~Off Topic Thread~

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

g'morning everyone, it's friday

[*julez* 124]

Ohh Julez!!! You'll be together now!!!! YIPPEE!!!! Don't forget to put your certificate request in

Yep! He made it! Its so surreal to know that this isn't just a visit! After all the waiting its finally real and it is just so wonderful!!! I'm so happy!

Now where's this certificate of which you speak, Aly???

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Haha - had to get the weather comment in!!

YES!!! THIS MONTH OMFG!!!!!! I am kinda freaking a bit but more about immigration than the actual wedding

I hear you! I'm sure you'll sail through immigration with no problem, though!

In terms of numbers - I invited all my "immediate" family - aunts/uncles, cousins, grandparents, siblings and my two best friends I have known since I was 4/7. One of them isn't coming - big long story you mighg find somewhere in the depths of the July thread!! I am a bit annoyed with her because I think she was just making excuses but oh well. She was going to be my maid of honour. Now I have my other friend (who flies out tomorrow!!) as my maid of honour and Jeremy's sister as my bridesmaid.

My family that are going: Me (duh!), mum, dad and respective partners, two brothers and one of their gfs, mum's parents then obviously my friend and her bf.

Jeremy's family: Him (I hope!), mum, brother, sister, aunt (like I said - they were lame )

We are also having our wedding planner, Heather go as she left the company and we kinda were expecting more people!!!

Sucks when friends can't make it! And that's a nice number; cosy and very family orientated.

As for your wedding - you can do whatever you want - it is your day! We are writing our own vows - it might be nice for you and your OH to write your own together to repeat after the minister so there is no pressure. You could even write your own ceremony wording - I have bunches of examples (don't think I deleted them) that I got from my wedding planner and we just adapted our own - our whole ceremony is going to last about 20 minutes

Ooh, now that's an idea...if you could pull up an example or two that'd be fantastic! But don't worry if you can't find them; just if they're easily available.

Yes - my dad would probably be hurt if I did away with the speeches altogether but I'm sure he could keep it short and sweet if I asked very nicely.

As for tradition - our wedding is just unique - it is traditional in a sense but we are adapting a lot of things to fit in with what we want which is what it is all about - it has been wonderful having a wedding planner because they helped out so much - it left us with very easy choices to make and now even our timeline for the day has been organised by them - all I am worried about is remembering my vows (I am printing them!) and reding them - that is it - I don't have to worry about when I am doing what or where I am going - it is all on a spreadsheet for me!! Yippee!!!

I can really really recommend a wedding planner - you can explain your situation to them and they might have a load of really good decisions Then when you give them the date of your weddnig they will make sure everything is in place in time - they can help you address your traditions/cake ideas etc - even if you want to make yoru own they might be able to help you with ideas or point you in the direction of pictures I never thought I would have a wedding planner but I am SO glad I have got one now - I wouldn't be without her! AND when we have our legal wedding in the summer we are having her do that one as well - they are THAT good!!

I love spreadsheets! I love being organised in general really, and making lists. I had fun putting our 129F petition together.

We've already had the offer of a amateur wedding planner's help which I'll probably take up as that would be very useful, especially as I can't be in the US to organise anything anyway (plus I really hate using the phone!) She's one of Alex's mother's friends so she and her family would probably be invited to the wedding too.

it is coming down freezing rain here...and i was planning on taking my I-129F to the post office first thing this morning i hear some sleet tapping on the windows now too...booooo weather! wondering if i should strap on my ice skates and triple axel over to my destiny... what would you do?

I'd put on lots of layers and a warm hat and ruuuuuun to the post office (and probably trip and fall on the way, so perhaps best not to follow my suggestion).

Yep! He made it! Its so surreal to know that this isn't just a visit! After all the waiting its finally real and it is just so wonderful!!! I'm so happy!

Now where's this certificate of which you speak, Aly???

Yay! Wow, it must seem unbelievable. I can't wait until it's my turn!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

YAY YAY YAY for Julez and Griff!

So happy for you Julez -- you finally got your man over here. A very, very happy Friday indeed!

[*julez* 124]

YAY YAY YAY for Julez and Griff!

So happy for you Julez -- you finally got your man over here. A very, very happy Friday indeed!

Thanks maven! It is just so wonderful!! Now, if only I didn't have to be here at work today. Oh well, at least I have something to look forward to in going home today!

[*julez* 124]

Yep! He made it! Its so surreal to know that this isn't just a visit! After all the waiting its finally real and it is just so wonderful!!! I'm so happy!

Now where's this certificate of which you speak, Aly???

Yay! Wow, it must seem unbelievable. I can't wait until it's my turn!

It really does feel so surreal! Its so worth the wait! In fact, it hardly even seems like we were apart. I do hope you have a speedy journey!

[snowfrostedlashes 0]

YAY YAY YAY for Julez and Griff!

