June 2017 I-129F Filers, Part III

[Lotts 1,433]

I'm so late to the party... Someone mentioned male strippers? Where's my invite?

Just... Don't tell my American... Or my mother 😂

[Hadassah123 523]

10 minutes ago, Jaquelly said:

 
Hii!

Okay so I will just take a screenshot of our budget:

To be fair, I don't even know if we're going to spend that much.

 

Ceremony: In my dad's backyard

Reception: Same

Printed materials: Shutterstock has a nice sale going on
Gifts/favors: #######?
Attire: My dress and shoes are $100
Rings: Just his
Hair & Makeup: Going to get my dad's girlfriend's stylist to do it
Flowers: IDEK, I am so not girly
Cake: Three cheesecake factory cheesecakes
Caterer/Drinks: $14 a plate BBQ that we're getting catered and a few kegs o beer
Photography: A few nice photos, and then a bunch of disposable cameras that we're asking guests to take pics with

Also, we invited less than 30 people

Ha, I'm using that same Google doc template!

 

As for your reception costs - I couldn't believe it until I saw the bottom of your message I think the majority of us will have larger guest lists. Ours is roughly 75 people, but jeez - even that is expensive already! I can't imagine paying way more for more guests. American weddings are expensive!

(Dutch weddings don't usually include dinners for all guests).

 

Edit to add: we have a venue. Would have loooved a backyard wedding, but isn't doable for us.

 

Edited February 15, 2018 by Hadassah123

[KandW 358]

9 minutes ago, Jaquelly said:

 
Hii!

Okay so I will just take a screenshot of our budget:

To be fair, I don't even know if we're going to spend that much.

 

Ceremony: In my dad's backyard

Reception: Same

Printed materials: Shutterstock has a nice sale going on
Gifts/favors: #######?
Attire: My dress and shoes are $100
Rings: Just his
Hair & Makeup: Going to get my dad's girlfriend's stylist to do it
Flowers: IDEK, I am so not girly
Cake: Three cheesecake factory cheesecakes
Caterer/Drinks: $14 a plate BBQ that we're getting catered and a few kegs o beer
Photography: A few nice photos, and then a bunch of disposable cameras that we're asking guests to take pics with

Also, we invited less than 30 people

That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing. 

ill have a look at shutterstock. There will probably be about 150-200 people at ours. We were just going to do a ceremony originally, but we’re just going to go for the wedding now if all works out. 

[Naes 12,205]

13 minutes ago, Hadassah123 said:

Ha, I'm using that same Google doc template!

 

As for your reception costs - I couldn't believe it until I saw the bottom of your message I think the majority of us will have larger guest lists. Ours is roughly 75 people, but jeez - even that is expensive already! I can't imagine paying way more for more guests. American weddings are expensive!

(Dutch weddings don't usually include dinners for all guests).

 

Edit to add: we have a venue. Would have loooved a backyard wedding, but isn't doable for us.

 

 

23 minutes ago, Jaquelly said:

 
Hii!

Okay so I will just take a screenshot of our budget:

To be fair, I don't even know if we're going to spend that much.

 

Ceremony: In my dad's backyard

Reception: Same

Printed materials: Shutterstock has a nice sale going on
Gifts/favors: #######?
Attire: My dress and shoes are $100
Rings: Just his
Hair & Makeup: Going to get my dad's girlfriend's stylist to do it
Flowers: IDEK, I am so not girly
Cake: Three cheesecake factory cheesecakes
Caterer/Drinks: $14 a plate BBQ that we're getting catered and a few kegs o beer
Photography: A few nice photos, and then a bunch of disposable cameras that we're asking guests to take pics with

Also, we invited less than 30 people

Can one of you send me that templateeeeeee, please 

[Jaquelly 1,647]

15 minutes ago, Hadassah123 said:

As for your reception costs - I couldn't believe it until I saw the bottom of your message I think the majority of us will have larger guest lists. Ours is roughly 75 people, but jeez - even that is expensive already! I can't imagine paying way more for more guests. American weddings are expensive!

(Dutch weddings don't usually include dinners for all guests).

 

Edit to add: we have a venue. Would have loooved a backyard wedding, but isn't doable for us.

Yes, I think we really lucked out. My parents have been divorced since I was young, so most of my family is scattered through the US. We invited people who we knew would actually make the drive, and are setting up a youtube live stream for those who can't - because why not! LOL

 

 

15 minutes ago, KandW said:

That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing. 

ill have a look at shutterstock. There will probably be about 150-200 people at ours. We were just going to do a ceremony originally, but we’re just going to go for the wedding now if all works out. 

Holy COW 150-200!!!!!! I don't even think I know that many people!

 

 

3 minutes ago, Naes said:

 

Can one of you send me that templateeeeeee, please 

Yeees, I will go find out how and send it to you

[KandW 358]

1 minute ago, Jaquelly said:

 

 

Holy COW 150-200!!!!!! I don't even think I know that many people!
 

Lmao. Mainly his family and friends. 

If it was up to me, we would have no more than 75

[Hadassah123 523]

4 minutes ago, Naes said:

 

Can one of you send me that templateeeeeee, please 

On Google Drive:

1. Go to: New (upper left)

2. Select Google Sheets --> from a template

3. Under "personal" select: Wedding Planner

 

@Jaquelly got it!

 

My fiance's mom also has access to the doc, so that she could help us with gathering addresses for the invites. Works great!

