What are your wedding plans/timelines?

[landr 126]

We will have a courthouse wedding, probably within 2-3 weeks of my arrival, then family will come over for a visit/celebration.

What are your wedding plans/timelines? Are you having a separate courthouse wedding and then a second celebration for family and friends?

To all those who have already passed this stage, what did you do?

[Mbrennan 15]

I fly out on June 16th. We are having a church wedding/reception on August 8th, which all my family will be flying out for.

Our invites arrived today. Its getting even more real and exciting

It's a couple months of unemployment for me since I won't be able to work until AOS, but we knew that this would be the case.

Edited May 30, 2014 by Mbrennan

[kehills 217]

We were married three weeks after he entered the country; we had a small wedding in our front yard, attended by our fathers, my father's girlfriend, my sister, and four friends. Two of those friends and his father were from Australia; his father was already in town for work (a major selection factor for us in the date we chose), and his friends booked their tickets about the same time that my husband bought his ticket to immigrate (come home).

We could not, in good conscience, request that family and friends from Australia come over for a wedding. There is no point at which that's not a terribly expensive request (running into the thousands of dollars per person).

We a bit of time in our favour, because we requested an extension from the Consulate; this gave us a bit more planning room. Marrying in our front yard also meant that we had flexibility; we self-married (no minister to worry about), we didn't have to worry about facility fees, and our small party meant that we simply reserved a normal restaurant reservation for dinner about a month ahead of time, when we already had the date selected. (We ordered cupcakes locally a week in advance, did our own appetizer buffet, picked up wine from the local wine store, and beer was a morning-of gift to us from our local brewer.)

Oh, and I designed our invitations and announcements myself; I printed the invitations (all 10) at Kinkos and sliced and mailed them out. I used discount codes, etc, from VistaPrint, for our announcements. I just had to factor in the time for printing (which was about 10 days); again, easy to do, since we confirmed plane travel and wedding date immediately after his interview/approval.

Edited May 30, 2014 by kehills

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

We married the 5th day after POE and filed AOS a few days after that. (The AOS packet was pretty much done before he arrived.) It was our second marriages, so we had no interest in frills but something more personal than a courthouse.

We married on a Sunday afternoon with about a dozen friends he had come to know well on visits...not necessarily my longtime friends or any relatives except my daughters. It was at the home of a friend with a big house and lovely patio/garden with waterfall. We made up our own vows and everybody circled around us for the marriage part. Then wedding cake, champagne, beer, coffee, tea, etc. Nice little afternoon gathering of mutual friends. We also had nobody from the UK because it was expensive for them and we would be stuck entertaining house guests instead of getting on with our AOS and repairing our hurricane damage. (Another story.)

For those who want to marry quickly then more formally later, a "courthouse wedding" doesn't really have to be at the courthouse. There are lots of people who can perform marriages who will come to any location. We had a judge only because I've known him since kindergarten and he was happy to do it...free! I've come across many on here that plan for a big wedding later, but things happen and they can't afford it, or get pregnant, or UK friends who said they will come can't afford it, or it just never comes to be. So do something a little special for your real marriage ceremony is my idea so you make a nice memory (unless you already have the whole big shebang planned with a definite date.)

[visaqueries 111]

We were married in my back yard 5 days after his arrival. Missouri gives immediate marriage licenses, so he arrived Friday, we got the certificate Monday and were married Wednesday. We contemplated a courthouse wedding, but all my friends wanted to come and the courthouse only allowed 12 people. So, we asked the courthouse official to come to my house to marry us. He obliged (it's two blocks from the courthouse) and we were married in front of 73 people.

