Making a (very) low-key wedding special

[JammyTodger]

It will just be us, DS and both sets of parents. Been together 12 years and are only really getting the piece of paper because our accountant has advised us to, so we don't really want a big romantic occasion. However, we are committed to each other for life, still in love and best friends, so it would be nice to add a few special touches to the day.

Not being the "marrying type" I have never given any thought to dresses, flowers, receptions, etc so I am totally without a clue. Neither of us enjoy being the centre of attention and I don't want to spend the day cringing, but I want it to be "special". Originally we were going to do it all on our own and not tell anyone, but realised DH's mum would never forgive us! Any ideas? It's only 4 weeks away now and I'm starting to worry that it will be nothing more than a trip to a council office and then back to work an hour later. Any ideas for special touches?

[twoweeks]

We did this. Our parents and siblings (one each) attended at our local registry office. We had already been together for years and had a child.

We booked the registry office, but I had my hair and make up done professionally. I had no wish to be 'the blushing bride', but I was realistically never going to get the chance to have someone do my hair and make up beautifully again, and it made me feel glamourous. Also got a really lovely bouquet, and did the 'something borrowed, something blue' thing. It felt nice to do some of the little wedding traditions, even though it was a very untraditional wedding.

On the morning of the wedding, my mum came over and made us a champagne/smoked salmon breakfast. Then Dh got dressed downstairs and I got ready upstairs with my sister, and DH wasnt allowed to see me. We got separate cabs to the reg office. It was silly, but romantic. His face was very sweet when he saw me all trussed up in a nice dress with my flowers. Our siblings brought confetti .

We had a lovely family meal afterwards in a very posh restaurant, and then our family left (with our DS) and just DH and I went to a pub across the road and shared a bottle of champagne. That was my best bit - just getting sozzled on bubbly on our iwn.

We got a taxi to the airport and went on honeymoon after that .

[JammyTodger]

Ah, thanks for sharing your wedding story twoweeks. It sounds like a perfect day. I won't be getting sloshed though as I'll hopefully be 16 weeks pregnant. I'll definitely look into booking somewhere nice for a meal after. I'd also really like to buy DP something special to mark the occasion, but he's not a jewellery person and I'm at a bit of a loss for that too.

[canyou]

A nice meal somewhere ye would normally never go, A nice dress etc and maybe book a photo session and have a nice family pic taken.
Could you get a St Christopher medal put on a key ring as a symbol of travelling through life together?

[TwoNoisyBoys]

Twoweeks, if I ever do it again, that's what I'd want to do :) that sounds just perfect!

[SoSoHappy2]

We're heading to Las Vegas just after Christmas and getting married in a helicopter on New Year's Eve just the two of us.

We're going for a special meal afterwards just the two of us and hopefully share a bottle of champagne. I'm having my hair and make up done professionally and we're being picked up in a limo.

I also want to get my h2b a gift on the day but he doesn't wear jewellery and we've already buying ourselves new watches out there. After wracking my brains for ages I've decided to buy him a new hip flask. I've seen a really nice one that comes with a small bottle of whisky and a buttonhole sprig on Heather

[Squtternutbaush]

We're in the same situation as you, been together 13.5 years and have 2 kids and like you we're not into the whole wedding thing but felt as though we should for legalities sake (I know that sounds cold but we're committed and in love without a piece of paper).

We're having 11 guests at the registry office including our children, my 3 sibling, my mum and maternal grandparents plus my partners mum and dad so relatively quiet service before heading off to a nice restraunt by the seaside then back to my mums for drinks and cake.

I have a non-traditional dress (£28 and I love it :o), getting my hair done, he has a nice suit and a friend is making us a funky cake.

Nothing particularly special but suits us, will be on the look out for tips to pinch though :o

[sally1978]

good on you girls x