Monsoon go up to a 22 if that's any good?

My partner and I just got married yesterday. We planned it in around 15 weeks after he relapsed with testicular cancer. It is doable. Registry office first. Make sure you already have either a passport each or you need your long birth certificate and your mothers (or fathers if they were married when you were born) proof of address and I think that's it for giving notice. If you get it booked tomorrow book your giving notice next week too. Book your venue and then look at outfits. Contact any outside services you need too (florist/photographer/disco). Plan what you want now so you can arrange it asap.

If you're in SE London, this place might be worth a look for your dress, it's in Bromley just behind Bromley North station and quite cost effective, and a wide range of sizes. I think they do sample dresses (you won't be able to order in time) but they had a seamstress for fittings etc i think although it was 5 years ago and I didn't end up getting my dress there.

Good luck with your wedding

Definitely don't say it's a wedding unless you have to. We saved a lot of money at ours by booking a room for a 'party'.

OP, my wedding dress was around the size. It's sitting in ex MiLs attick gathering dust. It will need dry cleaning but if the style suits you then you would be very welcome to it. It's princess style ivory.

Similar to this. Sweetheart neckline, big skirt.

Will not be offended AT ALL if it isn't for you, but you'd be very welcome to it.

Absolutely doable. I agree with Registry dates first. eBay has loads of really reasonably priced invitations with quick turnaround - much cheaper than elsewhere.
I'd also choose a colour theme - it will help pull everything together. Then book church/ social hall. Most will have tables and chairs. Usually also plates, glasses etc.
Decoration - eBay again has lots of cheap bunting, helium balloons also fill spaces up. Hobbycraft also had loads of stuff to help with this.
A DJ would be good and midweek you should be fine. Although worst case an iPod, speaker and playlist would work. Disco lights can be bought on eBay.
Food bring a dish is good - perhaps ask people to tell you so you know what you will have fill gap. M&S, Waitrose and Tesco all do catering food so that's an idea. You can also buy plain wedding cakes, order your own decorations/ toppers etc. They also hire glasses and some other items if needed.
Flowers in jam jars will be cheapest way to decorate tables.
Having said all that it might be worth looking at hotels if going midweek. Sometimes they do last minute deals for unsold dates. Upside of a hotel is they set it all up and clear it all up.
Dress - I'm sure you'll find something lovely. So many mainstream shops now do wedding dresses. Asos does and might be worth a look.

Congratulations and I hope you have a very special day. Normally I'd agree with other people not to say it's for a wedding but I think in your circumstances people will bend over backward to help.

Oh @Mooey89 - that's so sweet of you!

@Mooey89 that's so kind of you!

Very do-able! Would it be worth thinking of getting married now and having the party part after his treatment finishes? Would be something to focus on.

Wishing you both all the very best xx