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Original poster

Very small wedding wwyd?

50 replies

GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 15:21

As it stands we are only having about 10 guests to our wedding. So seems pointless in hiring a hall and having a proper reception.

I'm thinking of a small registry office ceremony then a meal with wedding party and then possibly hiring a part of a fancy pub and putting out an open invite to anyone who wants to come.

Would you be interested in a wedding like that or should i go the fill shebang?

This is also a second marriage for both of us. Hence not a lot of guests!

OP posts:
troodiedoo · 17/10/2018 15:23

Sounds perfect. Congratulations Smile

LemonBreeland · 17/10/2018 15:24

We had only 12 guests at our wedding and had a late afternoon wedding followed by dinner in a private dining room at a hotel and then drinks etc for the rest of the evening. All of out guests stayed at the hotel as non lived locally.

I think a meal with an open invite to celebrate later sounds fine.

WTAFIGO · 17/10/2018 15:25

Watching with interest as this is what I am thinking of doing too! I have asked a few friends what they think and those who live locally to me have reassured me that this sounds lovely. Those who live further afield seem less sure, I can understand that they might not want to travel for what they see as less of a party than a standard wedding.

CupMug · 17/10/2018 15:26

How about keeping the wedding day small. Registrars office then a nice meal and having a party on another date.

We did that and it worked brilliantly. There were ten of us on the day. We went for a fancy meal got a bit drunk and ate a lot. It was relaxing and good fun.

Combining the two on the same day means some guests might feel second best. Also makes for a long disjointed day.

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 15:35

I don't think we'd have enough for a party on another date. That's why we aren't having an engagement party either.

The hotel sounds like a good idea as then the couple of guests we hope that will come could then stay in hotel.

Also so could we and send DD home with my parents! Grin

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PlateOfBiscuits · 17/10/2018 15:43

Sounds lovely!

thebear1 · 17/10/2018 15:50

I had 12 people at mine, it was midweek as well. I did get married in church, then had a meal for 12 in a private dinning room at a hotel. When I got back from honeymoon had a party with friends as my guest were immediate family. This prevented it being stressful.

TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 15:53

Sounds ideal. A good friend of mine only had their parents to the ceremony and the 6 of them went for a nice meal. She then hired a part of a bar nearby and it was an open invite. They only had to pay £50 and they could use that for drinks. It was a Browns.

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 15:56

That's exactly what I want to do. It'll be in Glasgow so I just need to get a restaurant and bar nearby so guests aren't traipsing about all day.

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TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 15:58

This was Glasgow! They had their ceremony in Montrose St, then went to The Anchor Line and hired the downstairs area of Browns on George Square.

I also got married in Montrose Street with 25 guests then had a meal in a private dining area of a restaurant that we had until 1am. (Brian maule at Chardon D’Or).

TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 16:00

It was a weekday btw - either Wednesday or Thursday, can’t remember! Mine was a Saturday due to some guests being teachers.

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 16:26

It's Montrose street we've been looking at!

Was the bar nice? Wedding like if you know what I mean? As in if I had big fancy dress and kilts would it look out of place?

Where did she go for the meal?

That honestly sounds ideal to me. And apart from about 4 guests the rest are from Glasgow so easy enough for them.

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Ohyesiam · 17/10/2018 16:27

Sounds lovely x

Sexnotgender · 17/10/2018 16:29

We had about 10 at our wedding then just went for lunch at an amazing restaurant.

Super laid back, minister was a good friend so came for lunch too.

TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 16:48

The area in Browns was totally separate. You go in the main door and there’s stairs on the right that take you down. It has a glass roof so nice and airy. You wouldn’t be out of place. My friend had a short white dress, the men wore kilts. She went to The Anchor Line for food.

Hutchesons have private rooms you can have and it’s a lovely building.

I can’t recommend Brian Maule highly enough, they were fantastic for our wedding and the food there is amazing. It’s next to Blysthwood Square hotel which is where we stayed. We live in Glasgow but if you can’t stay in a 5 star hotel for your wedding, when can you?!

I can provide loads of suggestions - I think I looked at every single venue large and small. Blush For a tiny number my dream would have been the Lighthouse viewing platform although their website doesn’t list it as a space for hire anymore.

One Devonshire Gardens is another gorgeous venue, you could have ceremony and meal there then hire a part of a west end bar?

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 16:54

I don't think our budget would stretch to the west end if I'm honest. I'm liking the sound of browns. Think next time I'm in the town I'll have a nosey at it.

I dunno what type of dress I'm having yet. Need to go looking. But something totally different from my first one.

Is the place in browns small enough if no one turned up? Also what about food?

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TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 17:01

www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/scotlandandnorthernireland/glasgow/privatedining

You get an idea of it here. It’s pretty large but lots of seating so not a lot of empty space. How many are you thinking of for the evening? Their bar reception was from 7pm onwards so we all ate before. I see they have a buffet menu.

Are you getting married on a weekend or weekday? Weekday most places will be able to section you off an area.

I wouldn’t worry about being in a big white dress, we walked from Montrose St to Blythswood Square with our photographer on a Saturday afternoon. We got lots of congratulations and the occasional photobomber! Also lots of people taking photos of us...

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 17:05

It'll probably be a Friday so weekday. I have no idea of numbers for night. We are just going to put an open invite on fb or similar for workmates and anyone else who would want to come.

Did they decorate the place or have a cake etc?

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TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 17:07

I have a feeling there was some bunting but it was really more like meeting friends for a birthday etc. They didn’t have a cake but that wound to have been a problem. There was a lot of prosecco courtesy of both their parents buying it! (Both first to get married of their siblings).

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 17:09

I've sent them an email to enquire. It's not until 2020 so plenty of time if we change our minds

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TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 17:16

Is there anywhere you’d normally go for drinks in the city centre?

You might have a bit more of a hire charge for a Friday night but usually you can get all/most of it back from drink costs. You ideally want somewhere with it’s own bar to avoid queues. Browns was good and has a decent wine selection. Tbh I wasn’t sure what I’d be like as I hadn’t been before but it was great.

TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 17:18

Ah cross posted! Yes you have so much time and there’ll be about 20 new restaurants open before then! Happy dress shopping. Smile I can recommend a florist, photographer if you’re interested, DM me. I got married in April and my friend in May.

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 17:29

Wetherspoons usually! We tend not to go out in Glasgow as it's expensive. If we do it's normally the solid rock cafe and the cathouse!

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TakeAChanseyOnMe · 17/10/2018 17:39

cathouse.co.uk/about-us/# You can hire areas in Cathouse. Grin I don’t want to think what the dirt at the bottom of a long dress would be like. Envy Mine was bad enough from just the Glasgow streets.

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 17/10/2018 17:50

Haha! DP would be happy at that one. Parents not so much.

Also with browns do they let kids in? As our wee one will be 4 at the time.

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