Idea's welcomed for preparing for USA entry"POE"

[Zen Den 18]

One thing we just thought of, was buying a wedding dress in phil. Must be less money? one less thing to do in USA.

Earlyier on we thought of letters of referal from old jobs (original signatures). Any documents that may come in handy, other than the all important Visa documents.

Anyone care to ad on for all of us ?

[Loterly_Richard 0]

wedding shoes and wedding gown are much cheaper here zen. how abt diploma, TOR, personal stuffs like soaps that u are used to and been using for a long time. pics of your family so you wont miss them that much, address of your friends, relatives or neighbors(u might think of writing letters to those who dont have pc hehehehe) ill reply again when i can think of something to remind u.

goodluck and congratssssssssssssss

[july052007 0]

school records... nice handicrafts from quiapo ilalim (hehehehe my inlaws love these!!!!).... pictures your SO wants to treasure.... good quality fabrics from divisoria... sarongs.... nice quality bangles from quiapo...

thats all so far in my luggage bag as of now... hehehhehe...

[amerasianlove 0]

One thing we just thought of, was buying a wedding dress in phil. Must be less money? one less thing to do in USA.

Earlyier on we thought of letters of referal from old jobs (original signatures). Any documents that may come in handy, other than the all important Visa documents.

Anyone care to ad on for all of us ?

Bring some of your favorite food here in PHIL,im sure u will gonna miss it so much.

And I suggest that u will get your wedding dress here in that way u can save some bucks, practically speaking

Im gonna do that too when its about my time.

Kakainggit naman kayo at makakasama na ninyo mga hubby nyo (:

[sunandmoon 450]

If you need any dental work done, I'd do it in Philippines before coming here. much, much more expensive here.

[Chantel 0]

Speaking about the wedding dress, Its better if you get it from PI as what I did, I compared the prices its way too expensive here, I got a simple dress and I impressed my mom in law hehe....

[Zen Den 18]

Thanks so much, these kind of reminders can save hundreds of dollars.

Sincerely, Dennis

[dbears 1]

why don't you include the wedding favors(if your thinking of having one)... you can find good quality items here at lesser cost especially if you'd scan divisoria or the native shops in quiapo... also small tokens for your wedding entourage (if you'll have entourage) and other wedding stuffs. And also why don't you honor her more by wearing our traditional barong on your wedding? you can also get it here... if you are not here with Zen, you can give your measurements to Zen and she could get it done for you or she could go to the mall and get it for you.

Click here to get wedding cost estimate in your state: http://www.costofwedding.com/

even if you won't be having a full blown wedding, that estimate would give you a rough idea of the break down of things needed and the cost in your state.

[Zen Den 18]

why don't you include the wedding favors(if your thinking of having one)... you can find good quality items here at lesser cost especially if you'd scan divisoria or the native shops in quiapo... also small tokens for your wedding entourage (if you'll have entourage) and other wedding stuffs. And also why don't you honor her more by wearing our traditional barong on your wedding? you can also get it here... if you are not here with Zen, you can give your measurements to Zen and she could get it done for you or she could go to the mall and get it for you.

Click here to get wedding cost estimate in your state: http://www.costofwedding.com/

even if you won't be having a full blown wedding, that estimate would give you a rough idea of the break down of things needed and the cost in your state.

Oh my... God. There is just no way I am spending $ 25,000.00 - $ 37,000.00 for a wedding. Holy Tae !

Lol, the buget was is $ 6,000.00.

Thanks for that link !

[dbears 1]

Oh my... God. There is just no way I am spending $ 25,000.00 - $ 37,000.00 for a wedding. Holy Tae !

Lol, the buget was is $ 6,000.00.

Thanks for that link !

I guess that would be the cost if you are really doing everything the american way... I am the would be bride and I am thinking of even lesser cost than what you have in mind (as in way lesser than $6,000). My fiance is from NC and I asked him to look for public parks near his place that allows wedding and so far he's checked lake wheeler and lake johnson which gives way lower rental price than other commercial wedding venues.

We are also looking into the elopement package (got the idea from my fellow january filers on our january thread) offered by romantic B&B getaway places (which could double as honeymoon).. well it is better than the courthouse if you are planning to get married the cheapest way first for AOS purposes and then get a church wedding later on... some sites also offer affordable packages for small weddings.

I will have my very simple yet elegant gown here, have it made by a local dressmaker so it will be cheaper. and I will also be buying other wedding stuffs here... and will also be making almost everything else needed myself so that will really cut cost for us and we are also having a very small intimate wedding with just family and very select friends. (the number of visitors also determines the cost of the wedding)

BTW, I have friends who went to the US either for work or marriage and they said it will be cheaper to buy clothes here (except when you buy winter clothes during summer or off season clothes there).. I mean the normal daily clothes for zen, including undies and everything else. I don't really know, maybe you could check prices in the US and ask Zen to compare prices of clothings here in PI (philippine islands)

[foxyroxy 0]

Oh my... God. There is just no way I am spending $ 25,000.00 - $ 37,000.00 for a wedding. Holy Tae !

