Wedding Stories & Ideas Galore!

[NickD 203]

Ha, should invite the USCIS to your wedding, very much a part of it when you marry an alien, was a very hectic time for us, with immigration, and getting my 14 year old step daughter settled in school and making her feel comfortable here, she was a very important part of the package. Also some thought was used to whom to conduct the marriage ceremony, I selected a federal judge, the USCIS wants to see your marriage certificate, can't argue with a federal judge. Compounding our issues, I live in the sticks, hey, I like the sticks, to me, it's a traffic jam when there are over two vehicles on the road.

Our actual wedding ceremony was small in the courthouse with just my best friend and man and his wife for the witnesses and members of the judges staff, plus the judge. It was a wonderful small ceremony, very friendly, and the judge refused to take any money for his services, we did this on a Friday. Have a wonderful daughter that did all of the organizing, since the vast majority of friends and relatives are in the Milwaukee area, we had the reception there to save the hours they would have to consume to get up to here. She took care of everything, invitations, the reception hall, the food, the cake, all I had to do was to write out the checks, ha, that open bar check was a killer. But worth it, and everyone could meet my new bride and daughter, it was a wonderful day.

Hired a professional photographer that prepared an over 300 photo album, our woman interviewer at the USCIS was quite impressed with that, still have the burden of proof that you are married and did get married for love, not just to bring that person here, she actually thumbed through every photo in our album asking who this or that person was. Her blessing was that my wife and daughter were approved for their green cards. That was a very wonderful wedding present.

I told my friend and relatives, just wanted them there to greet my wife and daugther, don't be concerned about wedding presents, but we still got quite a few, not like we are a young couple with nothing, I already have a toaster, but very nice art pieces that remind us of that day.

Our first experience with the USCIS was wonderful, the woman interviewer was very nice, just got bitter at the I-751 process, that was a severe hardship due to extensive uncalled for delays, and my wife at the same USCIS office in St. Paul got a real b!tch for an interviewer, think she was jealous that we are very happily married, but the oath ceremony was wonderful that left a positive taste in our mouths.

LOL, just saying, don't forget about the USCIS in your wedding, very much a part of your future together and they do have the power to deport your spouse. That was an uncomfortable feeling that lasted a long time, but all history now for us.

Since both my wife and I were divorced, didn't feel a white wedding gown was appropiate, guess you can't say with kids, that neither of us were virgins. She picked light blue for her dress and I got a near matching light blue suit, haven't worn them since, but hung up in our closet together, isn't that special?

Thanks so much for sharing NickD.. can feel the loveeee dont know when i can wear my clothes again, esp in the US. Halloween maybe

Did you actually bring the whole professional album to the interview? Maybe i should do that to the embassy when its my time. I really hate dealing with immigration. Used to travel a bunch for work, always get the jitters at the immigration counter.. i guess they can smell the fear.

Sure did after reading between the lines of all those USCIS forms, apparently if you don't win that 50,000 lottery, the only other way to come here is by marriage, so they really look into that. Has to be some psychology in that a person would not invite a bunch of people to his wedding, just to bring a person here using marriage as the vehicle. The photos were proof of that, and with the USCIS, proof is the word. Ha, after over five years of all that proof, USCIS is still welcome here to see that my wife and I are very much in love and living together. But that doesn't seem to count, rather see our utility bills or some other form of nonsense.

Ha, with the many weddings I have attended, bride dishes out 5-10 grand on a wedding dress, groom pays around a hundred bucks to rent a tux. LOL, what a way to start a marriage! Grooms, get use to it. First wife was that way, spending never quit. My new bride didn't want to spend anymore on her dress than I did on my suit, she's my kind of gal. But her wedding band cost quit a bit more than mine did, but the only reason for that, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing diamonds, leave that up to Liberace. But wasn't he kind of gay?

[Laura+Tom 2]

Our wedding isn't going to cost much, USCIS will be taking most of it!

[Terri and Seb 0]

Here's that BBQ picture I promised for whoever it was that was thinking of doing this!

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

Strangely enough, we are having our ceremony on Sunday (longest night of the year )...This will be the first (and hopefully only) marriage for both of us, but we're having a small ceremony, a few family and friends.

