Wedding ideas

[divalocs 8]

I really can't afford a big wedding. I wanted to just go to the justice of the peace but I also don't want to have regrets. How did some of you plan your weddings without having a time line of when your Visa will be approved.

[anamaral 4]

Its certainly more dificult to plan a wedding without knowing when it will happen. It was a diferent situation (not because of the visa, but actually for work reasons), my husband and I married in the justice of peace (simple ceremony, just a lunch for close friends) and them we made the party we actually wated with our family and friends (important to plan ahead, specially because his family/friends had to fly from another country). We had 6 months to plan So.. it's a sugestion!

About "how to make a party not so expensive": I think we spent about 10% of what my friends spent in their weddings, we had many things homemade and spent the money in what we though was most important for us (exemple: less in decoration, more in food, drinks and music). Rented wedding dress, instead of expensive specially tailored one. Small city (where my dad lives), where everything is cheaper… It is possible to amke the party of your dreams and don't spend all your money.

Fell free to ask for any help!

[divalocs 8]

Awesome ideas, thank you. I will definitely ask questions.

[LiliBurd 85]

Depending on your location and the time of the year a backyard wedding is a good way to save money and still make it special. Pinterest has great ideas for DIY wedding stuff.

I agree with anamaral you have to prioritise what is important to you and spend money on those things. I think having a cocktail party instead of a 3 or 5 course meal is more affordable and manageable especially if you don’t have a lot of people, you might even have family and friends that volunteer to help.

Remember this is your special day, make it something you will be happy with.

Good luck

[AlissaCarly 44]

I married a month after POE and we're doing the big wedding this July, plenty of time! For the first one I bought a very cheap but gorgeous sales rack wedding dress, we got the food from the delicatessen department of our Shop Rite, which was actually delicious! We had the wedding at his mother's church, very cheap, we only got flowers for ourselves, and we just had family take the pictures. It was still a great day, and very cost efficient!

[yuna628 9,697]

Prioritize:

How much do you want to spend?

Where do you want it?

How many people?

What do you want it to look like?

Once you have those answers in place. Start small and work your way up.

If you want to have a wedding with just the two of you or a few friends and not at a courthouse, try looking for elopement packages. They are often the most affordable.

If you want to have a big wedding and no do-over with a lot of people, remember that once the visa is in hand, the fiancé has 6 months in order to enter the country. That's a good chunk of time to plan out, if you need a longer period to reserve venues.

If you want to have a wedding at a courthouse and then a big do-over later, it seems a lot of people pick this option.

If however you want to have a wedding with no do-over, with some guests (not suggesting anything huge here), and not have to worry about much - try contacting an all-inclusive place like a restaurant or country club, or hotel. If on the other hand you want to have a DIY type thing, it's sometimes best to look for public spaces that you can rent like parks, or historical houses, or rustic barns.

No you shouldn't reserve anything until you have your visa in hand, but that doesn't mean you can't contact vendors and ask them if they can be accommodating with a floating date or even just explain the situation and see if they have any suggestions. Cost compare all venues and price out photographers or caterers if you're using them.

Make sure you pay close attention to marriage laws that are specific to each state. Some states require that you must absolutely marry in the same county the license is obtained in -- that can narrow down options.

Things you can do now: find your wedding attire (if extra thrifty buy a gown and shoes when they are having sales). Price out any accessories you can't buy now, like invitations. If you are having a specific colour make sure to send all parties a sample swatch.

For me, after we both picked the place we will marry, I've let the venue coordinator know our situation and they were flexible and offered a few suggestions. We decided not to have a reception, which wasn't practical and would blow a huge chunk of our budget. We will have a big dinner and cake cutting inside a reserved room. Everyone orders what they want from the menu (make sure you're clear on wishes about alcohol as that can drive up cost). The dress and everything else has been purchased ages ago. If you can't afford a photographer, make sure someone there is taking photos that you can rely on.

NY of course is pretty pricey but, check out sites like WeddingWire to cost compare.

Depending on what your real estate in NY looks like, and how many people you've got coming would really determine a DIY backyard thing. But if you've got space that's probably the most cost-effective of all. It's not the least stressful or overwhelming though.

