January Filers at the CSC - How are you doing?

[Alexandra_v 0]

This past Friday, I received a Notice of Action 2 that my Petition was APPROVED and will be sent to the National Visa Center in New Hampsire where it will be forwarded in 2 to 4 weeks to Bogota, Colombia. So, by the end of June, this paperwork will arrive in Bogota, and approximately 70 days later, I'll hear something from the consulate there. THEY DIDN'T FORGET US!!!

Congratulations

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Oh that's true! I forgot that most wedding have so many guests... since here we are all talking about how small the wedding will be, I forgot that usually people invite that many people

[KimandRuss 0]

this one place we looked into in Maine required...

a $3,000 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking

minimum food & beverage purchase for a reception in 2008 is $15,000 (not including tax and gratuity)

Room rental fee of $2,500

Ceremony fee of $1,000

and all this with min/max guest requirements

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Now I wonder how we can manage to do a small inexpensive wedding :S

[dbears 1]

Personally, I think the huge mega weddings that cost $30- $45k are kinda rediculous and not about the importance of making a committment to one another - at that level it's more about keeping up with the Jones' rather than making a committment before God and family. Just me though.

I think in the end what's most important is that you do what the two of you want. Whether it's a few words in front of a stranger in the courthouse in your jeans or a ceremony in full dress with hundreds of people there suporting you. What's most important is what that day symbolizes for the two of you.

How your love grows after that day has nothing to do with the way you did it or how much money you spent.

AMEN & AMEN!

Actually, I was wondering how people can spend that much on a wedding. I mean, unless there are some plane tickets involved, or the location is in a very highly expensive castle (or something on these lines), what can make the budget so high?

I guess the big chunk of the budget goes to the wedding gown worth $$$$ then to reception and food including cake, then photographer/videographer, etc.... here's an article on wedding budget percentages: http://www.onewed.com/articles/43/wedding-...et-percentages/

But if one will do most of the wedding stuff I think you could really cut expenses.

Now I wonder how we can manage to do a small inexpensive wedding :S

Others before us have done it, I know we can also do it.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

this one place we looked into in Maine required...

a $3,000 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking

minimum food & beverage purchase for a reception in 2008 is $15,000 (not including tax and gratuity)

Room rental fee of $2,500

Ceremony fee of $1,000

and all this with min/max guest requirements

Unbelievable! Yet many people will pay those prices without thinking twice about it.

I've been to three weddings. I was a bridesmaid for one - my aunt and uncle's. They are both highly-paid professionals and married late in life so they went all out. Everything for me was paid for - tailored dress, shoes, jewellery; I was too young to be made up but my aunt did have a hairdresser and a make-up artists for all of the bridal party. Cars were hired, the venue was a large city cathedral, and I cannot remember much about the reception except that there was plenty of food and that it was a full sit-down dinner. I imagine that did cost quite a bit, but it had all the trimmings and was very well done.

I guess the big chunk of the budget goes to the wedding gown worth $$$$ then to reception and food including cake, then photographer/videographer, etc.... here's an article on wedding budget percentages: http://www.onewed.com/articles/43/wedding-...et-percentages/

But if one will do most of the wedding stuff I think you could really cut expenses.

Actually from what I've read, at least in the UK, the average price of a wedding dress is really quite modest compared to the other expenses - just £950 (only $1,900!).

[dbears 1]

Actually from what I've read, at least in the UK, the average price of a wedding dress is really quite modest compared to the other expenses - just £950 (only $1,900!).

$1,900!!! GOLLY! I can't spend that much for a dress that I will only use once... not even for a dress I will use 100times over and over again... That will be our total wedding budget already!

ummm, I will try to find a wedding dress for less than $100. Ricky don't believe I could find a good one but I know I will and it will be a good fit and a red carpet worthy design.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Ah, oh hell - after I've paid for the police certificate and vaccinations that's all my money gone for this month! After that I'll be dipping into my overdraft again. I thought I had a little more...I'm not even counting my phone bill.

Have to love this process! The cost of the vaccinations would've at least covered all of my food bills for the rest of this month.

[WaitForever 0]

Actually from what I've read, at least in the UK, the average price of a wedding dress is really quite modest compared to the other expenses - just £950 (only $1,900!).

$1,900!!! GOLLY! I can't spend that much for a dress that I will only use once... not even for a dress I will use 100times over and over again... That will be our total wedding budget already!

ummm, I will try to find a wedding dress for less than $100. Ricky don't believe I could find a good one but I know I will and it will be a good fit and a red carpet worthy design.

