Registary / Courthouse Nuptials

[YoYo]

Hi there, haven't read all the posts but let me tell you DH & I got married at the registry office and I was still a blubbering mess! It was still personal and special and just beautiful, even if it was in the CBD in an office building! I don't remember looking outside, only into DH's eyes!

We had a party at our place the next day which was our 'engagement' party....or so people thought (except for those special ones that were at the ceremony.....maybe about 10 people, most family)....and we told everyone at the speeches we'd got married the day before. Some people were shocked, but most happy. Then everyone just stuffed their faces with food and that's that!

It was great! (well good enough for a 36week pregnant lady anyway!)

[Glamourcide]

Hi there, haven't read all the posts but let me tell you DH & I got married at the registry office and I was still a blubbering mess!

Haha my DH and I could barely contain our laughter... it just felt so absurd to be standing in front of just our immediate family and one stranger (the JP) and doing the whole, 'I take you Simon to be my lawfully wedded husband'... hahaha... DH of course managed to slip in our little joke about my name, my birth cert says Donna-Lee but even my parents don't call me that anymore, I've always hated it, but of course the JP didn't know that so when she asked DH to repeat after her, she said my full name, he was like, 'I take you, Donna-LEE...' and it was just about all we could do to not start rolling around on the floor laughing... The JP was giving us that look, like, smiling like she knows there's a joke but she's obviously missed it, it was so funny!!

[Gabrielle]

A - we had the bigger wedding because we could afford it at the time - BUT, due to extended family issues, we spoke to our celebrant about doing a private ceremony in advance. all it was going to cost was her fee (about 300 i think) and the registration of intent to marry (which i think was 50) - all we had to do was show up with two witnesses. maybe that's something to think about. just take two friends, and go and get married! there is no need to do a big wedding at all - it's personal choice

family will whinge - no matter what you do - but the important thing to remember is that this is about YOU - no one elses opinion means anything at all! as long as you are happy (well, you and your hubby to be!).

as to what to wear - if you're not going the big wedding, find something nice that you like - it doesn't have to be "gown"ish - you could go a skirt and top or a simple dress - find something you love hun. don't let the traditional expectations take over!

ultimately, your venue and how you're dressed won't change anything - gazing into your partners eyes and declaring your love and commitment will be what you remember for always. i can't remember much of the whirlwind that was our wedding day - but i can close my eyes and picture DH's face when i said i'd be with him forever, i can remember the tears in his eyes when i declared the same to him - THAT is the stuff your memories will be made of

and if you can do all of that and still have a few bucks left from your budget - throw a bbq, invite everyone to BYO, get people to help with salads etc - and party! but if you can't afford that - simply go out with your DH, and share a special dinner with him...

I would like to know which kind of wine has been afforded on wedding party.I hope you guys enjoyed a lot.Thanks for sharing.

[allycat06]

Getting married was a bit of a last minute decision for us so we slapped together a wedding in about a month we are living proof that weddings do not take years to plan!

We decided on a registry wedding as neither of us is particularly religious so it seemed silly to get married in a church but were too lazy to organise a garden/beach sort of affair...registry appealed to us as they organised the room, flowers, celebrant etc
We are very laid back, low key people, so liked the idea of a small relaxed registry ceremony then a ****tail party at one of our favourite bars afterwards. A starchy do with cars, $100 per head pricetags, white dresses and BIG cakes is certainly not us.

I never really liked the idea of a registry wedding before i started planning our wedding because i was thought the venue would be like a office, all the couples sitting in a waiting room, waiting for their number to be called like when you go to vic roads or something haha but the one in Melbourne is in the old treasury building which is really quite nice. All dark wood and leather.

So to answer your questions...
It cost $250 all up, but we splashed out a bit for the reception that cost about $3500. I wore my mum's wedding sari (i'm half Indian) which was really lovely. I still think it was just as special as any other wedding, we invited family and close friends only. It was very "us" which was very important to me..I didn't want one of those cookie cutter weddings at the chapel/reception centre with mediocre food and so so decor. Our families were fine with it and so many of our friends have commented on how much they enjoyed our wedding. At the end of the day you just have to do what you and your partner want, because it's YOUR special day. Nobody else is going to remember it for the rest of their lives, they're just coming to eat some food and for the free booze hahaha