Wedding Planning - 90 days isn't long!

[JR loves JR 196]

We did a ceremony for 60 on the 84 day mark. I had a lot of help from family with decorating and planning. It was really beautiful and fun. But being a girl, I wish we would have done the courthouse thing and then had the real celebration later. There were a bunch of folks we didn't invite that I wish had been there but there just wasn't time to plan an event for 300 and the finances weren't there at that time. Another reason I wish we'd done the courthouse and the ceremony separately is because it would have been nice for everyone to have met my husband before getting married. I think it would have been more fun for him.

[Emmylou151 44]

We did a ceremony for 60 on the 84 day mark. I had a lot of help from family with decorating and planning. It was really beautiful and fun. But being a girl, I wish we would have done the courthouse thing and then had the real celebration later. There were a bunch of folks we didn't invite that I wish had been there but there just wasn't time to plan an event for 300 and the finances weren't there at that time. Another reason I wish we'd done the courthouse and the ceremony separately is because it would have been nice for everyone to have met my husband before getting married. I think it would have been more fun for him.

Wow 300 is A LOT! We won't have any more than 30 - even for the fully planned version! We have very close knit friends and to be honest, the majority of my UK friends won't be able to afford it. Given that I only have 30 people - I'm now wondering if indeed it may be possible to plan it?!

[JR loves JR 196]

You're right, 300 would have be a lot but most of it would have been extended family of mine. You can totally do one for 30 without problems. Is your fiancé the USC? He'd have to help with the planning. He's the one who should know where events can be held in his area and then he could start talking to them about availability. The things that are hardest to get set in 90 days are: location, food, photographer, and flowers. But for a party of 30, you should be good as long as you're willing to compromise on some of the details of your dream. Maybe you'll have to have an indoor wedding instead of the outdoor one you wanted or something like that. But your day will be beautiful and enjoyed by everyone who attends... even if it's not as "prefect" as it might have been on day 120.

[Emmylou151 44]

You're right, 300 would have be a lot but most of it would have been extended family of mine. You can totally do one for 30 without problems. Is your fiancé the USC? He'd have to help with the planning. He's the one who should know where events can be held in his area and then he could start talking to them about availability. The things that are hardest to get set in 90 days are: location, food, photographer, and flowers. But for a party of 30, you should be good as long as you're willing to compromise on some of the details of your dream. Maybe you'll have to have an indoor wedding instead of the outdoor one you wanted or something like that. But your day will be beautiful and enjoyed by everyone who attends... even if it's not as "prefect" as it might have been on day 120.

My fiancé is USC but he has JUST moved from UK back to states (AZ) and he hasn't lived in AZ for years so he is not familiar with the surroundings etc. I don't care about the food tbh, - happy with tinned hotdogs! Everything else would be good though. I am starting to check availability with places.. I will get him on the case too!

[templeton 120]

To the guys that did court house - did it make your proper ceremony any less special knowing that you were already legally married?!

Only less stressful.

[Emmylou151 44]

Only less stressful.

Which is a huge bonus!

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Remember, once you have the K1 visa, you don't have to come immediately. That gives you about five months to plan the weddding, then enter the country as your visa is good six months from your medical.

A lot of people come asap due to wanting to be together, which makes sense. But those who want more elaborate weddings can do it, they simply have to come in the last few weeks of their visa being valid.

So... say Five months to enter the country, then another three to marry, it's very much possible to plan something like that.


With that said, we're having something smaller at a church because we don't do big weddings anyways lol.

[kates43 13]

When I came home engaged last year, we started thinking on what time of year we would like the wedding. We chose a date and sent out save the dates, and told people not to book anything until we heard about the visa.

I decided to send out invitations when I had received my interview date.

Looking back it could have been very risky, and was for awhile when we got our NOA2 in just enough time for the rest of the process to be completed for us to have the wedding when we wanted to.

It all worked out the way we had hoped, we feel very lucky because it could have gone pear shaped. I don't think I'd recommend how we did it but that's what we did.

I really just wanted to get married all in one day, that was just my preference but a ceremony to legalise and a party later works for a lot of people in this situation.

Otherwise, organise your dress, your bridesmaids (if you have any), wedding vendors - just suss them out and have backups!! - and decorations/colours, choose/design invites but don't print too far ahead and all that stuff.

Also be sure to look ahead at what visa documents you will need once you receive your NOA2 - once that was approved all I had left to do was my DS160 and medical and interview because I had previously gotten my birth certificate, police certificate, medical records and my now husband had sent me the affidavit of support etc.

The more ahead you are, the more time you save and have more of an idea once it gets approved etc how much time you may have.

Good luck!

[kpeck 22]

Thank you for sharing your experiences! It's reassuring knowing that some you got a decent wedding, in a short time, and for a small budget. Being a girl, I have thought about my wedding day for the last 15 years! And I really want it to be perfect and special, non-stressful, and not rushed. I suppose ideally, it would be more "realistic" (but not as romantic) to have a courthouse, then plan the rest later when we have money and time.

