Vocal Voices

to save taking over the morning thread and for Ria

When we decided to get married, we couldn't get married in a "normal" church as we were both divorced. So a friend, who was a lay preacher at a Unitarian church in Frenchay, just down the road, volunteered himself and the church for a small donation. It's a teeny place, basic, but very lovely. So we arranged for the registrar to come along, as, being a lay preacher, Peter couldn't do the official bits.

invitations sent out - cue my divorced mother saying that "if that woman is there (meaning my step-mother" then I'm not going, nor is your grandmother And my father saying "if that woman is going" (meaning my mother then I'm not going.

We decided to say "well, don't bother, either of you" - when the registrars went on strike

So my lovely mother in law to be suggested that we move the ceremony from Saturday 26 to Friday 25. The official bit could then take place in the registry office along with my father and step-mother and the following day, we had a church blessing, with all the family, friends and that's what we did

Two dresses, two parties, lovely

Ours was a less than traditional affair too Ton.

Wouldn't change a thing, I bet you wouldn't either.

mine was very confusing to say the least
Bill was in the raf when we decided to get married
And due for an overseas posting
My parents thought he was to old for me
9years and welsh
So we went ahead and booked a regestrary office affair
Told everyone when it was Easter Saturday
Got or full tax allowance

Paid for everything ourselves my dad refused to go he went to there caravan in Mablethorpe
We got a flat it was in the attic of an old house
And life went on my dad took months to come round tho

We had a very unusual wedding. When we arrived at the Registry Office, which is on the top floor of the
building, and approach via the multi-story car park,we found it all locked and barred, so we hammered on
the door. Eventually it was opened a crack, and we were told that they had to close down because a man
down below, in the Housing Dept Office, had drenched himself with petrol and was threatening to strike
a match unless they gave him a council house.
We protested strongly that our witnesses had travelled miles to attend, and they eventually agreed to let us
in and marry us, entirely at our own risk. So we were hastily married in record time, and as soon as we had
both said, 'I do' in quick time, we were ejected forthwith. We never heard whether the man below got his
council house. Certainly a day to remember (with no regrets).

We got married in church. We were living in London at the time but I came home for about four weeks beforehand. Mr Osc arrived two days before the wedding with severe toothache (and a terrible haircut). He went to the dentist the day before the wedding but she chose the wrong tooth so he had to go to a dentist the first morning of our honeymoon. He and his brother spent most of the night before drinking with the priest who was marrying us, who was so hungover at the ceremony that he could barely lift the rings off the dish to give to us Also, we were out of the church in 25 minutes, I'm not sure we were properly married at all!

none of us had weddings like today did we
Now they are years in the planning
And I'm pleased to see we have all been married many years
Aggers hope the fella got a council house

I think these modern weddings are too much about the day, not enough about the commitment and the years ahead. We were at my cousin's son's wedding some years ago. It was held in Belvoir Castle, very posh indeed, cost the earth. I have to say we had a brilliant time, but privately some of us were almost taking bets on how long it would last. It lasted longer than we all thought, but they are now divorced, they got married in 2009.

My friends daughter is getting married in September
And her mum's spare room is stuffed full of stuff for this wedding
It's£100 per couple for the day reception
And a separate evening do is it still 7/6 d for a wedding liscense I wonder

Some great wedding stories here. Thanks to you all.

Mick and I only just made it to our our own wedding! We left home rather later than we should have, waiting for my mum, dad, sister and her family to arrive from Luton. They were late, and when we finally set off for the town centre Registry Office we realised the roads would be heaving with Christmas shopping traffic (this was the last weekend of November) Then we couldn't get a parking space near the RO so had to park at the other end of town. With only a few minutes to go, Mick and myself could be seen sprinting through the heaving shopping centre, me in a full-length beaded cocktail-style frock and 4" strappy heels, Mick with a 4 year old Harry under his arm like a rugby ball, and 9 yr old Becky running along behind as best she could! We ran up the (two flights!!) of stairs at the RO, and found our guests pleading with the registrarl to give us another couple of minutes as we were about to miss our slot! My heart was pounding throughout the ceremony, more from exertion than nerves or emotion

Oh and two minutes after we got there, so did my family! They'd got caught in traffic on the motorway.................