Is anyone else so emotionally drained from the K-1 process that they want to forgo a proper wedding (with ceremony & reception) and just go to the courthouse instead?

[dejene 37]

So I have an interesting situation. I've known for a long time that I wasn't going to get out of having a big wedding for a few reasons. I did try though, both of our families were not having it! And really neither of us wanted it that way, I just thought it was the most practical way of doing it, all things considered. But family is beyond super important, and ours is HUGE and very tight knit. I never could imagine them not being there.

 

So we thought we planned this out correctly, we looked at processing times back when we got engaged in November. He was actually here interning as an immigration attorney at that time. After dating long distance for over a year, we wanted to see if we could do this, and if he would be happy transferring his career here. He isn't an immigration attorney in Germany, but we figured that experience could help us if we went on with this process. (Hint to anyone seeking an attorney, DON'T! We learn more from this website than he did working in an immigration firm). 

 

So when we started looking at planning a wedding, we were still thinking of the 4-5 month processing times, and thought 8 1/2 months would be us on the safe side. Not realizing processing times slowed down so much over the last year. So now I'm a bit freaked, he's a lot more calm than me in general. Our venue is SUPER understanding and has always said they're more than willing to change the date without charging us a fee. But it's people who are planning to come here for the wedding. He has 50 friends and family members, and I have a few from when I lived there. They need time to plan a trip to the US, and can't just change everything at the drop of a hat. If processing times keep slowing down, and we get an RFE, I'm going to be freaking out big time.

NOW let's add that he can only quit his job on their quarter, so if we miss the May deadline he will have to sit around at home unemployed waiting, because he he has to take the bar here in July, so he can't wait until August to come here. Mix that with 7 deaths in my family this year, one of which being the man who was supposed to marry us, and yeah, this process has been a bit stressful. But I figure we already started this ship going, it's a bit late to try to turn it all around now. Let's just pray there aren't any hidden icebergs up ahead.