I am not one who wanted to spend a lot on a wedding, so I got a dress from Dillards, ordered pizza and Egyptian food (most expensive part), borrowed tables and chairs from my school, painted my old window sashes gold (I replaced my windows a few years back and kept the sashes) and put pics of my now husband and me in the "windows", made a step pyramid rice krispie cake (and got two cakes from Costco), got a few tablecloths, and found my cousin's fiance was willing to bring his sound equipment to my house. There were so many others who had had outdoor weddings, and they gave us things to use, but for an Egyptian the green of the backyard was the best part of all!

Edited May 30, 2014 by visaqueries

[shippingforecast 126]

We travelled from my wife's home near Houston to New Orleans as she was working Voodoo Festival last year when I visited, so I spent four days practically alone wandering around and taking in the town. On the last night she bagged me a free festival pass, so I headed to the park. As I was walking up she sent me a message on her break that said, "shall we get married later?". I replied with a yes.

She finished her shift, we caught the Cure show and headed back to our hotel to get ready. I had nothing but jeans and trainers. She had a casual white dress. We threw these on and jumped on the trolley down to the French quarter, where we were met by her work colleagues. We headed to the French Quarter Wedding Chapel; it was about 11:00pm. We were met by the nigh eccentric Reverend Talavera, in nothing but his night gown (who explained oddly, he was just eating his dinner). He explained he would need an hour or so to prepare. We all headed to a bar around the corner and had a few drinks.

We arrived there a little after midnight on November the 4th and got married in one of the craziest, unorganised wedding ceremonies of all time that involved some questionable rituals, to a violinist playing Fur Elise as it was literally the only piece of music she could play we both liked. We signed the forms and left, husband and wife. The following day we finalised our paperwork with City Hall. We got our marriage certificate in the mail a few weeks after that.

We didn't tell any of our parents or friends that weren't in the area until after. I remember being in a bar on the east side of town at 2:00am and calling my family and friends up; it was 8:00am back here. Luckily, they all took it pretty well.

We're having another ceremony this year, in England, on the same date for family and friends, at Hazlewood Castle in Yorkshire. I think we're calling it the show; she gets to wear a dress, we have photos taken, etc. but it will be a show; legally we're already married so they're won't be anything official happening.

We're a pretty spontaneous couple, and our relationship was built upon a fool's chance, really. And she's very nonchalant and understated. I wouldn't trade the way we did it for anything. I just feel like she deserves a big day too.

Edited May 30, 2014 by shippingforecast

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

We got married in Boston on June 2, last year (**** it's nearly my anniversary)! We had a ceremony on the waterfront in a park conducted by a JP. There were just 11 of us there, 5 of her family and four of mine. We then went on a reception on a cruise of Boston Harbor, in the gorgeous sunshine. It was a little hot at 36C but most importantly both families behaved themselves and we had a really good time. We then went on honeymoon to the White Mountains the next day.

[Kiwinyc 62]

We got married about 6 weeks after POE at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas with just out kids (we have two each). We're having a party at my husbands parents house in Brooklyn, NY in a couple of weeks where we've invited friends and family for a casual celebration with everyone. (NYC is where we originally knew each other)

[jptl85 25]

I'm arriving on the 16th June and we are getting married on the 30th. Just a small wedding at her house in front of parents and siblings. The big celebration will happen on our first anniversary when the AOS Process is over.

[Sabrina_T 22]

We're marrying on the lake at Piedmont Park, Atlanta 2 days after I arrive to get the legalities underway (date unknown) His best friend is a minister so will marry us for free. The park is free too. There will be just his parents there and a photographer friend. Then, August 8th next year, My family and friends are flying over from England as we get married in Atlanta Botanical Gardens Cannot wait!

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

We travelled from my wife's home near Houston to New Orleans as she was working Voodoo Festival last year when I visited, so I spent four days practically alone wandering around and taking in the town. On the last night she bagged me a free festival pass, so I headed to the park. As I was walking up she sent me a message on her break that said, "shall we get married later?". I replied with a yes.

