The first time I married DH - we married secretly, at short notice, at the registry office. Basically you have to lodge some paperwork about a month beforehand, then you turn up on the day with your 2 witnesses (it can be anyone, they just have to know you and who you are) and it's all over in about 20 mins. That was in the NT but I would imagine it would be similar in most other states. We had 2 friends and the family didn't find out until several days later when we were good and ready to tell people.
ETA - there was some *****ing and a bit of a ruckus when we told them (esp about how young we were), but 18 years on we're still happily married whereas all of our critics have had several divorces amongst them, so I guess the proof is in the pudding. So my advice is take your time and really think about how you're going to break the news OR just don't tell them at all, and let them think your reception/vows etc later on is the real deal.
We had another wedding 2 years later, on exactly the same day, with the dress, the friends & family, the reception etc.
Last edited by AnyDream; September 27th, 2010 at 12:33 PM.
I considered it as I really didn't care about a wedding, DH was happy if I was happy. But in the end I changed my mind and we just got married at a restaurant!
Good luck with your decision!
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