Tell me about your lovely low key wedding

[Lambside]

Or one you've attended. The registrar, all back to ours or restaurant, or local church hall ones.
What did you/the bride and groom wear?
What time was ceremony and meal? Was there a hiatus in between and if so how was it filled?

[StarWarsFanatic]

OH and I had been engaged for a while & we were in a pub and it was less than four weeks before, OH asked what we should do for our anniversary, I jokingly said we could get married so we did. Spoke to the registry office the next day to check room availability and make an appointment to give notice.

Told our immediate family about two weeks before but they were under instruction not to tell anyone else. Told our best friend a couple of days before. Husband rented his kilt, I bought a bridesmaid dress in a dark colour and got a dress for my MOH. Booked part of a restaurant and explained we were not sure about numbers . At the party we told everyone we were getting married the next day and they were welcome to come if they were free.

Less than thirty people came to the registry office, some of whom had plans for later in the day but the ones who didn't came to a restaurant and we had a really nice meal. It was awesome.

[DungballInADress]

Tiny church wedding, all back to a converted barn we had hired a few miles away. Canapes for everyone while we did the photos - savoury muffins, sausage rolls etc. Catering done by a family friend -
Roast gammon, salads and bread, trifle that my mum made. Mum also made the cake, sister did all the table decorations. Table linens and crockery borrowed for free from the church hall that my mum was a volunteer at. Free supermarket glass hire. Friend made the wedding favours. Speeches, band, help yourself buffet of rolls, cheese, sausage rolls and brownies. We provided beer, wine, soft drinks and homemade cider. My dress was made by a friend, suits were hired, bridesmaid dresses were in clearance sale at a high street store and cost £20.

It was perfect for us.

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

These weddings just sound lovely. I can't add anything as I had a not-at-all-low-key wedding (which I loved) but these are just making me want to have another wedding (same groom)!

[MsHarry]

I love the sound of these weddings. I had a traditional wedding 20 years ago. I actually wanted an evening wedding and straight to party but the hotel wanted us to pay for the lost revenue of a sit down meal! Ended up doing the done thing but we didn't spend loads.It's just one day, keep it simple and small and don't get into debt would be my advice.

[quince2figs]

Service in a hotel overlooking sea in my favourite seaside town in Pembrokeshire, with my best friend and her dp as witnesses (no other guests). Monsoon wedding dress and sparkly wrap for me, new suit for dh, scented rose bouquet from florist with 3 buttonholes.
Photos on beach down steps from hotel.
Lovely seafood meal and few drinks afterwards. £500 all in!

Next day over on ferry to Eire for a relaxed driving holiday round little B&Bs and a couple of posh hotels, ‘‘twas marvellous.

We then had a party e few weeks later at home in our (very large) garden, for about 125 friends and family. Bought a marquee and some patio heaters, pub benches in sale as end of summer. Catered a huge barbecue ourselves with various guests taking a turn on the grill. Plates of antipasto and things on sticks for each table first, and everyone bought a few bottles to add to ours. One of dh’s friends who works in a pub did a bar in the garden, with a chest freezer for storage! Home made choc brownies, summer berries, cream and meringues for pud. Probably cost another £500 and people still say how much they enjoyed it 15 years later. We started at lunchtime and went on till almost dawn the next day...and no speeches etc.

[quince2figs]

Oh, and we asked for no presents, but donations to charity if anyone preferred. Ended up with an enormous number of Oxfam goats/chickens/ school supplies/ water pumps etc.

[quince2figs]

No hen or stag do either. Dh didn’t wear a tie (which he hates) had lovely pink shirt and grey suit. I just wisjph I could still get into my wedding dress!

[dotdotdotmustdash]

We told my Mum the day that suited us and the registry office we wanted and left her to it!

I bought an outfit (a dress and long jacket from Monsoon) and got on with my life. Three months later we were married in front of 24 people who all came for a meal in a local restaurant with us. In the evening there was a reception for a total of 70 people.

The only slight irritation was that I had asked for no wedding cake, photos or speeches but my Mother had included all of those. I went along with it as it wasn't a huge deal, although I didn't buy any of the photos.

[domesticslattern]

Very simple. 30 guests, 4pm ceremony in a local historic house, followed by buffet spilling out into the sunny walled garden. Then the youngsters went round the corner to the local pub and it was all over by 11ish. I wore a bridesmaid's dress which can't have been more than £100. My 5 year old bridesmaid wore her favourite party dress. No photographer. Home made cake. Babies and children welcome.
It can be done! You don't have to buy into the industry! Just don't skimp on the booze- we had 30 bottles of good champagne!!

[MsHarry]

Just don't skimp on the booze- we had 30 bottles of good champagne!! Totally agree. I like your style!

[GlowWine]

The whole thing was organised in about 6 or 8 weeks, basically the first Saturday appointment available at the local register office. Both close families live a day's travel in opposite directions. They all stayed in the same guesthouse near our home.

