General Chat

I got married at the Christian Spiritualist Church. We paid £113.00. That included the cost of the wedding licence, and included £10.00 for a baptism service for our son which was done at the same time. I am not sure then exactly how much the wedding cost but it was less than £100.00 all in including minister's fees, organist, flowers in the church, services of other church people such as cleaners, chap to hand out hymn books etc.

This was September 2000.

Dianne xx

Thankyou everyone for your tips and advice.

Our local Cancer shop held a Wedding Dress show with people modelling the dresses and there were some really beautiful ones there, designer ones too, some unworn for various reasons, so might be worth you looking around, if you didn't tell anyone who would know?
Can I also advise you to look at insurance first of all, so that if there are problems like the venue flooding or catching fire (has been known) or other catastrophes, you are covered and don't end up out of pocket.
Enjoy the planning - hope you have the day you dream of.
Lizx

Church costs will depend on the church.

If it is a Cof E church there is a minimum charge they have to charge you (they have to pay a set fee to the Diocese) however the local Church can charge more on top of this as they see fit (to cover electricity, vicar expenses, a premium for a pretty church etc).

In January 2006 the minimum charge was £218.00 for the service and additional charges for the banns of marriage £18.00.

Local churches will also charge for extras i.e. bell ringers, organist, vergers, flowers at the church etc. At our church fees are £150 for bell ringers, £20 for the verger and £100-£150 for the organist or full worship band.

Cof E churches will require you to be on the electoral roll of the church and will ask you to attend for a minimum period of time before the wedding. You may also be invited to marriage preparation classes.

Make sure you meet the know and meet the requirements of the Church as a failure to meet the requirements may need you to get a special dispensation from the Bishop to get married in your chosen Church.

Karen

I will keep an eye out Sarah thankyou

congrats.

And agree M it's surprising what you can find in charity shops if you look. A friend got married last summer and got the little toddlers bridesmaid dress from charity shop and it was gorgeous white (looked like the mini version of wedding dress) with the odd tiny little red rose bud sown on. Mother of the bride also had her 2 different outfits from charity shops and they were so good you wouldn't have known unless she told you where they were from.

Thankyou all for your help.

Carol about to look on that site now thanks.

Merlin, I know what you're saying but I want to go out and pick my own with my friends and family.

Before you splash out on a very expensive Wedding Dress,Check out your Local Charity shops.Lots of them sell them ( Worn Once Only ) at very cheap prices.( Saving you a Bomb )with money to spend on other things. Be Happy.**M**.xx.

Please see these dresses:

http://www.maggiesottero.com/collection.aspx

Belvoir Castle
Grantham
Leicestershire
NG32 1PE
01476 871001

Leesthorpe Hall
Leesthorpe
Melton Mowbray
Leicestershire
LE14 2XD
01664 567771

Barceló Hinckley Island Hotel
A5 Watling Street
Hinckley
LE10 3JA
01455 898 550

Prestwold Hall
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE12 5SQ
01509 880236

Quenby Hall
Hungarton Lane
Hungarton
Leicester, Leicestershire
LE7 9JF
0116 259 5224

Ramada Leicester - A Ramada Jarvis Hotel
Granby Street
Leicester
LE1 6ES
0844 815 9012

Hambleton Hall
Hambleton
Oakham
Rutland
LE15 8TH
01572 756991

Off to some teaching now (better do some work today). Will catch up with this thread later. Thanks again to everyone who has given me advice. x x x

Dianne,

I have had a look at some of the department store websites at their wedding sections some of the dresses are nice but not what I want, think I will get the bridemaids dresses from somewhere like that, but I want the big fairy tale dress (what girl wouldn't?)

Ann,

I def want to get married in a church I want it as traditional as possible but thanks anyway

Hi Carol, I'm in leicestershire thankyou

What part of the country are you! I might be able to give you a guide to venues.

See this brilliant site, information on everything weddings.

www.confetti.co.uk

If you are not a church goer and would feel hypocritical using the church why not look at hotels that do weddings in your area. we went to a hotel wedding and the room was set out just like a chapel, there was a centre aisle, and the bride had a traditional white wedding.with 2 hymns and a reading and a minister to conduct the service.

Ann
Glos

Wedding dresses from a traditional wedding outfitters can cost thousands.

In a couple of months time all the prom dresses will be in the shops. Beautiful ball gowns. They do all pastel colours, whites, creams, dark colours such as red or bottle green navy or black. You might get something in the region of £100 to £200 as opposed to £1000 to £2000 in a wedding shop.

Debenhams and TK Max are worth trying. Also BHS do wedding clothes.

Do you know - I wish I had known all this when I got married. lol

Dianne xx

Thankyou Hazel

And Thankyou everybody for your kind words

More ideas and advice welcome please

Congratulations /V!l<k!,
What ever you decide to do
i hope you will have a wonderful day
Hazelx