married at a registry office

This seems like the only option now as we really cant afford a wedding.
Who has done this? What is invloved? Is there a process to take and how long? Any other info would be greatly appreciated.

So sad that I will have to sell my dress but even a cheap wedding isnt cheap enough for us and we dont want to get a loan.

Oh no, I cant see why u cant have a back yard thing with just immediate family. Just pay for the license and get everyone to bring a plate. If its totally impossible my best friend in aucks got married in a registry office then a year later had a proper wedding, I guess it doesnt matter how u do it as long as u r together but I just believe in not giving up on ur dream (especially if a wedding dress is involved )

Immediate family is huuuuge! We figure if no one knows then no one feels left out. I suppose we do need witnesses though?

Also, I wouldnt feel comforatble wearing a flashy puffy princess dress at a registry office.

wrxchic wrote: why not wear the dress to the registry office? its sooo nice and that way you would still have someting you really wanted about the wedding.  Failing that a wedding can be done really cheap and still be nice.

yep i agree with all that.....

It does seem a shame to sell the dress before wearing it, when you've already got it all sorted!  I've been to a bring-a-plate wedding before - people do do them, and theres really nothing wrong with it.  All you'd need is someone's house that works as a venue, and friends with digital cameras.  The BAP wedding I went to was in a hall they'd hired for the reception - they cut their costs massively by not hiring caterers or a photographer.  But really, none of it's 'essential' for a wedding, just the marriage licence and celebrant.  The rest is all up to the bride and groom and what they want. 

Yeah, we have been to a backyard bbq wedding, it was lovely. Very simple but really nice! The other one that we went to that was similar was a picnic, where everyone just brought their own food (no one knew the couple were getting married) it was at the beach and the couple turned up set up their picnic and then kind of disappeared (no one really noticed as there were loads of people there) then they reappeared and had got changed and had the celebrant with them and they got married right there and then. It was neat because everyone was there, but there was no angst for the couple. Could be an idea?!

 

Topsy, My wedding cost $5000 and was organised in a week. That $5000 covered, my dress, a new suit for DH($1350!!!), dinner for 8, hotel for the two of us, flowers, hair makeup, fake tan, programs etc. We held it at our celebrants house and then had dinner at a VERY flash restaurant in town (but it was a set menu) and all stayed the night at a hotel and had breakfast together the next day. It was perfect!

Our guests were my parents, DH's parents and DH's brother and partner. I am an only child so that was easy. We didnt invite ANY friends as it was all organised fast and to be honest, when push comes to shove they just werent as important as our family. Our family paid for their own night in the hotel.

SO I think if you have a dress (and that is cheap), get DH to hire a suit. Find a nice house, or garden, get your immediate family together, shout yourself a make over and hair style, get some flowers (I just got a simple bunch of gerberas for me and a button hole for DH) get a celebrant and do the deed! You dont have to have a reception....but I think some good bubbly and some small nibbles would be a nice touch.

Talk to your family and say in lieu of gifts could they help with some aspect of the wedding? Maybe a pot luck dinner.

The main thing is to marry the one you love (and I think a nice frock counts too). The rest is immaterial!

Edited by nzpiper

shaz wrote: My friend invited everybody over for a BBQ at her house, bring a plate etc and then announced they were getting married. It was so nice and relaxed probably the nicest wedding I've ever been too.

I think this is such a cool idea. You could hide away somewhere getting ready while the guests arrive then have your partner or the celebrant announce it and while the guests are getting over their surprise you appear in your beautiful gown (oh, I love romance).

We have a huge family too and paid for our own wedding in our early 20s so didn't have a lot to spend. The key was limiting the guest list (people don't mind as long as you're fair) and keeping the catering cheap, if you've invited guests for a BBQ BYO plate and drink that will keep the price down significantly.

Good luck for whatever you decide to do. I'm sure it will be magical - the most important thing is that you and your partner are there.

I went to a friends wedding ( although no-one not even the families knew it was going to be a wedding!) we got invites for their daughters first birthday, feed the kids had a normal bbq lunch and then they disappeared while the kids were playing and came back out 10 mins later and said "thanks for coming now we are getting married!) We are thinking of the same sort of thing after no 2 arrives but haing it as a baby naming for the kids and while celebrant is here getting married as well!!

Good luck, i'm sure what ever you do will be great.

Thanks for the ideas ladies. I think I will do a combination of your ideas. DF is being a poo tonight so I dont feel like marrying him at all at the moment, hehe!
I just want to elope when we go to Sydney but DF said he wants his grand parents to be there- well they can pay for the damn wedding!