[jundp 191]

Jundp - Lovely lovely photos of you and family! and your shoes are super wicked hehehe how did your son feel re wearing kilt?

Thanks, faryan! Actually the kilt was my son's Christmas present a few years ago. He loves it and wears it for every formal occasion

Strangely enough, we are having our ceremony on Sunday (longest night of the year )...This will be the first (and hopefully only) marriage for both of us, but we're having a small ceremony, a few family and friends.

Awww, congratulations!

[faryan 4]

Greeneyedgirl - Congratulations! dont forget to share with us some pics!

NickD - there sure were MANY people at our wedding! hehehe, hope that counts at the CR1 interview. we sailed through USCIS and today NVC said they received our RFE doc and processing it. Hopefully that means they send the papers on to the embassy here and i will get a date for interview after New Year. i hope. what? they dont do house calls anymore like in the movies? hehehe

Jundp - thats so cool.. kilt is very macho.. we have something like that too, its called "sampin", u wear it over your pants (like u see ryan is wearing in the pic of us on the dais)

Where's the OP???? Shannon, we need update from you guys dont want to hijack the thread....

[Laura+Tom 2]

Thought I'd share some of the websites I've been getting ideas from.

www.oncewed.com - blog with DIY, trends, wedding features

www.vintageglamblog.com - vintage wedding themed blog, some cool download freebies

www.save-on-crafts.com - sell alsorts of craft pieces plus they have projects you can do

www.marthastewart.com - I'm sure you've all heard of her

http://eluckydesigns.blogspot.com/ - another wedding blog with freebie downloads etc.

And I can't get enough of www.etsy.com with all it's vintage stuff.

[NickD 203]

On the other side of the fence, is it really written in stone where the father of the bride has to pay for the wedding?

Heck, give you daughter the keys to your car, an old one, a couple of bucks, and encourage them to get married in the next state, called eloping if I recall.

Or better yet, the good old fashion shotgun wedding, a JP, bride and groom, couple of witnesses, a couple of bucks, and the shotgun of course. You knocked up my daughter, so you pay to support her and the child, but instead we got that stupid grandparent act where we have to pay for someone else's fun if your daughter is a minor.

Did some web searching, really couldn't fine a good old fashion chastity belt, with today's technology, should be one that takes one in a zillion digital codes to open, and you only get one try.

Ha, you sure don't have a large wedding for profit, with 50 bucks a plate and an open bar, with some guests that cost you a couple of hundred bucks, just get a five buck clock radio in return. Been to some pot luck weddings with true friends and relatives that were very nice and the food was great. Tossed in the USCIS in this discussion, they are very interested in how you met and got married, number of times you met, but never asked if you fooled around before or after you were married.

But they sure aren't liable if your marriage doesn't work out, a good test if you are really serious about marriage is to learn the divorce laws of your state. If you are unfortunate to reach that sad state of affairs, you will be surprised at the number of cockroaches that crawl out of the woodwork to take strong legal advantage of your poor situation. Ha, ironically, a church can marry you, but not divorce you, that is left up to the state.

With the USCIS, also a matter of that I-864 to consider, even when 100% sure of your choice, does cause you to stop for a half a second and think, do I really want to go through with this?

But a marriage is a contract between a man and a woman and is only valid if both of them are really sincere, whom you want to share that legal bond with is up to you, but you need only two witnesses. See some kids go in debt $25,000.00 for that day they won't even remember that would be more wisely used for a down payment on a place to live and can't depend on those people that came to eat their food and drink their booze for help.

All the rest is trivial, most important is that you and your spouse are extremely sincere and should be zero doubts, if you do have doubts or think your relationship will improve after you get married, much better off to stay single or keep on looking. I learned that the hard way with my first marriage, and so did my new wife.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

On the other side of the fence, is it really written in stone where the father of the bride has to pay for the wedding?

I think some movie starring Steve Martin made it up.

[Laura+Tom 2]

Tom and I are paying for the whole thing by ourselves, hence the tight budget.

[Shannon ♥ Nick 0]

I'm baaaackk!

Our son's bday was the 18th and then we had Nick's medical on the 19th so I was a titch bit preoccupied. I missed sooo much on here!!

