VISA issued finally after 2 weeks! Now, the wedding gown question ...

[Hank_ 9,174]

A wedding may be just a day, but it's a day everyone WOMAN dreams of sharing with someone they love dearly.

If a woman's the "get married in PJs" kind, then let her get married in PJs.

If a woman (like me & like OP) is the kind who wants to wear a wedding gown, then we ought to wear a wedding gown

Just because a wedding is stuff one's dreams are made of doesn't mean the marriage can't be the same way

Need to fix that... guys don't dream of weddings... gals do.

(soapbox here: I have seen many women that get all crazy about the "great wedding"... and don't do jack to make a great marriage. To them it's all about the wedding.)

Edited November 5, 2013 by Hank_

[sweet cakes 326]

A wedding may be just a day, but it's a day everyone dreams of sharing with someone they love dearly.

If a woman's the "get married in PJs" kind, then let her get married in PJs.

If a woman (like me & like OP) is the kind who wants to wear a wedding gown, then we ought to wear a wedding gown

Just because a wedding is stuff one's dreams are made of doesn't mean the marriage can't be the same way

Aaaawwww... Thanks for the support, Ivy! The wedding and its planning is definitely not done in a day. I think the prize that both the bride and groom deserve after all the time, effort and let's not discount the misfortunes (aka arguments) that may be encountered in the process of planning for the wedding, is to look great on their wedding day.

Need to fix that... guys don't dream of weddings... gals do.

(soapbox here: I have seen many women that get all crazy about the "great wedding"... and don't do jack to make a great marriage. To them it's all about the wedding.)

You might be right, Hank. It must be "just a girl thing". Or I'm just a lucky girl to have a man who wants to make sure I will look and feel good on our wedding. Besides, it's his wedding too. (whispers: Btw, Wedding is Day 1 of Marriage.)

Edited November 6, 2013 by sweet_cheeks

[Hank_ 9,174]

Guys enjoy making their gal happy... thus the cobble stone road

[The Conqueror 47]

Congratulations!!!!!

I had a long wedding dress too!!! We had our wedding at the backyard with freshly cut grass. Unfortunately, it was raining but the bottom of my gown wasn't that messy!!! My mistake was I didn't take my dress as soon as possible to the Dry Cleaner because I was thinking that I can clean it myself to save money!!! hahahaha. So until now I don't know what to do with it, because I am planning to sell it since I cannot wear it on my 2nd wedding in the Philippines. Dry cleaning is expensive.

But hey a piece of advice . Do what ever you makes you happy! I love the experience during the wedding preparations. They always ask "What do you want Dahlia?, How do you like this? and so fort.... hahahaha.... But of course not to the extent overdoing things or being demanding. Cjmc and I made all the wedding preparation for a month right after I arrive, rent a tent for 80 guest and even we did the catering or food. At the end everything went well! We heard a lot of compliments.

In general "Simplicity is the best". We prepared all things very simple and practical.

What is important is how you will work on the marriage life!!!

[sweet cakes 326]

Congratulations!!!!!

I had a long wedding dress too!!! We had our wedding at the backyard with freshly cut grass. Unfortunately, it was raining but the bottom of my gown wasn't that messy!!! My mistake was I didn't take my dress as soon as possible to the Dry Cleaner because I was thinking that I can clean it myself to save money!!! hahahaha. So until now I don't know what to do with it, because I am planning to sell it since I cannot wear it on my 2nd wedding in the Philippines. Dry cleaning is expensive.

But hey a piece of advice . Do what ever you makes you happy! I love the experience during the wedding preparations. They always ask "What do you want Dahlia?, How do you like this? and so fort.... hahahaha.... But of course not to the extent overdoing things or being demanding. Cjmc and I made all the wedding preparation for a month right after I arrive, rent a tent for 80 guest and even we did the catering or food. At the end everything went well! We heard a lot of compliments.

In general "Simplicity is the best". We prepared all things very simple and practical.

What is important is how you will work on the marriage life!!!

Hey Dahlia! Thanks for the advice, sweety. Yes ... We're on the wedding preps now. I will be personally making our wedding invites, it will be an intimate wedding so at most 20 guests. And you had 80 guests! Wow! Must be a handful huh? Getting stressed right now with all the other preps / planning. Even if I'm not there yet, I have started out talking with suppliers. But it's the experience, as they say. After all, I only plan to get married once, so best to make the most out of the experience. And fingers-crossed, I hope nothing will go wrong as I also plan to be my man's queen that day.

Yes, and we're right here making the first step into marriage life right.

Edited November 12, 2013 by sweet cakes

[The Conqueror 47]

Hey Dahlia! Thanks for the advice, sweety. Yes ... We're on the wedding preps now. I will be personally making our wedding invites, it will be an intimate wedding so at most 20 guests. And you had 80 guests! Wow! Must be a handful huh? Getting stressed right now with all the other preps / planning. Even if I'm not there yet, I have started out talking with suppliers. But it's the experience, as they say. After all, I only plan to get married once, so best to make the most out of the experience. And fingers-crossed, I hope nothing will go wrong as I also plan to be my man's queen that day.

Yes, and we're right here making the first step into marriage life right.