Also, do a wedding your way as a couple, and not what society or the industry dictates you need. Ask yourself, do I really need this to make it a special day?

[NikLR 13,231]

~~moved to off topic as question isn't about K1 process and procedures but about wedding ideas~~

[Dashinka 24,717]

We waited until we had the visa in hand before we really got into planning. We decided to do a backyard wedding at my brother's and we scheduled it for a time when we could skype it to my wife's family as well. Once we picked the date, the rest was easy, a local caterer, a tent, we found some nice plates and stuff online, a small amount of flowers, my niece did the photos and my nephew provided the music. It was very memorable day for both of us!

Good Luck!

[CowBoE 429]

I really can't afford a big wedding. I wanted to just go to the justice of the peace but I also don't want to have regrets. How did some of you plan your weddings without having a time line of when your Visa will be approved.

We have the money, but we still chose the civil marriage, which costed us less than $200.

We are both practical and wise with money, and we rather put that money to a better use

than a one night party...which has zero effect on lasting happy marriage.

[berber_wife 90]

When we were wedding planning, I kicked around a number of ideas for simple, casual weddings. We ended up with a beach wedding at my parent's neighborhood beach club (free for us) and a reception on my parent's pool deck. The reception was catered a local company and we had a few passed appetizers, a salad and made-to-order pasta bar, dessert bar of mini brownies, tarts, etc and a limited open bar (wine, beer, champange as none of our guests were big liquor drinkers). The price included food and bar service, set-up/tear-down, tables, linens. We had around 25 guests.

Some other ideas...

1) If the weather is nice enough, have the ceremony and reception at a park and either hire a food truck or hire a few people (through craigslist, taskrabbit, etc) to grill up food.

2) If you are part of a church, have the ceremony in the church and reception in an attached community/activity center. Many have a small kitchen so you could self-cater. Make food that can be easily frozen ahead of time and then just heat up. Some ideas: lasagna, frittatas and quiches for a brunch reception.

3) If you have a very small group, just do the ceremony at the courthouse and then go out for a nice dinner afterwards.

[LiliBurd 85]

Oh I like the salad and pasta bar. Smart idea!

When we were wedding planning, I kicked around a number of ideas for simple, casual weddings. We ended up with a beach wedding at my parent's neighborhood beach club (free for us) and a reception on my parent's pool deck. The reception was catered a local company and we had a few passed appetizers, a salad and made-to-order pasta bar, dessert bar of mini brownies, tarts, etc and a limited open bar (wine, beer, champange as none of our guests were big liquor drinkers). The price included food and bar service, set-up/tear-down, tables, linens. We had around 25 guests.

Some other ideas...

1) If the weather is nice enough, have the ceremony and reception at a park and either hire a food truck or hire a few people (through craigslist, taskrabbit, etc) to grill up food.

2) If you are part of a church, have the ceremony in the church and reception in an attached community/activity center. Many have a small kitchen so you could self-cater. Make food that can be easily frozen ahead of time and then just heat up. Some ideas: lasagna, frittatas and quiches for a brunch reception.

3) If you have a very small group, just do the ceremony at the courthouse and then go out for a nice dinner afterwards.

[divalocs 8]

Thank you for all the ideas. I will write down my thoughts. I honestly do not know what I want. I had originally said the court house and because I have long term friendships when I shared my news it was like opening Pandora's box. People started saying " I would come to NY "and how they would love to be present.

[TS2014 7]

Thank you for all the ideas. I will write down my thoughts. I honestly do not know what I want. I had originally said the court house and because I have long term friendships when I shared my news it was like opening Pandora's box. People started saying " I would come to NY "and how they would love to be present.

I'm dealing with that now. Plus family pressure that a wedding has to be done in a church. Good luck!!

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Courthouse and dinner for us...we will redeem ourselves on our anniversary.

[NikLR 13,231]

We had a lunch at a fancy hotel restaurant with close family. I also ordered cake pops that looked like lilacs vs a cake. We were married in a park where I grew up beside a wishing well (where else is more perfect?) Best of all was that it was free. My mom married us which was nice. You don't have to do a courthouse, you can certainly look for marriage commisioners.