Help me plan a wedding

[myname80]

So we have a wedding coming up very soon and we're planning a very low key event. The plan so far is to go to the Register's office with our two witnesses and then have lunch/dinner with our friends and family. (About 12-15 people) I don't know whether we should get our guests to pay for their meal/drinks or should we budget to pay for everything?
Do we make this as just a meal with friends or should we have couple of speeches etc.

Any ideas/suggestions are welcome

Congratulations OP... firstly is it lunch and dinner or just lunch or dinner? Where are you thinking of having this?

You should certainly pay for everybody if you can. Simple speech by one of you thanking them all and launching you on married life.
Expect your parents to be upset if not at actual wedding. Unless they are dead, devilish or in prison I would ask them.

We looked at having a restaurant reception and a bit of an issue was sightlines - make sure the room is big enough and the table(s) the right shape for everyone to see.

I'd definitely include very short speeches yes.

Thank you all for taking time to give suggestions. We're planning to book table for 4pm because the ceremony is at 3pm.

Hi @myname80 are you having photos after your ceremony? Or even when you get to your reception venue - will an hour be enough time?
With regards to food - I would budget to pay for everyone's food and maybe a welcome drink on arrival, and perhaps some bottles of wine / beer / non alcoholic drinks if required with your meal. You could then leave guests to pay for their own drinks afterwards. Or leave £x amount behind the bar until its gone. I've never yet been to a wedding where its been a free bar all day / evening.
As PPs have said a short speech to acknowledge your day / wedding / thank yous etc, would be suffice.
We're planning something similar.

@Hiphopboppertybop99

Hi *@myname80* are you having photos after your ceremony? Or even when you get to your reception venue - will an hour be enough time? With regards to food - I would budget to pay for everyone's food and maybe a welcome drink on arrival, and perhaps some bottles of wine / beer / non alcoholic drinks if required with your meal. You could then leave guests to pay for their own drinks afterwards. Or leave £x amount behind the bar until its gone. I've never yet been to a wedding where its been a free bar all day / evening. As PPs have said a short speech to acknowledge your day / wedding / thank yous etc, would be suffice. We're planning something similar.

Thank you for your input. Due to the locations we have booked for a family photoshoot at home in the morning. After the ceremony we will just take normal photos with our phones same at the pub. Good luck with yours too.

Yes you should budget to pay for the meal and drinks as you are hosting the meal. I would discuss with the restaurant beforehand about this - they could have a private room you can hire and they could do a set menu for example which would make it easier for you to budget for. As for drinks again I would work with the restaurant and aim to provide something sparkling for arrival/speech and then red/white wine/beer for the table. You can set up a tab etc. You will know your guests and whether you need to put limits in place but for a small group of 15 people I should imagine it will be easy to manage.

So, to be clear, you are asking your family to get dressed up, and come and have photographs taken in the morning, but then not inviting them to the wedding, and then wanting them to come to a meal at 4pm ?

@Kite22

So, to be clear, you are asking your family to get dressed up, and come and have photographs taken in the morning, but then not inviting them to the wedding, and then wanting them to come to a meal at 4pm ?

It's a statutory ceremony only 2 witnesses are allowed in. Photoshoot is just for us and the children m. We're only inviting people for the meal at 4pm

Have a toast and some fizz whether or not you do speeches.