To the guys that did court house - did it make your proper ceremony any less special knowing that you were already legally married?!

I am really freaking out about it!! I just want it to be perfect. The visa is stressful enough!

We also got married at the courthouse 1 week after my husband arrived and then we had our full blown wedding/reception, etc. several months later. As many people before have commented, it was so much less stressful being able to plan with enough time and being able to get started on the green card paperwork immediately. I think it was the best decision for us!

And to answer your question, no, it didn't make it less special to be married before the actual "ceremony". It was wonderful to be around family and friends celebrating our marriage! And hardly anyone knew besides close friends and family that we were already married (the officiant kept forgetting!)

With this type of process, you have to get used to doing things the "non-traditional" way!

[DJ6372 111]

300 people...................wow

My wedding, 3 people, my wife, me, and the official

Best day of my life

Flew in to Chicago on Wednesday

Thursday bought rings, suit, dress, flowers and obtained licence

Friday married

Stress free and beautiful

6 years ago and still the best day of my life

[bowens44 214]

Civil wedding at the courthouse

[Sunya and Tim 55]

We had a our wedding at the courthouse and it was wonderful. The judge was great, we got to have our own vows, my mom and a few close friends were there to help us celebrate. The best was that a few friends from out of state joined us via FaceTime. One of our friends made a video of the ceremony and we were able to send it to all of our friends and family around the world.

The best thing is that we are taking the money we would have spent on a wedding and taking trips to see all of our family and friends. This way we really get to spend time with each of them and they get to help us celebrate this great first year of marriage.

[Ksenia_O 696]

The first thing I did was to get my social security number under my maiden name as a K1 visa holder. After this I passed the driver license test and got my DL which was valid till my I-94 expiration date. Then we got Marriage License and I came back to the SS office and they changed my maiden name on my married name in the social security card. Then we put my name in my husband's bank account, utility bills and etc. At the same time we were working on my AOS paperwork along with EAD. I received my EAD within 60 days after the submission of the application. The validity of my I-94 has expired a few days before the EAD card arrived. So I couldn't drive just a week or so. As soon as I had my EAD, with my married name on it, I went to Driver License Bureau and just obtained the renewal of my driver license.

The actual wedding ceremony we had one year later, when we realized we were done with paperwork, expectations and worries due to the AOS process. At least till the next step, the ROC

As posted above - no rush and no stress :) There are so many things you have to do after your arrival!!!

Anyway, whatever you guys decide , I wish you all the best !!!!!

[Pitaya 2,577]

From our 2012 K1 visa review in our timeline:

We give our thanks to the Lord for all of the blessings that have been bestowed on us ! On 30 July 2012, at 4:30pm, at the Seattle Justice Center, my fiancee and I were married. It was a small and private affair. There were six people in attendance, the judge, us, her son, and our two witnesses. Afterwords, our limousine dropped the five of us off at the the Seattle Space Needle for a delightful celebratory dinner. On the elevator up, we met a couple that were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They now live in San Diego, but were married 50 years ago today at the Space Needle. It only tended to add to the special feeling of our recent nuptials. What a wonderful commentary to a wonderful day! We feel so blessed to have been able to start with a dream of her coming to America, and now it has come to fruition.

To all of my fellow VJ travelers trudging the immigration trail, this wonderful, sweet beginning together makes all of the loneliness, the toil and hard work of our visa journey pale by comparison, and worth every second of that protracted effort. Hang in there, and support your future partner. Work together as a team, the results may astound you!

Our best wishes to all of you as we all continue on our immigration journey.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Kat&Jon 85]

We had a our wedding at the courthouse and it was wonderful. The judge was great, we got to have our own vows, my mom and a few close friends were there to help us celebrate. The best was that a few friends from out of state joined us via FaceTime. One of our friends made a video of the ceremony and we were able to send it to all of our friends and family around the world.

The best thing is that we are taking the money we would have spent on a wedding and taking trips to see all of our family and friends. This way we really get to spend time with each of them and they get to help us celebrate this great first year of marriage.

This is such a great idea! When Jon and I eventually file I might have to check and see if this would be a good idea for us. I would also have to check with my parents though since they are super traditional and will want the full on ceremony to see if this is okay. I would rather save them the cost of a big wedding if I could!!!

Saving the money for trips is excellent!

As far as what others have done, I know that my coworker (who aside from this forum is my go to for questions about the process) was able to have their Fiance (now wife) plan their wedding quickly within the 90 days. They waited until the last week of the 90 days to tie the knot so that friends and family who could make the trip could come over and they had a destination wedding in New Orleans. It was small, about 30 people, but it was beautiful! The wedding and reception were in the same place a historic home/garden.