23 years ago, Paul and I bought a house, we rang all our friends and told them we were of to the register office on December 14th and would they like to come. Day of the 'wedding' my dad drove us to the register office where we made some lovely promises to each other, which made far more sense then the ones I'd made in a church to my first husband, then we all went back to our house, one friend had made my cake, another had iced it and all my friends and I had got together to make a buffet. As peeps arrived we gave them a big glass of mulled wine and the home made beer flowed freely. Paul's brother took all the photo's and those of us who hadn't passed out:lol: by evening went down to our local pub, and the landlord and landlady insisted on cracking a magnum of champagne for us. Total cost £200 for us, getting married was a commitment we wanted to make because we wanted children and marriage was our life long belief that we would raise those children together. I'd had the dress, flowers and car, the wonderful reception and the present list and it lasted 4 of the most miserable years of my life. Paul and I have raised 2 fantastic kids lived in some wonderful country's and have taken some very special photo's to help us hold on to some magical memories. I don't think it would have changed a thing or have made my marriage to a very special man any better if I had spent several thousand pounds of my banks money on one day of my life. I have lots of friends who spent a fortune on that special day as if the amount you spend is what makes it special and I have to say I still think its money better spent on your very own pile of bricks and morter.