Wedding Suggestions

[Caladan 19]

Okay. I'm Catholic.

We throw big weddings, even when we don't mean to.

However, there's the whole visa process to go through, and while we're looking at a time in late July or early August next year, obviously, it's best not to put down deposits on places & churches & caterers and all that yet, just in case.

But how does one plan something like this? Any advice for planning a decent-sized, if not elaborate, church wedding while going through this process? Not looking for a 'just do a civil ceremony' answer here; I know that option's out there, but I'd like to hear from people that did manage to have a church-wedding-reception-celebration for ideas.

[TracyTN 237]

I'm basically just getting venue ideas in mind for now. Then once my sweetheart has the visa in hand, I will start planning in more earnest - setting a date, visiting the locations and choosing one, and putting down deposits. But I am paranoid that way.

Of course, being a girl , I would be lying if I said that I don't already have color schemes, flower and dress ideas in mind as well...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Is the Pyramid (Memphis) one of your listed locations?

[TracyTN 237]

Is the Pyramid (Memphis) one of your listed locations?

Nah I don't want to drive 3 1/2 hours just to get hitched.

You'll be surprised to know it'll be a small-ish affair.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

3 1/2? Small potatoes.

I drove over 10 hours (to MI).

(and total attendance at my wedding was less than 75--so it was also smallish and simple).

[TracyTN 237]

3 1/2? Small potatoes.

I drove over 10 hours (to MI).

(and total attendance at my wedding was less than 75--so it was also smallish and simple).

Yeah but at the end of my journey, I'd be in Memphis (shudder).

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Not sure what you don't like about Memphis (unless it's the overhyping about Elvis Presley--no, I had no interest in visiting a shrine to a deceased drug addict).

[YuAndDan 153]

We are thinking to do a civil ceremony at the court house early with in the 90 days, then take our time and plan a nice wedding and restate our vows in front of friends and family later. That way we have several months to plan it right, 90 days can be a short time to plan and then have a wedding.

[MHandMB 0]

Well, my town has become a really popular wedding destination, so things here book up easily a year in advance. If you combine that with the fact that most weddings now run $25,000, things were looking grim for me since I had neither a wedding date nor a $25,000 budget.

I researched and researched caterers, locations, photagraphers, etc. for months to get an idea of what I wanted. I found a place somewhat within my budget and found out what their cancellation policy was. The day Amed got his NOA2, I booked the venue for about 8 months out, figuring it might take a while to get an interview date, etc., and knowing in the back of my mind that I was only out a few hundred dollars if we had to cancel. Well, things went really fast from that point. 2 months from his NOA2, he had his visa in hand.

Neither one of us wanted to wait for him to get here, so he came in April, but the wedding was still set for November. We wanted to get the AOS process rolling quickly, so we went ahead and were married civilly by a notary in my office (it was seriously the quickest thing ever). We both consider our "wedding" to be the ceremony in November. No one aside from a couple of people in my office and my immediate family know that we were civilly married (and USCIS, of course). Most people don't know about the requirements for AOS, etc., so we just haven't told them about it. We'll have our big wedding in 2 months, and 90% of the people there will see it as just a regular wedding ceremony.

I've seen others plan less than 3 months in advance, so it is possible. You do have up to 6 months to use the visa once you get it.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

We are thinking to do a civil ceremony at the court house early with in the 90 days, then take our time and plan a nice wedding and restate our vows in front of friends and family later. That way we have several months to plan it right, 90 days can be a short time to plan and then have a wedding.

Perhaps you should consider starting the plans BEFORE Yu's entry (and include your church, if any, in the plans). That way, you may only need to get a licence from the county and be able to integrate the two.

In our case, we wound-up doing that (got licence from Pontiac--Oakland County, MI's seat, then wedding in Novi).

[TracyTN 237]

Not sure what you don't like about Memphis (unless it's the overhyping about Elvis Presley--no, I had no interest in visiting a shrine to a deceased drug addict).

It was a joke (hence the emote).

I just fail to see the point of the wedding party and guests all driving 7 hours round trip for a wedding when we can have one nearby. ???

Anyway sorry to have hijacked the OPs thread. I'm sure you'll get some good ideas from folks here.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Okay. I'm Catholic.

We throw big weddings, even when we don't mean to.

However, there's the whole visa process to go through, and while we're looking at a time in late July or early August next year, obviously, it's best not to put down deposits on places & churches & caterers and all that yet, just in case.

But how does one plan something like this? Any advice for planning a decent-sized, if not elaborate, church wedding while going through this process? Not looking for a 'just do a civil ceremony' answer here; I know that option's out there, but I'd like to hear from people that did manage to have a church-wedding-reception-celebration for ideas.

Part of this depends on which visa you wish to file for. I'll give you the specific for K-1 (as this was how mine was done).

1. Start planning BEFORE bene enters US on visa
   
2. Involve the (US) church pastor/priest in this for planning (you can set a tentative date; also, some "volunteers" may be drafted to help with decorations/meals/etc)
   
3. Petitioner and bene go for marriage licence a few days before wedding in state/county where wedding is to be held; pastor/priest (usually ordained clergy in a county have civil authority) then signs licence
   

For other types (K-3, DCF, etc):

• Again, you should plan well beforehand and involve pastor/priest (though not necessarily US; in your case, Canadian equivalent can be involved instead--and you can get licence in Canada).
  

Edited September 7, 2006 by CherryXS