Advice needed please !

[Arabiannights01]

I am not long engaged - I can’t quite believe it after 16 years and one child, regardless I am happy. However, I feel really lost. I always thought that I knew how I wanted to get married from the ring to the ceremony, the music etc. but I have changed a lot and well, I’d be so happy with a Las Vegas wedding now however, that is not possible.

What I really need advice on is if I have a really casual affair which I’m leaning towards - do I need a change of outfits? because I’ll inevitably end - up going to a local bar or restaurant after the ceremony and don’t want to look silly and secondly has anyone ever just got married and invited friends to meet them nearby for a glad of champers to celebrate, leaving the invite open?

I really don’t want a formal affair but the more my brain is starting to organise this, I’m just really struggling!

please help. Thank you.

Registry office wedding and garden party back at the bride and groom‘s house was pretty low key but lovely?
Or late morning wedding and lunch at a small restaurant.

Aw I love that and hadn’t even thought about that idea. That has given me food for thought. My only problem perhaps would be that my parents are so rural and a lot of people will be catching trains in.

🤦‍♀️

But do you want “a lot” of people? People will find a way to get to the house either driving or train and taxi. How far is the house from your nearest registry office? If it’s more than 30 minutes, get married officially in the morning and then do a service at the garden party with a celebrant in front of your guests.

You can do whatever you want, it’s your wedding. Don’t get caught up in the fashions or instagram ideal wedding. Have a registry office and pub for lunch, or do in garden.

I wouldn’t word it as an open ended invite and you’ll need numbers to reserve an area or buy in food.

Dress - us dictated by the day. Formal church wedding required a more formal dress, Rolexes wedding you can wear something more boho or unconventional. I wouldn’t bother with two outfits, just pick one you really like. I know someone who got married in silver sequins.

Thanks so much for your reply. I think you’re absolutely right regarding not having it open - ended. Update is that this definitely cannot happen at any of our parents house so I like your idea of a nice pub lunch. A nice pub lunch with immediate family I think and then drinks afterwards. I love what you said re the dress. The day isn’t really long enough to wear two and what the hell, I don’t care - it definitely won’t be a huge white dress 😄.

Thanks so much. I really need to decide now!

A word of advice - if you want to keep it small, hold it at a place that only holds a few people! The restaurant we held ours at only seated 27 people. Sorry, can’t invite more people, our choice of venue only holds….👌