Church Vs Registry Office Vs Hotel....which is best?

One of the first decisions that a newly engaged couple have to make, is quite possibly the biggest decision...where to hold the wedding ceremony. Gone are the days when people would just marry in their local church, with the ceremony overseen by a vicar/priest whom their family has known for years. Marriage is big business these days, and there are many different options available. Settings to suit every taste and budget, and the decision lies largely on the sort of wedding that is desired. The choice goes way beyond the three settings that i intend to discuss here...with many people opting for beach weddings in the Caribbean, old English castles or even glitzy Vegas affairs. However, the three options that were ever really a reality for us (both in terms of budget and desire) were a church, a registry office or a hotel, and so I can speak from personal experience when discussing these options.


A Church Wedding...
A church ceremony offers the comfort of a traditional wedding, one that is straight forward and simple, with a layout that was designed for exactly this purpose. Churches, are more often than not, beautiful, eccentric buildings...that need little or no decorative attention to make it wedding worthy. They also, of course, offer the religious element to a wedding that no other setting can offer. If you are a religious person, then having a process with as much significance as a wedding, take place in a religious building, overseen by a religious professional, is a top priority. And if i were more of a practicing Christian, then a Church would have been my setting of choice. However, I am not, and therefore choosing a church based on it's 'traditional' feel and beautiful architecture, felt...well a little bit wrong...and very very hypocritical. (To me personally) Furthermore, religious elements aside, I have sat through many a church wedding service in my life, and been absolutely bored out of my brain! They are so long and drawn out...and the last thing I want my guests to be thinking is..."goodness this is taking a long time! In summary...Churches are beautiful, traditional, ready made wedding settings...but it is important to remember that they are not there for aesthetic or ergonomic reasons, and it is perhaps wise to think about putting yourself and your guests through a service which is mainly focussed on the sacred nature of marriage in the eyes of God if you are not a religious person.

Pixcellence

Registry Office...
Registry Offices are perhaps the setting of choice in the 21st century. The ceremony is quick and simple...leaving more time for you to get on with the bit that makes a wedding enjoyable...the reception! They are also very reasonably priced...costing around £40 - £50 to hire for the ceremony, meaning that they are perhaps the best choice for those on a tight budget. There are also no religious connotations, and the service is enitrely secular. However, you do get what you pay for, and registry offices are often plain or ugly buildings set in city or town centres; hardly every little girl's dream. There is no big deal made out of the ceremony, which may suit some people, but for me, surely that is the whole point of this, the most important, and hopefully happiest day of your life...it should be a big deal! I went to a wedding very recenty in a registry office, and when we arrived, the wedding before was still in process...when we were taking photographs after the ceremony the next one had taken place and was wanting use of the gardens for their photography! It was like a factory line, get you in and out as quickly as possible. In summary, registry offices are quick, cheap and fuss free...but don't expect to be made to feel like a princess...you definitely get what you pay for!

npt.gov.uk

The Hotel...

In theory the hotel combines the best of both worlds. It can be a beautiful setting like a Church, and as the entire day is dedicated to your wedding you are still made to feel like the blushing beauty that you are. The ceremony is short and music and readings can be personalised and unique. The fact that the entire day is in one location makes it easier for all involved, and saves the need to splurge on wedding transport. You can also expect to be given the assisstance of a wedding planner. Having said that, this can be a pricey option, costing anything from £200 - £600 to hire the hotel for the ceremony, as well as around £300 to get the registrar to come and perform the service. Furthermore, unlike the church and the registry office, this is less about marriage for legal or religious reasons, and more about the hotel gaining as much profit as possible. In summary a hotel offers a unique and pampered day in beautiful surroundings...but they'll make you pay for the privelage!

Weddings Venice

The fact is, that there is no possible answer to this question. It all depends on the individual, their priorities and what sort of wedding they want/ budget they have. Overall, there are advantages and disadvantages involved in all three options, and various other options available for consideration...it certainly is an enjoyable process in the meantime though!