We also used it as the master list for selecting locations. I added all the details of ones I'd found and contacted. We then used the list to cross things off.

[KBA 542]

2 hours ago, John & Rose said:

But mention the November approvals.  They took my submission.  I dont know what they will do with it but I've already gotten 2 emails back confirming the information.

I still have gotten zero response from the inquiry I submitted on 1/29 and am unable to submit another at this time...thoughts?

[John & Rose 7,239]

4 minutes ago, KBA said:

I still have gotten zero response from the inquiry I submitted on 1/29 and am unable to submit another at this time...thoughts?

They say they need 30 to 45 days for the online inquiries. You can only have one online inquiry at a time. You can call and start another one and you can ask your Congressman. The Ombudsman is a separate agency so that can be done now too. 

[KBA 542]

40 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

They say they need 30 to 45 days for the online inquiries. You can only have one online inquiry at a time. You can call and start another one and you can ask your Congressman. The Ombudsman is a separate agency so that can be done now too. 

I called USCIS to see why I haven’t gotten a response yet and of course got the usual spiel that they have 30 days to respond...last word from the congresswoman’s office is they are “working on it” but nothing yet 😵

[A & C 1 35]

1 hour ago, Hadassah123 said:

American weddings are expensive!

(Dutch weddings don't usually include dinners for all guests).

Not all American weddings are expensive.  We have a budget of $3,000 and we are sending out 350 invites.  My dress was $65.  Reception place is free.  We aren't doing dinner for all either, just cake and ice cream for the reception.  We are doing a luncheon for close family (about 40).  I am 1/4 Dutch, so maybe that has something to do with it   Also, I'd rather spend money on school/housing...something that lasts longer than one night.   Do what makes you happy.

[Hoosier81 270]

2 hours ago, Jaquelly said:

 
Hii!

Okay so I will just take a screenshot of our budget:

To be fair, I don't even know if we're going to spend that much.

 

Ceremony: In my dad's backyard

Reception: Same

Printed materials: Shutterstock has a nice sale going on
Gifts/favors: #######?
Attire: My dress and shoes are $100
Rings: Just his
Hair & Makeup: Going to get my dad's girlfriend's stylist to do it
Flowers: IDEK, I am so not girly
Cake: Three cheesecake factory cheesecakes
Caterer/Drinks: $14 a plate BBQ that we're getting catered and a few kegs o beer
Photography: A few nice photos, and then a bunch of disposable cameras that we're asking guests to take pics with

Also, we invited less than 30 people

HEHe I got you beat of course its because I have 15 people coming lol

 

[Hadassah123 523]

17 minutes ago, A & C 1 said:

Not all American weddings are expensive.  We have a budget of $3,000 and we are sending out 350 invites.  My dress was $65.  Reception place is free.  We aren't doing dinner for all either, just cake and ice cream for the reception.  We are doing a luncheon for close family (about 40).  I am 1/4 Dutch, so maybe that has something to do with it   Also, I'd rather spend money on school/housing...something that lasts longer than one night.   Do what makes you happy.

True - of course! It's whatever you make of it.

 

My dress was a little more expensive than that, but my parents have paid for it 

 

Our budget is a little higher, but that's because we are doing dinner. And - we're getting married just outside of Chicago ( @John & Rose - I'll be in the area in September! ), and are/will be living in California, so we had to search for and secure a place from a distance. We're very happy with the location we now have, but not being local for sure made things more difficult. We're also "sponsoring" 2 family members on my side for their flights.

 

We'll likely stick to our budget, but can go a little higher if we want to. We don't care about spending so much for one day either. We just want a celebration with the people we love

[Jabberwocky1969 127]

I just lined up a Justice of the Peace/independent minister who is a coworker of mine.  Our date is unknown so planning is impossible.  We never discuss this ... but it may be time to get some thoughts together.  We're both adverse to spending money .. already getting crushed by travel expenses. I might suggest we do it in out home and invite family .. maybe 15 people .. make a party of it .. that's my idea. Honeymoon on hold .. we have 4 kids ... to deal with.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

4 minutes ago, Jabberwocky1969 said:

I just lined up a Justice of the Peace/independent minister who is a coworker of mine.  Our date is unknown so planning is impossible.  We never discuss this ... but it may be time to get some thoughts together.  We're both adverse to spending money .. already getting crushed by travel expenses. I might suggest we do it in out home and invite family .. maybe 15 people .. make a party of it .. that's my idea. Honeymoon on hold .. we have 4 kids ... to deal with.

And there would be absolutely nothing wrong with that if you did. Ours will likely be much like that. Between the money we've spent during our relationship, on top of what we're currently spending and will spend on this process, ON TOP OF him not being immediately employed upon moving here.... we decided to veto the traditional wedding route and have something very small and private. I have a couple of uncles who are ordained, so one of them will officiate our ceremony and it'll just be outside somewhere that either doesn't cost anything, or is low cost. We have some local botanical gardens you can reserve by the hour (think Miranda and Steven from Sex & the City), or will use someone's backyard. Upside to living in the south/country; most people you know have some pretty backyards.

 

It'll just be immediate family and close friends also. We'll probably have a meal, because between Paul being a chef and me just generally being from the south, we have to have food.  I plan on buying a regular dress and not necessarily a "wedding gown", so hoping that won't be too costly. I'd rather us have the money to use on something more important later, but still have that day be special because it's still a celebration.