Helppppp please...

Hey

I think your over thinking things IMO.

How does having the function room suddenly make you need chair covers etc? I personally would not see the difference as a guest sitting in a function room or at the bar in my head i would be thinking this is the wedding breakfast as the term relates to your first meal as a Married couple in whatever form that meal is.

Hi what time of year are you getting married? maybe somewhere that will do a BBQ, so its feels informal and you dont have to have place settings etc? Kind of like a big picnic really. ?

I agree with Funky. You don't have to have anything formal at all. You don't even have to have a top table if you don't want to - you could have an E shaped arrangement so people can choose their own seat. Some pubs don't have a hire charge, they just ask for minimum spend which sometimes sound sky high but then when you take into account a three course meal per person plus drink, it soon adds up.

How about a buffet? or maybe something like a hogroast. A little less informal than a sit down meal..

Mayb create a barn dance? as thats just fun... in my opinion lol with hay bails and a hog roast or bbq? or just have an afternoon tea which scones and tea cakes?

Which Register Office is it?

I love the bbq idea you could even have it at your house or parents house. but depends what time of the year it is

What about using a pub garden and having your BBQ out there, or if possible and you have a nice river, park or woodland site, you could have a huge family picnic. Do you have nice castle grounds near you, or a chapel ruin pr something similar. You could lay on picnic tables or blankets and have hampers with food and champagne in them. Does depend on the weather though, but you play a game of rounders or cricket whilst you're there.

I think the big picnic idea or a bbq is a good one for a more, informal approach. Just because you don't think a 'traditional' wedding breakfast with formal dining, chair covers etc suits your style, doesn't mean you have to abandon the idea of having some sort of reception altogether. You just need to come up with something that reflects your styles....

We are having afternoon tea after the ceremony with our wedding cake as the cake then the sit down wedding breakfast in the evening.

Afternoon tea would be nice and informal

Yep just need a bigger think! It's a November wedding, and i'm a vegetarian.... :/

Broxbourne Regsitry Office xx

November kind of rules out a BBQ then!

Being veggie isn't a problem, you can do veggie sarnies!

I'm from Ware originally!

Do you eat fish? What about fish & chips?

Jacket potatoes with a selection of toppings like chilli (easy to do a veggie version)

With something like that it wouldn't be formal in the pub's function room, all help yourself, an ipod with some music on so you can a boogie if you want.

Depending on the function room in the pub could you do some giant garden games to keep people entertained?

You sound quite similar to my friends, who got married a few years ago now (sadly before I knew them).

They had a civil partnership ceremony in a lovely registry office for about 25 guests then went for a meal in a veggie restaurant in Brum. My friends know the owner so I think they took over the whole place. Then by about 7, whoever wanted to just went out to a lesbian bar in town for 2for1 cocktails and karaoke!

I think this sounds brilliant and totally suits who they are as people- unfussy and laid back! Lots of people told them it was the best wedding they'd ever been to.

This is in Birmingham, but I wonder if there is a local veggie or bohemian cafe near you that will help. We have a few round here. Oh and even the meat eaters thought the food was amazing!

?

Are you marrying on a Saturday, Sunday or midweek? (I have an idea dependent on which day it is.....)?

Peter

Ooooo well if your November then maybe make it into a bonfire type party? Hotpot, chilli (vegi), parkin and toffee apples for favours!!

A Friday, Peter!

@Rubyfirecracker- that sounds perfect and just what we're after. We're going to one of the local big pubs near the registry office tomorrow for lunch with the MIL so we can show her the registry office and will have a mooch around and see if we can find a local place big enough to feed 40 of us!

A little bit up the A10 from your wedding venue is Three Lakes. Here they have a range of options that are of the less formal type. Very laid back venue that arranges things bespoke to you...cream teas, bbqs(inc veg) etc.

If you haven't been there, its worth a looksee, even if you only go in for a coffee....(Have a chat with Maxine)

Peter

(About to email you now about your costs!!)

P/s Peter- I just emailed you but forgot to say we'd like an engagement shoot too if poss, please factor that into costs- we think it's a good idea to see how good the venue will look in photos etc and to help us more comfortable with you xx

Thx....You have mail?

I think jacket potatoes is a great idea, very autumnal! (and everybody likes them) why not try and find a cricket club or something and you could have a bonfire/fireworks and turn it into a bonfire themed evening? You could have sparklers as favours!