Ceremony was about midday, with close relatives and a few local friends. I supplied the music on CD, we personalised our vows.
Then a few informal DIY photos outside, and walk to restaurant along the river. It was October but the weather was great. Had a leisurely meal in a nice restaurant, private side room, with just the closest family (parents, one GP, siblings, total 12 Inc two kids under 10). Then back home for wedding cake (simple two tier chocolate cake made by me) and champagne (several cases supplied by my parents) with about 40 friends. It was relaxed and lovely, I got to talk to everyone. My dress was a pale coloured silk dress with a matching bolero, and I got to wear it again a couple of years later for my sister's summer wedding.
I would not change a thing.

[GlowWine]

After reading the latest posts:
No engagement, no hen/stag do. My sister and her partner were our witnesses and wore their own clothes. My dress also just cost £100, but my DH also had to buy a new suit (it was a non-sombre colour, and not exactly expensive, BHS I think!), and wore a coloured shirt and no tie either.
We asked for no presents and meant it.

[hazeyjane]

Just me and dh, witnesses a couple from the car park, I wore a little black dress.....over jeans and with my parka on (it was bloody freezing), brownies and champagne by the river then pizza and red wine, then back to a b&b. It was bliss.

[Sgtmajormummy]

A post above reminded me of another sweet unplanned touch.

DH's uncle and our witness had a black VW Beetle. They rolled up to the church all done up with florist's ribbon at the front and a swag of flowers tied to the back grille. Matching buttonholes for him and DH. I suspect the involvement of his lovely partner.

That was the car we left the church in, with our knees under our chins in the back seat!

[PenelopePimpleBottom]

A friend had a registry office wedding at 2pm. They invited about 40 people. It was a short ceremony but lovely nonetheless and afterwards everyone went to their local rural pub where they cut and served the wedding cake along with cups of tea and glasses of champagne, chatted to and thanked everyone that came, did a wee dance together then buggered off on their honeymoon!
The whole thing lasted about 2 hours in total. Nobody was pissed, no scene was made and everyone was thrilled for them.

[MsHarry]

Sounds wonderful penelope

[MsHarry]

I love all of you romantic people,sounds like you all have your priorities right and I hope you all have wonderful marriages.

[Lambside]

I love reading all these. It's like an escapist romantic novel alternative. I really like the idea of a relaxed day without the 'you must have this, you must do that' pressure.

[SpeckledyHen]

Married in a register office with 9 guests . A couple of weeks before I bought my bottle green dress in my lunch hour from Laura Ashley , which was in fashion 23 years ago .
My usual hairdresser did my hair and I did my own make - up . No photographer , just a few pictures taken by my new SIL .
Reception was lunch in a posh hotel restaurant , no cake or speeches and a walk along the towpath afterwards in our finery to blow the cobwebs away .

[boredofmyoldname]

We had a basic ceremony at the registry office witnessed by our 2 kids, our Mums, my 3 siblings and my Grandparents in the afternoon then went for a meal at a nearby restaurant and back to my Mums for a few drinks and cake.

We didn't want to hang around for photos or anything so it was straight from one to the other.

I wore a 50's style prom dress and DH wore a suit. It was a lovely day :)

[StarWarsFanatic]

The only thing you must do at your wedding is enjoy it. It is nice to accommodate other people's wishes but this shouldn't be at the expense of what you want. (Read you as you and groom BTW)

[gallicgirl]

Alice, I wonder if we got our dresses from the same place? Mine was also a bargain Maggie Sottero..
Whatever you decide, I think it's important to know what you want, what you can afford and what you're prepared to compromise on. It's very easy to get pulled into getting little things that end up bumping up the cost. I also think it's important to find the right venue. A lot of places we looked at weren't very flexible whereas the hotel we booked were amazing. The only conditions were we get married Monday to Thursday unless we had 100 guests. We didn't mind a quiet midweek wedding and we got more of their attention as it was quiet.

[Alice0906]

@gallicgirl
My dress was from a private seller rather than a business. They'd bought the dress and had it altered to fit them, then for whatever reason hadn't actually worn it in the end. It was the design I wanted and she was almost the same size as me, so perfect!

OP, if you're looking for a wedding dress on a budget and have time, I'd definitely recommend keeping an eye on eBay. It amazes me how many people buy more than one dress and sell one unused! I set up a search for what I wanted and checked for new listings matching my criteria every few days. I loved looking at all the happy brides in the photos!

[BradleyPooper]

Got married in Paris. Lunchtime ceremony in Friday at the town hall followed by 3 hour lunch at a fabulous restaurant round the corner. 34 guests. No bridesmaids, no giving away, short speeches. All dispersed and then met up on a boat moored next to Notre Dame for evening reception ie drinks, dancing, finger food til gone midnight. It was fete de la musique (annual music festival with every band, choir, orchestra on the streets of Paris, really magical). Met up the next day for river cruise and dinner and the day after (Sunday) for brunch for those who were left ... low key but long lasting.....

[LadyB49]

Registry office with 40 guests, then hired bus to our favourite very small hotel by the sea, one hour away. Ordinary 3 course dinner £19 a head. M & S celebration for wedding cake and a guy (£75) with guitar for music and dance in the bar. Bus took guests back home at 11 and we stayed at hotel for 3 nights. No photographer. Adult offspring paid for us to have a portrait pic done. One night free as gift from hotel. I got a dress for £100. Dh wore a suit he already had.

We had buttonholes made up for guests rather than favours.

All for £1000. And arranged in 2 months.