4 days ......

[gretchen_darren 67]

Gretchen put her foot down on the Barong. ONLY in the wedding in the Philippines. Not here in the states. Besides at 56F for a garden wedding, I would RATHER be wearing a Tux. I am having a friend doing the wedding photos. and someone will video for us on the bloggie.

Solved one problem. The buffet tables were buffet shelves. thankfully it was caught and fixed. Wahoo!!!

OPPPSSSSSSSS .....Got to order a bouquet yet... Hope I can get it in time....

today is my haircut, Party City. (plates, champagne glasses, utensils, decorations) Order Italian food. Rig doctor. (gotta preclean the carpets.) (cumberdund and tie), gretchen's shoes. Grant's Band recital. Hook up laptop to Projection and sound. Look for karaoke system. (I had a great one and gave it away.... tons of cd+g with cd+g player.)

Tomorrow is hair appointment for Gretchen. drinks, soda, Carbonated grape juice (non alcoholic) (Gretchen cannot drink alcohol until August :whistle: )Pick up mac and cheese, lasagna (Stouffer's frozen) delivery of table chairs. Finish testing laptop with video and sound. look for karaoke system.

Saturday: pick up cake at 9 am. Show up to wedding at 10:15 am. Food delivered at noon. Sweet afternoon of party and talking to people.

[B_J 2,752]

Or you could have a simple wedding.

Ours was at a garden at a local park. Total people in attendance was less than 20. She brought her wedding dress with her when she came over. Pictures of the wedding were taken by everybody who had a camera. Most importantly, we had my niece record the wedding so we could let the family back in the Philippines watch it. Wedding dinner was everybody going to the same restaurant afterwards.

Total cost was less than $500.

Edited December 8, 2011 by B_J

[gretchen_darren 67]

wish I could do for $600. but....somehow it is not happening. I am being patient, but also being very careful on the rising costs. We started with a budget of $2500 for food. Everything additional has come from cutting the food budget. Some of those coming are still very much Filipino in food. A few Filipinos coming are Americanized but half of those coming are still 1st generation. (Thanksgiving was the first one for me which as very un-american in food. No gravy, no mashed potatoes, no veggies, no corn on the cob, no salads)

[magdasal 19]

Congrats Daren and Gretchen. Happy wedding and best wishes!

[Ban Hammer 13,694]

congrats on the upcoming wedding. we do expect pics, of course.

[kev_n_jena 89]

Darren,

You might consider doing the Filipino coin/cord/veil custom. It's very simple and with all the Filipino guests you're having, they might appreciate the touch. We included them in our ceremony. If you already mentioned it, oops, i missed it.

[gretchen_darren 67]

Kev_n_jena thanks. Believe it or not, just as you were posting the response, I was talking to Gretchen about it, and making plans. The coin was done at the engagement party with her dad. something not usual at engagement parties, but then again.... her parents could not be here for the wedding.

We have arranged for a friend of her dad's to speak for her dad in giving away the bride. (the friend grew up with Gretchen's dad, he went back to the village to select his bride after coming here.) They were excited when we asked them.

We have arranged for the friend of her dad's and his spouse to place the veil on us.

We are asking a friend who leads in the ministry we are a part of to place the cord on us. The husband and wife are now ordained Chaplains.

The minister who is marrying us is a friend of mine.

No unity candle mainly because we are outside in a Garden. We don't want to even risk "bad superstition" on this one.

My parents, brother, sister will not be here. (My dad just got a new contract, and my brother has never been to my house. My sister just once.) My cousin may be here, but then again I do not know, he is the only relative in the area.

[JoBri 548]

Congrats bro!

We are going to have a simple, civil marriage as well. I find the whole 3 month deadline to get married unreasonable, especially for couples who must put on traditional marriage customs. 3 months just seems too short to plan something that suppose to be memorable for the rest of your life. Imagine in 3 months, you are suppose to get your SSnumber, marriage license, adjust to a new culture and life, get married, and file for AOS. They really did not thought of working class people who have to work all weekday long and trying to get days off from work to achieve all this in such a short time is nearly impossible.

K1 Visa should be changed to 6 months to enter US, and 6 months to get married or leave the US. I don't know who thought of 3 months. Must of been a single guy who thought that up.

Hehe... Well....I arrived in the PHILIPPINES on the 12th of January 2008 and we were married on the 15th of January 2008. How is that for quick? It was our first time meeting face to face too. Can't hardly believe our 4th anniversary is in just about a month.

[gretchen_darren 67]

Brijo .... sounds like a Tennessee shotgun wedding to me....you got caught sleeping in her room......

[Hank_ 9,174]

Brijo .... sounds like a Tennessee shotgun wedding to me....you got caught sleeping in her room......

[andrew&evelyn 6]

(Gretchen cannot drink alcohol until August )You guys having a baby on the way :)CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

[gretchen_darren 67]

(Gretchen cannot drink alcohol until August )You guys having a baby on the way :)CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

someone finally caught the fine print..... seems my choice of underwear makes a difference from when I was younger to now...... when I was 27, I was told having kids was unlikely in my lifetime...... now I have 3.... need to talk with that Doctor.... i think he mixed up the results with someone else......

[andrew&evelyn 6]

someone finally caught the fine print..... seems my choice of underwear makes a difference from when I was younger to now...... when I was 27, I was told having kids was unlikely in my lifetime...... now I have 3.... need to talk with that Doctor.... i think he mixed up the results with someone else......

Yup! Seem no one noticed it except me. Is that mean Am I being a chismosa? Really babies are blessings. I have 2 and they are my life:)

[gretchen_darren 67]

was just taking a break from decorating. Been running around since noon. tables, chairs, and 3/4 of the decorating done. Food ordered, minister ready, photographer setup. Veil ceremony ready to go, cord ceremony ready to go. Tossed coins in fountain tonight at mall, have tux, have weeding gown, washed car, bloggie charging, took comesphtos of Gretchen getting her hair done, and video. Also got her shoes, bouqet and cake in the morning at 9 am. Drinks in stock tank (will post photos when I get a chance.) Sparkling cider on ice. Need to decorate door and cake area, blow up balloons and helium ballons, get more ice and some mac and cheese in the morning. Smoking area setup. Opps, no ashtrays, ah well.... use a couple water bottles be much better. Driveway/sidewalk hosed down. Almost done. Another 3 hours should be complete. Happy yippee Yahey!!!!!!!

[sunandmoon 450]

Yup! Seem no one noticed it except me. Is that mean Am I being a chismosa? Really babies are blessings. I have 2 and they are my life:)

actually, it was noticed a few days ago in another thread, congrats again Dareen & Gretchen