Wow! I love the pics of the cakes! Just magnificent with the flowers cascading down the side! We want that too... and I think you have Nick wanting cymbidiums just because he loves the name! We emailed the lady locally about the cheesecakes (on the 13th) and have heard nothing so I think we're going to have to chase her up to get pricing.

And your MIL made that cake?!?! hmmm, where do you live?? LOL Can she do ours????

Laura - thank you so much for sharing the link for those flowers. I LOVE the idea of being able to keep my bouquet forever... and they look so natural and perfect! I'm very impressed with what I see on that website! I think I've found where I'm going to get my flowers!!!! Thank you!

Karri - those wedding dress pics you posted are exquisite!!! The dresses are amazing! I love the backs especially. Very very pretty! That's pretty much the exact style I was looking at before I decided to go with the halter... I just love the lace up bit in the back though... very sexy!

I'm looking for a bridesmaid and flower girl dress now... I'll need to find a place that will make the flower girl dress to specs though, due to her size - and I'm a little concerned about dealing with the places overseas... from what I see on the feedback for those places on ebay - it's a little risky.

We're paying for our own wedding too... so every penny will be accounted for! I was hoping I could find a dress that looked like a first communion dress - all white -(as our daughter has 1st communion coming up in April) so she could wear it for that and then we could just add a sash or something in the color we're using for the wedding to make it 'the flower girl dress'. Maybe I'm being too ambitious wanting to use one dress for both... hoping she can keep it clean from the wedding...

I've found some great deals and pretty dresses on http://www.lightinthebox.com/A-line-Spaghe...34-_p28944.html

The one that I've linked to would be my ideal flower girl dress for her - if I wasn't going to try to use it as a 1st communion dress too.

Now... I'm off to peruse the websites you ladies posted!

[Shannon ♥ Nick 0]

Here's that BBQ picture I promised for whoever it was that was thinking of doing this!

We're going to do BBQ style too... I just want everyone to have a fun relaxed time. Eat what you want, drink what you want - enjoy each others company and just have a terrific time... my motto for the entire event!

OH - and terri, loved that Seb is banned from this thread! You lay down the law girl!!! You're a vision in that dress...soo beautiful!!!

Edited December 20, 2008 by Shannon ♥ Nick

[faryan 4]

NickD & Wacken - Yup, we can all blame it on Steve Martin! The movie has been playing on our cable tv here for the past 2 years (maybe more)..

Me & Ryan paid for everything: from our outfits, to our trays of gifts to each other, beddings, cakes, flowers, etc.., Since Ryan had to work, he only arrived in KL like a couple of weeks before the wedding for our pre-marital course/counseling, so i get to plan for everything. My mum and aunt plan the reception and wedding favors coz the reception is basically my parents' event. My parents paid for their buffet reception However, in our culture traditionally the whole community help out. Nowadays, we pay the catering and the guests and family will always chip in, and at the end of the day, you almost pay for nothing for the reception! Really! I guess its also cheap coz we dont have open bar, being that theres no booze (haha)..

Shannon - the dress for your daughter on the link is soooooo pretty...

[faryan 4]

Laura, have i told you how lovely your bouquet is? the ones on the site are all so beautiful.. mine was a fresh flower bouquet (yeah the same cymbidium + roses combo, with green sateen ribbon), love it but cymbidium being like orchid scrunches up when dry, not like roses still have it hanging on my window tho. Awesome links you gave us, i esp like the etsy.com one.

[Laura+Tom 2]

Laura, have i told you how lovely your bouquet is? the ones on the site are all so beautiful.. mine was a fresh flower bouquet (yeah the same cymbidium + roses combo, with green sateen ribbon), love it but cymbidium being like orchid scrunches up when dry, not like roses still have it hanging on my window tho. Awesome links you gave us, i esp like the etsy.com one.

Thanks, it's a shame as I bought a smaller one for my sister who was going to be my bridesmaid, but she has just got a job overseas and may not make it to the wedding

Shannon, that store also has an ebay store, just search for Silk Wedding Designs. Sometimes her prices are cheaper on there than her website.

Edited December 20, 2008 by Laura+Tom