She finished her shift, we caught the Cure show and headed back to our hotel to get ready. I had nothing but jeans and trainers. She had a casual white dress. We threw these on and jumped on the trolley down to the French quarter, where we were met by her work colleagues. We headed to the French Quarter Wedding Chapel; it was about 11:00pm. We were met by the nigh eccentric Reverend Talavera, in nothing but his night gown (who explained oddly, he was just eating his dinner). He explained he would need an hour or so to prepare. We all headed to a bar around the corner and had a few drinks.

We arrived there a little after midnight on November the 4th and got married in one of the craziest, unorganised wedding ceremonies of all time that involved some questionable rituals, to a violinist playing Fur Elise as it was literally the only piece of music she could play we both liked. We signed the forms and left, husband and wife. The following day we finalised our paperwork with City Hall. We got our marriage certificate in the mail a few weeks after that.

We didn't tell any of our parents or friends that weren't in the area until after. I remember being in a bar on the east side of town at 2:00am and calling my family and friends up; it was 8:00am back here. Luckily, they all took it pretty well.

We're having another ceremony this year, in England, on the same date for family and friends, at Hazlewood Castle in Yorkshire. I think we're calling it the show; she gets to wear a dress, we have photos taken, etc. but it will be a show; legally we're already married so they're won't be anything official happening.

We're a pretty spontaneous couple, and our relationship was built upon a fool's chance, really. And she's very nonchalant and understated. I wouldn't trade the way we did it for anything. I just feel like she deserves a big day too.

You guys seem like you'd be good company on a night out!

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

We married the 5th day after POE and filed AOS a few days after that. (The AOS packet was pretty much done before he arrived.) It was our second marriages, so we had no interest in frills but something more personal than a courthouse.

We married on a Sunday afternoon with about a dozen friends he had come to know well on visits...not necessarily my longtime friends or any relatives except my daughters. It was at the home of a friend with a big house and lovely patio/garden with waterfall. We made up our own vows and everybody circled around us for the marriage part. Then wedding cake, champagne, beer, coffee, tea, etc. Nice little afternoon gathering of mutual friends. We also had nobody from the UK because it was expensive for them and we would be stuck entertaining house guests instead of getting on with our AOS and repairing our hurricane damage. (Another story.)

For those who want to marry quickly then more formally later, a "courthouse wedding" doesn't really have to be at the courthouse. There are lots of people who can perform marriages who will come to any location. We had a judge only because I've known him since kindergarten and he was happy to do it...free! I've come across many on here that plan for a big wedding later, but things happen and they can't afford it, or get pregnant, or UK friends who said they will come can't afford it, or it just never comes to be. So do something a little special for your real marriage ceremony is my idea so you make a nice memory (unless you already have the whole big shebang planned with a definite date.)

Similar type ceremony for us. There were about 10 people. I wore what was obviously a "second marriage" sort of wedding gown and he a suit. Photographer, small wedding cake, and lovely dinner in fancy schmantsy restaurant afterwards.

And as to the third paragraph - I could not agree more heartily.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Oh - here's another thing we did.

When it came our first Christmas, we sent a card to all his friends and family back home that had our best wedding photo on it.

[CLMIKE 22]

We were originally going to do an elopement, because her family didn't realize the timeframe we had here (many flights = $$$), so we'd elope, then two separate receptions later on . But then her parents decided yes we are going to come and see this, so we've changed it to mini full blown wedding (my parents, her parents (who have never meet...oh boy ) and us). Didn't make sense for her parents to fly 8-10 hours just to see a 30 minute elopement.

Considering Big Cedar Lodge in Branson Missouri in October. Still finalizing all the contract stuff.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

But then her parents decided yes we are going to come and see this, so we've changed it to mini full blown wedding (my parents, her parents (who have never meet...oh boy ) and us).

At my wedding we told our respective families of our meeting place (they'd also never met) and got a taxi from my wifes house to the wedding location. We were a little worried when we saw that we were last and our families were chatting when we arrived! They all behaved themselves though