Wedding Planning - 90 days isn't long!

[Emmylou151 44]

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.

I am WAY to impatient to wait longer than I have to - he has been gone a week and I miss him already!!!

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!

Wow! You were so lucky! I am a very well organised person, I don't take too many risks if it involves emotions or money! well done to you though!

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 !!!!!

You just made me realise how much more visa work is required!

Just do something small and simple (justice of peace) then plan the big day (all brides deserve) later when you can plan and give guests enough notice to plan and attend. My husband and I married abroad with his family in attendance and are planning my big day for my family and others around our first anniversary (if he's finally have him here). My big thing was it wasn't exactly how I wanted it, but it was WHO I wanted so that made it special. We were fortunate that we were able to marry in a church with a minister and family though and I'm envied since I got married in Jamaica lol. Just breath and take your time. Congrats!

You guys have massively helped me and I've enjoyed reading all your experiences. It is clear to see that having a court house wedding for the sake of paperwork doesn't take the romance and joy from the marriage. Wether you have a second ceremony or not.

I have made my decision - I am going to do court house, and then plan my dream wedding the following year, with people, flowers, ponies and the WORKS!!

Thank you so much guys, I feel so massively reassured.

[blueeyedblonde 1]

We have started planning our wedding few months before we submitted our I-129F. I looked at usual visa application timelines and when it is realistic for me to make the move.

We booked our venue 14 months in advance. We booked our photographer, dj/mc, hair and make up artist shortly thereafter. It was important that we made advance plan in as my friends from everywhere will not miss it. So I had to facilitate that there's enough time for them to make flight, leaves from work arrangements too.

I already got my visa on my passport and I'd be traveling to the US in 3 months time and wedding is planned for in April.

[Emmylou151 44]

We have started planning our wedding few months before we submitted our I-129F. I looked at usual visa application timelines and when it is realistic for me to make the move.

We booked our venue 14 months in advance. We booked our photographer, dj/mc, hair and make up artist shortly thereafter. It was important that we made advance plan in as my friends from everywhere will not miss it. So I had to facilitate that there's enough time for them to make flight, leaves from work arrangements too.

I already got my visa on my passport and I'd be traveling to the US in 3 months time and wedding is planned for in April.

aww congrats! you are a very well planned human being!

We haven't even been engaged long and everything has happened so fast with my man (the USC) getting out of the military and returning to the US. We really were not expecting all this so did not have much time to plan that far ahead!

We both take each day, one step at a time. For us, planning a wedding that I want in 2 months isn't going to be stress free for us so we have opted for courthouse. Though I haven't told him this yet - I will be face timing him this evening!! Being the woman, I make most of the executive decisions

[blueeyedblonde 1]

aww congrats! you are a very well planned human being!

We haven't even been engaged long and everything has happened so fast with my man (the USC) getting out of the military and returning to the US. We really were not expecting all this so did not have much time to plan that far ahead!

We both take each day, one step at a time. For us, planning a wedding that I want in 2 months isn't going to be stress free for us so we have opted for courthouse. Though I haven't told him this yet - I will be face timing him this evening!! Being the woman, I make most of the executive decisions

[blueeyedblonde 1]

i guess we are fortunate enough that I had the opportunity to make frequent trips to the US while waiting for our visa application to be approved. So I'd do my research from home about wedding vendors, read reviews, contact them and clarify some matters, and then make arrangements to meet them the next time I am in the US. I also asked them for recommendations for other vendors I might need. I created a wedding website and we also have an FB page so that made it easier for me to communicate to our guests efficiently.

I believe the real stress is getting some people to RSVP. This has been the most challenging part of the process. Without a confirmed guest list, it's hard to confirm catering. While I will not be the bridezilla, my fiance will likely be the groomzilla, it's still not an easy task to get guests to confirm timely.

PS. I do hear you about women making the executive decisions. It's faster and more peaceful that way.

[Emmylou151 44]

I have to share my excitement - I purchased my wedding dress on Saturday! YAY!