Nevermind you answered my question as I was typing it.

Frosty wrote:

Nevermind you answered my question as I was typing it.

Yeah, I apologise though, I couldn't resist the obvious/terrible joke in front of me.

I've finished editing my epic post now.
It's safe to say that we had an amazing day but I don't think we could have put on that wedding for much less, as we were pretty efficient and organised about the whole process.
Anyhow, hope that's helpful, reg, but feel free to fire any questions at me if you think I can be of further assistance.

Here's what's in the hotel deal for £4995

[ul][li]Red carpet arrival[/li][li]A dedicated and experienced Wedding Planner who will discuss and help with your wedding day decisions[/li][li]The services of a Wedding Host to guide you through your special day[/li][li]Champagne for Bride & Groom on arrival[/li][li]Sparkling wine reception for your guests[/li][li]A selection of canapés for during your drinks reception *[/li][li]Three course Wedding Breakfast with tea and coffee[/li][li]Half bottle of house wine with Wedding Breakfast (per guest)[/li][li]Sparkling wine for toast[/li][li]A choice of evening buffet menus[/li][li]Use of our wedding cake base and cake knife[/li][li]Top table floral arrangement[/li][li]Personalised place cards, menus and table plans[/li][li]Fully dressed tables (white cloths, napkins and candle centrepieces)[/li][li]Complimentary overnight accommodation in a deluxe room on your wedding night[/li][li]Special accommodation rates for your guests to enjoy[/li][li]Piper[/li][li]Disco and DJ for evening reception[/li][li]A complimentary taster meal for two before the wedding, to ensure your menu is perfect[/li][li]Six month pre-wedding Yu Spa Membership for two[/li][li]A complimentary overnight stay for two, with breakfast, on your first anniversary (subject to availability)[/li][/ul]

Click on the 'remove formatting' button (A with minus sign).

Oh, well you've just experienced the limits of my expertise on that subject then.

regmcfly wrote:

Here's what's in the hotel deal for £4995

That sounds pretty good to be honest, so long as you're going with the venue because you like it, and not just for the deal.  (Stating the obvious I know, but I've seen it happen.)

My wedding was great, but the lead up was a bit of a fiasco, thanks to my mother in law sending all of the invites to her mates, rather than anyone we knew or wanted.  (We had 80 of her friends, and 50 of our friends and family).  The upshot of this was her dad felt so bad he bankrolled the whole thing, and gave us carte blanche on whatever we wanted.  So we had an amazing wedding, which just happened to have 80 complete strangers hanging around in the background.  (The caterers had provided booze for 130, but most of the Mystery 80 were Muslim, meaning there was something of an excess, so those friends we were able to invite got very, very drunk indeed.)

I'ver had friends get married on varying budgets from the extremely rich to the not at all.  One of my favourites was one of the latter.  They had the wedding itself in the registry office, but for the reception they were able to hire out a Youth Hostel off season for very little.    All guests were asked to bring food and entertainment.  The reception lasted 3 days and was absolutely amazing.

But yeah, if that's your budget, and the place is nice, sounds good to me.  To be honest, it all becomes fairly irrelevant on the day so long as you both turn up.  The hard bit is not getting caught up in all the ridiculous politics before hand...

Yeah I'm not having a stag or anything anywhere near my wedding.

Do speeches before the food, is advice I've heard. Those speaking can often be ver nervous and therefore won't touch the food.

We did them throughout the dinner. Slight Russian touch where guests do mini inpromptu speeches throughout. A bit pass the mic.

It's not just a stag do near the wedding, I found I sat down after dinner for a quiet drink with a good mate who was staying in the same hotel, and by the time I'd blinked it was 1am. Lots of other friends kept pitching up and saying hello and good luck, and then there'd be another quick drink, etc. 

With nerves etc, it wasn't the best night's sleep. Also, on the night, don't bank on much time to sit and have a beer with a friend or anything, you'll be constantly dragged away as host to meet and greet all sorts of people. I can't remember what time it was by the time I finally finished a drink. 

One of my biggest wedding regrets is that some of the lovely people I've met through here weren't at it.

Comparatively, yes.  Unless you plan to do registry office then pub, you'll most likely spend several thousand.
The biggest expense is catering for the guests.

You'll be fine - you earn a decent wage.  It's not like you have to write a cheque tomorrow for £10k.  You can spread the cost over the entire time that you're planning the wedding.

igorgetmeabrain wrote:

You'll be fine - you earn a decent wage.  It's not like you have to write a cheque tomorrow for £10k.  You can spread the cost over the entire time that you're planning the wedding.

We have found that once the deposits for things have been paid it is then just a case of saving up for the rest. As you have given yourself so much time, it shouldn't be a problem!

On the other hand, I have absolutely no regrets about the cost of ours because it was fairly spectacular, and very much the best day of our lives.