Help getting married

[Animelover]

We’ve been engaged for two years and are planning to get married next year, but we’re a bit unsure of how to go about it. My family is small, and many members are older, so they likely wouldn’t be able to attend a traditional ceremony. My partner’s family is larger but somewhat scattered, and it’s hard to bring everyone together.

Since only a few people would likely attend, we both feel that a full ceremony isn’t necessary, especially considering the cost. We’re wondering if it’s possible to get married just the two of us, without a formal ceremony, and then host a celebration afterward for family and friends. We looked into it, but the process has been a bit confusing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

The actual marriage bit can happen at a registry office, and you don't have to be dressed up if you don't want to.

We had a similar uneven family split. Registry office on Friday afternoon and a party at a village hall on Saturday. It worked really well for us, never wanted the big formal do.

Yes, you can arrange to go to a registry office with just the 2 of you and two witnesses.

From the way you describe your families though (and, I could be stereotyping, but stereotypes do come from experience) I would have thought that they would be much more likely to travel to come to the actual wedding ceremony, than to a party at night.
I might be wrong, but if you wanted your family there, could you not have a ceremony at 1 / 1.30 / 2 and then a meal or afternoon tea ?

Thank you so much for the replies. The 'party' would be a low key meal/drinks and would just be few friends and my partners group.

Quick question- for a registered office is it just the vows and done. We really don't want a whole lond winded thing if it's just us. My family could care less and want us to elope we just want something quick

We got married in a registry office with four friends in attendance. You just get the vows but they are very caring. We recently went to a party where the couple got married in a registry the week before and at the party had a friend conduct a ‘mock’ ceremony where they read out their own vows. You can read read out your own vows in a registry office too. How you get married is not important - it’s who you marry that matters.