My surprise wedding idea? Advice pls

Ok That's it , we have been engaged for 2 many years, we cant afford a big wedding nor do we want one.
I was thinking of a court house wedding but now im thinking of this, tell me what you think?
DD first bday next March, we have her party and get married then, when we have all our family and friends already with us (we hope lol) make it a surprise ,simple ,make it official ..
What do you think? It prob wont be on DD actual birthday so dates wont clash, is this a bad silly idea?

Has anyone done this or something of the like? How much do you think it would cost?I have started emailing celebrants (sp) ...
what costs would be involved? :o

That is the most gorgeous idea, it actually gave me goosebumps. I can only imagine how pleased I would be to be at a surprise wedding, I'm sure your friends and family will love it.

Great idea, love it :)
Friends of ours invited everyone to their engagement party and ended up getting married :)

Brilliant idea!! GO FOR IT BABE!!!!!!

I think this is a great idea ;)

Friends of mine did this, we thought it was an engagement party, but it wasn't! So much more relaxed, and people who *wanted* to be there not felt they *had* to be there, IYKWIM?

Costs can be as much or as little as you want! Celebrant - ours was $800, but it can vary. That's about it!!!! Rings - $100 - $10,000 !!! Dress - $10 - $!!!!
Location - park - may be some costs. You could even do something like have the "birthday party" at the zoo with a special area reserved, that can cost $150 at Melbourne zoo. Food - well it's a birthday party, bring a plate? And cake - $100+ dependent on size / style.

Sounds great, I bet it will be a wonderful day!!!

Personally, I LOVE surprise weddings!
I had one of my own. We got married at our engagement party.
I organised everything in 3 months. We had a sit down meal and everything.
I think my wedding not including rings was around $4000 that's for food, drinks, venue, celebrant, dress, hubby's suit, deco's, invitations... etc etc etc.
Pretty easy to organise and we had the time of our lives! Everyone loved it!
Be prepared for someone to not be a fan, and for some people to not turn up on the day. We clued out immediate family in, but everyone else was not told anything (although I made the invitations fancy, and asked people to be there at a certain time to be served their meal- just to try and make sure everyone was there).

If you'd like any help at all, feel free to PM me. Best of luck!!!

OMG thanks everyone , i have goosebumps now lol, i am so excited and i really really want to be able to do this .
Ring i am using my Nan's wedding band , just need to get it re dipped in the white gold .
Hmm where to have it...

Wow are Celebrants really that $$$?

My celebrant was $350.

I think it's a great idea!

Our celebrant only cost $500, but I guess it depends where you live. Is there a park or something close to you? Maybe you can have it there?

My aunty did this on her birthday, i was her bridesmaid and i didn't even know it :)
She told everyone it was a dress-up party (based around the yr she was born), we helped set up and then she was like come on we are going... WHAT WHERE.. off to get hair and make-up done.. your my bridesmaid :crying:

It was gorgeous, the people that REALLY wanted to be a part of her life and celebrate things with her were there, a special few who said they couldn't make it but really needed to know were told and they cancelled previous commitments but otherwise it was a total surprise.. good luck with ti all :)

Ok great thanks guys ,yeah that's what iv been trying to think of, as it would be a 1st birthday as well so has to be suitable for both,hhmm, food i am not fusses, would be happy with a BBQ :)

Yeah i guess we would have to tell some ppl as they may not be able to come but if they knew it was for a wedding/birthday they would want to be there..

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Yeah i guess we would have to tell some ppl as they may not be able to come but if they knew it was for a wedding/birthday they would want to be there..

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I think it's good NOT to tell them unless they say we can't make it, then you weigh up whether or not you should tell them.
It's a great idea and sometimes might just proove who's willing to fob you off :rofl:

That is an awesome idea!

2 years ago we were invited to a wedding, the best wedding we have ever been to. They told us two weeks in advance. Got married in a registry office in Brisbane, walked down to thelocal gardens for everyone to take photos (which were later emailed back to the couple, they used them as their wedding photos) and after that we all headed to their favourite restaurant for dinner. Dinner cost them 400 bucks, one set of parents bought a cake for later. That was it. SO MUCH FUN!!!!

Never had more fun than at that wedding. Only a few of their closest friends and parents, 14 of us in total. No fuss. Just love and joy.

What a beautiful idea babe!! xxxx

We had a salvation army minister marry us, he did it by donation. We gave him $300, and the next day he freaked out and drove to see us, gave us back $150. So we later slipped it in the offering :D. He was the most lovely man we have ever met and I am so glad he married us.

FWIW - I wouldn't be telling anyone it is a surprise wedding, just get the celebrant to rock up at the park with a veil and a jacket for you and future DH, have the rings in DH's pocket, and go from there.

:D:D:D

I'm jealous!

ZF that sounds like the Wedding my sister went to :dance:



My sis said it was the BEST wedding she ever went to was a 'surprise Wedding' that took place only a few years ago in a backyard done upreally pretty with tealights, it was a couple that had been engaged for years and they invited all their friends and family to come dress with something starting with 'S ' for her 40th birthday party !

everyone turned up dressed as anything starting with 'S' and were greeted by the partner and not the birthday girl, still no one had any idea and about 30mins later she appeared dressed as a bride which of course totally confused everyone as bride clearly doesn't start with ' S' then a woman appeared (the celebrant) and made an announcement that they were all present at a Wedding of " blah & blah " ... my sister said there were people seriously jumping in the air for joy and some actually crying from excitement :lol:

so there the couple was dressed beautifully and everyone looking hilarious in costumes, and needless to say their best man was dressed as an (Arabian) Shiek :lol:

my sis said it was the most unbelievable feeling ever that made it the most memorable Wedding ever and luckily they had most people come which was a great outcome too :thumbsup:

Our celebrant was $500 8 years ago.

Sounds like a lovely idea, if you need help with a cake more than happy to give you a hand anyway I can!