Wow 20 guest!!! I wish I had only 20 guest hahahhaa. Cjmc said he wants intimated wedding and I thought we had one. lol.

He had a lot of close friends and some volunteered to attend the wedding and flew from different States. It was overwhelming.

Here's some idea how we managed to entertained 80 guest :

1. We only sent out and E-vite through email and Facebook . But it was already sent 2 weeks without getting confirmations, only few attempt to confirm. Cjmc then resent the invites, some called him to confirm, some sent PM, and some did the RSVP at E-Vite.
2. It was only then had a chance to estimate the guests. Roughly we estimated 81 and decided to rent 50x20 ft. tent. (10 tables + chairs, plates, glasses (for wine, champagne & water), forks & spoons, table clothes, wedding arch and so fort).
3. We bought our flowers(already arranged) for the tables at Farmers market for only $5 each!!!! It was a steal compared going to a wedding florist it cost $40 for each arrangement. And I even bought my bouquet at Fred Meyer and pre-arrange it. We never focus on the Color theme since it is almost fall season and flowers may tend to be so expensive (flower vase got 50% off at Hobby Lobby). Only spent roughly $200 in total for bouquet, Arch decorations, 10 tables and our table.
4. Food: Cjmc decided to go for his specialty barbeque and had someone help us. My mom and sister cooked lumpia shanghai (which was a knock-out, everybody loves them), pansit, baked salmon and salad. Some brought Tortellini, we bought drinking alcohol and rented a portable bar. Some thought the food was catered!
5. No fancy decorations but we manage to have it look simple and elegant and spent less $$$$$.
6. We had some help from relatives and friends from setting up the tables, food preparation and serving, and the most tiring one clean-up after the wedding.
7. Overall it was tiring but worth every effort made. Less expensive than have a restaurant catered or have it done outside with fancy structures. Hey I'm not against fancy wedding but for us we want to have the preparation personalize without wedding coordinator.
8. Lesson learned: 1 month preparation was a killer but we manage to do it smoothly. Better communication with give and take technique. Though at the end I get all I ever dreamed for a wonderful and simple wedding . And got my beautiful wedding dress at Davids Bridal at clearance sale price .

I wish I can share some of the pictures but VJ has limited photo uploader.

Edited November 12, 2013 by dahlia0811

[sweet cakes 326]

Wow 20 guest!!! I wish I had only 20 guest hahahhaa. Cjmc said he wants intimated wedding and I thought we had one. lol.

He had a lot of close friends and some volunteered to attend the wedding and flew from different States. It was overwhelming.

Here's some idea how we managed to entertained 80 guest

I wish I can share some of the pictures but VJ has limited photo uploader.

Awww.. Thanks for the suggestions, Dahlia. That's sweet of you.

This is a good checklist ... Invites, wedding venue and food . and the dress! (and the groom, of course. ) That's about it ... It surely helps that the husband-to-be is supportive of our ideas, isn't it?

Yeah, 20 guests only, sweety. That's the number I'm expecting, but I will be hand-making 50 invites. Maybe 30 will eventually make it. But with the short-notice, different states and all, we are only expecting his close family members, his colleagues and boss and some of my relatives. I envy you that your mom and sister made it to your wedding. Sigh! I guess the sad part of being a K1-er is the acceptance that even your parents won't make it to your wedding. And you're one of those lucky gal to have made it possible! and the most envious part is you had Filipino food! Cool! How I wish we can find a caterer who can offer a mix of Filipino & American food too. No one would be there to help me cook, so I decided to not even think about trying it.

I was eyeing David's bridal too, but the visit to Merlene's here made me change my mind.. Or it must be the adrenaline rush working after I got my precious CEAC "Issued" update. lol.

Yeah ... But it's ok. Your profile picture says a million words! You have a lovely gown and looks like a great fit too!

Thanks again for sharing your wedding ideas, Dahlia!

Edited November 13, 2013 by sweet cakes

[The Conqueror 47]

Awww.. Thanks for the suggestions, Dahlia. That's sweet of you.

This is a good checklist ... Invites, wedding venue and food . and the dress! (and the groom, of course. ) That's about it ... It surely helps that the husband-to-be is supportive of our ideas, isn't it?

Yeah, 20 guests only, sweety. That's the number I'm expecting, but I will be hand-making 50 invites. Maybe 30 will eventually make it. But with the short-notice, different states and all, we are only expecting his close family members, his colleagues and boss and some of my relatives. I envy you that your mom and sister made it to your wedding. Sigh! I guess the sad part of being a K1-er is the acceptance that even your parents won't make it to your wedding. And you're one of those lucky gal to have made it possible! and the most envious part is you had Filipino food! Cool! How I wish we can find a caterer who can offer a mix of Filipino & American food too. No one would be there to help me cook, so I decided to not even think about trying it.

I was eyeing David's bridal too, but the visit to Merlene's here made me change my mind.. Or it must be the adrenaline rush working after I got my precious CEAC "Issued" update. lol.

Yeah ... But it's ok. Your profile picture says a million words! You have a lovely gown and looks like a great fit too!

Thanks again for sharing your wedding ideas, Dahlia!

You are most welcome! Just in case you want Filipino food... just buy my ticket and I will surely fly there to cook for you .

God bless you!!! And have a lovely and exciting wedding .