Wow. We were just going to do this. Only $700. Of course thats without the pink Cadillac.

Edited June 11, 2008 by WaitForever

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

ummm, I will try to find a wedding dress for less than $100. Ricky don't believe I could find a good one but I know I will and it will be a good fit and a red carpet worthy design.

I guess that's the good part about Hawaii...nothing is really formal hehe (no wonder when they got 85f-90f as average temps lol)... the dress we're looking at is $29.99 (40% clearance, usually its 49.99): http://www.hilohattie.com/acb/stores/3/CLE...-P6088C144.aspx

And for me it will be this shirt: http://www.hilohattie.com/acb/stores/3/CLE...-P6032C144.aspx which is $26.99 (also 40% clearance lol.. also the size mentioned above is a bit big for me lol.. I'm not small or tiny but 4x or 5x? geez lol).

Dunno what kind of pants I'll be wearing.. if I'm wearing shorts (well it IS Hawaii ) or just reg shorts.. doesn't matter really either as I got all kinds of clothes for that, I could wear a formal suit if needed but nah, thats not much fun when you want to do it Hawaiian style

Have to love this process! The cost of the vaccinations would've at least covered all of my food bills for the rest of this month.

Must be a good feeling that, even if you starve to death, you wont be able to get sick

Edited June 11, 2008 by JeroenAndMichelle

[Levi_Heather 0]

Actually from what I've read, at least in the UK, the average price of a wedding dress is really quite modest compared to the other expenses - just £950 (only $1,900!).

$1,900!!! GOLLY! I can't spend that much for a dress that I will only use once... not even for a dress I will use 100times over and over again... That will be our total wedding budget already!

ummm, I will try to find a wedding dress for less than $100. Ricky don't believe I could find a good one but I know I will and it will be a good fit and a red carpet worthy design.

Wow. We were just going to do this. Only $700. Of course thats without the pink Cadillac.

That looks like alot of fun!

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Oh that's true! I forgot that most wedding have so many guests... since here we are all talking about how small the wedding will be, I forgot that usually people invite that many people

Here's the plan I have - small wedding party and guests, probably no more that 20 - 25 tops.

Chapel (including minister, music, and hall) $1,000

Receiption/dinner at a swinging Spanish rest. in Chicago including room & meal - $2,000

Flowers $300

Settings $300

Gown & frilly stuff $500

Photographer $500 (pay for the pictures later when cash returns to my account )

Misc. nonsense $500 (safety net for everything I've forgotten)

Total: $4,600 - $5,100

My whole idea is not to stage a broadway production, just to keep it simple, elegant, and intimate. As the groom I understand that this is for her (most guys honestly would be happy showing up at the justice of the peace or eloping) but with all the newness of a moving here, with new surroundings and all the other adaptations, a huge wedding might very well be overwhelming. I keep repeating to myself with every planning step....simple...elegant...intimate and I avoid a lot of expenses for things that I think, quite frankly, are not remembered anyway.

Oh yes, I'm not foolish..... I clear everything with Olga first

Edited June 11, 2008 by BlakeandOlha

[Levi_Heather 0]

Since Levi and I both love fall the timing will be perfect for us..... Just something small with family and friends outdoors and cookout for the reception I think... Missouri in late September or early October is perfect for that

[Alex & Rachel 78]

That sounds ideal, Blake. A lovely wedding for her, but not too intimidating.

Right...I'd best head home. Maybe it's time to look at my belongings and work out what can be sold!

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Two positive points to end the day on:

Alex has managed to hire a cabana belonging to a friend of his mother's that can hold 200 people, so it's not only cheap, but we don't have to exclude anyone.

I might be moving out of this house! The current situation is: I'm renting a room off housemate whose boyfriend has recently moved in. I've mentioned him before. Anyway, it's been slightly awkward as he's not paying anything towards rent or bills whereas when we initially discussed his moving in my housemate promised we'd split the bills, if not the rent, three ways. Obviously I could do with the money. Now, boyfriend is a permanent house guest but still needs a place to store his belongings, so asked friend if he could rent her room. She's not entirely comfortable with the idea as she's housemate's friend, not his, and it could be awkward if anything happened. Also, it seems a bit needless to rent a room elsewhere that you're not planning to live in and then live in a house where you're unable to contribute towards the bills because you're already paying for a room!

The friend is away for six weeks over the summer and would prefer if someone could house-sit for her. So I'm thinking the best solution would be for me to rent off friend, for cheaper (the room is smaller), sell/move my belongings, and clear the room in this house so boyfriend has somewhere to store his stuff. Hopefully a win-win situation all round!