Exactly, I feel a wedding is a private thing between the two people getting married, if they want xyz, they should pay for it.

I think I will go to Oink's cousin's do. Maybe his Nan will be there with a flask of whisky tucked in her purse.

We upset people at our wedding by not inviting anyone. At least it didn't cost them anything. The amounts spent on attending a wedding are awful, this one says the dress code is smart suits or party dress. Well who has those handy? There should be a free bar, I think the grandparents will see to that. No kids allowed is a bit much, I don't have any ankle biters
myself but surely a wedding is about family and all that?

Fortunately the do is back home so I don't have to go.

I'm greatly amused by those couples who have lived together for 5,6,7 years and have 1,2 children. Now it's time for her to don a white dress, he a tux and have a full blown religious wedding.
Absolutely stupid and height of hypocrisy.

And expect gifts too

I don't think that's stupid necessarily. It's the bride and groom's expectations of guests that bothers me. The posh frock, the hotel, the travelling, the expensive gift, or 'just give us money cos we want a fancy honeymoon and don't give a thought to you having to max out your credit card after all you are getting a disco and a portion of chicken a la king'.

hahaha same as us. As you know we ran off to Vegas! It was a quick "come with us or don't" affair probably sent on FB

Yeah, ours was on a beach in Florida, your welcome to join us if you want type thing, no party, no pressies.

Mine was a wedding place in Niagara Falls with our respective children, dinner and a night in the Falls with the kids then 2 days later a kick ass party for all our friends and relatives to celebrate with us, complete with the band that played the night we met.. no gifts allowed and come as you are. Buffet and booze supplied by us, dance floor for partying. Fun time at no cost to anyone but ourselves!

Ours was at Wandsworth Town Hall.

Managed to do our entire wedding for under $15k for 90+ guests. Put a fair whack of the cash up for it myself but we were fortunate to get some help too.

Never understood people who have mega expensive weddings. Those doing them while using someone elses cheque book need a good kick in the mouth.

Ours was at St. Helier registry office, handily situated by an OAP centre so we could rustle up a couple of witnesses. A very pleasant day.

I'm with Bats and feel we should get a BE coach party organised to gate crash Oink's cousins nuptials....sounds like a good do!

Well, to be fair, the Canadian workplace is all about networking; a wedding is an opportunity to advance familiarity with people of influence in one's line of work. That's not going to work well if the wedding doesn't offer the attendees a memorable experience. I can see why the dedicated parent of someone in a industry where visibility is important would put up serious money.

When Souvette and I got married, it was the two of us, the notary and a couple of his secretaries as witnesses.

We got home and then told our mothers what we had done. Went down like a sack of lead shit in a balloon, with some depleted uranium bricks to give it extra ballast.

i got married in Gretna Green

Marriage is like emigration because . . .