Lol, the buget was is $ 6,000.00.

Thanks for that link !

I guess that would be the cost if you are really doing everything the american way... I am the would be bride and I am thinking of even lesser cost than what you have in mind (as in way lesser than $6,000). My fiance is from NC and I asked him to look for public parks near his place that allows wedding and so far he's checked lake wheeler and lake johnson which gives way lower rental price than other commercial wedding venues.

We are also looking into the elopement package (got the idea from my fellow january filers on our january thread) offered by romantic B&B getaway places (which could double as honeymoon).. well it is better than the courthouse if you are planning to get married the cheapest way first for AOS purposes and then get a church wedding later on... some sites also offer affordable packages for small weddings.

I will have my very simple yet elegant gown here, have it made by a local dressmaker so it will be cheaper. and I will also be buying other wedding stuffs here... and will also be making almost everything else needed myself so that will really cut cost for us and we are also having a very small intimate wedding with just family and very select friends. (the number of visitors also determines the cost of the wedding)

BTW, I have friends who went to the US either for work or marriage and they said it will be cheaper to buy clothes here (except when you buy winter clothes during summer or off season clothes there).. I mean the normal daily clothes for zen, including undies and everything else. I don't really know, maybe you could check prices in the US and ask Zen to compare prices of clothings here in PI (philippine islands)

hi dbears,

please send me the link to those elopement packages....thanks!!

[dbears 1]

hi dbears,

please send me the link to those elopement packages....thanks!!

hello rox, what i have in my bookmark are venues in north carolina only but you can get married in NC naman eh, you don't have to be a resident of NC to get married there... I think every state has there own places which offers elopement package coz the one that gave me this idea lives in another state and they will be going to a B&B cabin in the mountain in their state.

here's my choices so far (in NC):

http://www.iloveinns.com/innlink.php?innID...st&state=NC

http://www.misscarolines.com/packages.html

http://www.1812hitchingpost.com/two.html

http://www.maggievalleyweddings.com/weddings-for-two.html

this one is venue only,http://public.fotki.com/Scars19/attempts_a...ler-raleigh-nc/ its a public park that accepts wedding and the mrdium sized area which would be perfect for small wedding is $45 half day.... compare that to the commercial place ricky inquired in, it was $1000 for the 6 hours use of the venue alone

there's another but i cant locate the link... i'm just out for a short break, will try sending it to you later when i get home.

you can also find places in your SO's state by googling "elopement packages in (your SO's state)"

[warwick8 0]

yeah, it's cheaper to buy clothes in the Philippines except for winter clothes. Another thing about buying clothes here is it's hard to find the size that's right for you. Like in the Phils, I'm either XS or Small but here, their size Small fits my chest and tummy area but is loose in the arms and armholes are bigger. Jeans are also a pain in the butt to find cuz the hips are larger and the pant legs are longer than what we are used to because well, caucasians are generally taller than us So for those stillpacking and waiting for their visas, I strongly advise you buy jeans and shirts there it's a little embarrassing to buy clothes in the Teens section

Another reminder for Zen, bring feminine wash like Lactacyd cuz they don't have that here in RI. they have the local brand or CVS brand but it's not like Lactacyd

Goodluck everyone

[jom 4]

I had my wedding gown made in my place for P4,5000.00( I bought the materials in tutuban for less than P2,000.00) the seamstress is my dear friend so she didn't charge me so much . . wedding invitations ( 50 pcs) for P3,000.00 (made of filipino native material that wowed those we invited here) . . wedding giveaways for P2,000.00 also made of native materials. I hand carried all in one small box, together with my x-ray film and had no problems. All in all my mother (her gift to us) paid less than P10,000.00 for the wedding stuff I brought. What a saving!! And everybody loved my wedding gown they couldn't believe it was worth less than $100.00. Now, my stepdaughter wants her wedding gown made in the Philippines when she gets married.

I brought ample shirts ( i shopped a lot in tutuban in between my medical and interview and saved a lot) and I am enjoying them now with FL weather. I didn't bring any food since Joe already scouted for a Filipino store before I arrived which is just 10 minutes from our house. I did bring a number of Lactacyd and PH . I brought all my original documents ( diploma, transcript of records, certifications and 5pieces of birth certificate)

Of course, don't forget the pasalubong for your fiance's family. I bought small native gifts ( key chains, coin purses, coasters etc.) so they were easy to pack.

When everything I brought is gone , I had no problem using what is available here.

Goodluck and happy trip. I am in awe of your timeline

Myla

[sunandmoon 450]

.

Click here to get wedding cost estimate in your state: http://www.costofwedding.com/

$44,000 hope my wife doesn't check that link, she'll think I was a cheapskate.

hi dbears,

please send me the link to those elopement packages....thanks!!

foxyroxy, if I recall you'll be in the San Jose Ca. area. there are many nice spots around here for your wedding. Monterey, Santa Cruz, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe.... here's a link to one as an example.

http://www.blackpearlcottage.com/elope.htm

with alittle searching, I'm sure you'll find the perfect place for your wedding.