So happy for you Julez -- you finally got your man over here. A very, very happy Friday indeed!

Seconded! - it's weird how happy you feel about good news even when you barely know someone just because you completely empathise with what they've gone through, I guess that's what makes this place special.. oh god, next I'll be suggesting a group hug or something *laughing happily*

Hope all goes well for you in the future!

The weather is weird today - first rain, then hail (more promising), and then bright sunshine; not really sure what to make of it.

On the wedding side of things (any excuse to talk about weddings!!!) I'm pretty much not expecting any of my family to fly out there (doesn't seem worth the expense for a half-hour ceremony really, and this is my second wedding too). So we're having Mark's family and only 4 of our friends, which still amounts to about 25 people. I'm not having bridesmaids, but two of the 4 friends are part of the wedding - one is giving me away and the other is the best man - and their womenfolk who are also our friends will be there if I need moral support. I am going to make one of those photo books of the wedding pictures to send to my Mum though, so she can show it off to people and also get a couple of nice prints done of whichever photo makes the two of us look the least gonky.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Seconded! - it's weird how happy you feel about good news even when you barely know someone just because you completely empathise with what they've gone through, I guess that's what makes this place special.. oh god, next I'll be suggesting a group hug or something *laughing happily*

I know! All the congrats we got when we were approved meant so much to me, and even to the Boy, who calls VJ my "obsession site". And when he got his PhD last week (my god, was it only last Friday?) and everyone sent out their congrats it melted even his stony Yorkshire facade. Hee hee, always makes me laugh when I tell him the VJ posse is rooting for him or me and he smiles...

In other news, I feel like Champion Lardazz this morning -- my breakfast has consisted of one Jammie Dodger, one gigantic blueberry muffin, and a banana muffin that was forced -- FORCED, I tell you! -- upon me by a colleague who made a pan of them last night. I feel beyond pork-style.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Mmm, muffins! Blueberry muffins are the best!

I'm doing better at being healthy recently. Getting my 5-a-day with a little red meat and no dairy (but plenty of calcium in soya).

Hannah - I didn't/don't think it's worth the expense either, but my mother pointed out that the people who do attend will probably make a real holiday of it, and since Alex will be working I'll probably spend a week beforehand with them visiting places and showing them the general area.

julez - thanks! I hope everyone else here does, too!

Still mulling over weddings...now I'm thinking it might be sweet to have my littlest sister as a honorary bridesmaid; she wouldn't really have to do anything but it'd be an excuse for her to dress up and spend some time with me!

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Yep! He made it! Its so surreal to know that this isn't just a visit! After all the waiting its finally real and it is just so wonderful!!! I'm so happy!

Big Congrats to you. I'm so happy for anyone that makes it out the other side of this immigration lark.

Maybe if my boy and I were separated I'd be more inclined to wrestle with these RFE's ....

Hope you guys are enjoying your reunion

[weedebz 0]

Urrg hellish day at work...standing outside for 45 mins in rain wind and fecking freezing temps without a jacket as the 6th floor of our 9 floor building had a wee fire! (well a server overheated and started belching smoke everywhere) 4mins....arrg! This was almost 6 hrs ago, I'm now home but still can't feel warm.

Julez I'm so jealous. I can't wait to be with Nick everyone better keep everything crossed for me on tuesday!

Cupcake wedding cake!....my friend had one..it was amazing. 3 plates with pillars inbetween staked with cupcakes. Saved cutting the cake! Looked amazing and everyone got their own wee cake.

Edited February 1, 2008 by weedebz

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Maybe if my boy and I were separated I'd be more inclined to wrestle with these RFE's ....

Poiteen -- what's holding you up on the affidavits? I got those bad boys drawn up and turned around in one day (not that I'm bragging... ).

[Jeraly 4]

Ohh Julez!!! You'll be together now!!!! YIPPEE!!!! Don't forget to put your certificate request in

Yep! He made it! Its so surreal to know that this isn't just a visit! After all the waiting its finally real and it is just so wonderful!!! I'm so happy!

Now where's this certificate of which you speak, Aly???

Hahaha - I will get it done later - I promise!! Have to go shopping with mum first, pick up a bottle of wine Will present to you in the July veterans thread when it is done - I just need a request on colour scheme, pictures used, theme etc - I'll do my best to accommodate!!

Oooooh - wedding stuff

Ok - I have things from my wedding planner that might help a bunch of people... I have a breakdown of costs spreadsheet, ceremony wording... I am sure there is other stuff in my wedding folder... I wonder if there would be a good place to post it... Maybe I should start a new topic in the "moving here" thread... what do people reckon?

[j4k 0]

I just braved the elements...and made the trek in ankle deep slush/ice/water to the post office...our I-129F is on its way to Vermont! WOOT! We're on our way!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I just braved the elements...and made the trek in ankle deep slush/ice/water to the post office...our I-129F is on its way to Vermont! WOOT! We're on our way!

Well done!