December 27th! October is feasible - for Alex and me, that is. Not for our family/guests, though. They'd prefer to come at Christmas and I believe my dad is already in the process of booking a place to stay. I may very well fly out on the 2nd or 3rd of October, however.

And yes - flight prices drop dramatically once September comes around!

I have heard they are really easy! Also they have them at craft stores here for under 20 bucks! Saw them at Hobby Lobby and a place called Joanns this past weekend in fact!





Oh gosh I so hope you are right about this!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I just want our approval darn it haha! Oh and transcripts are free but I couldn't get through last night darn it it told me to call back LMAO!

Don't worry, you still have a higher budget than we do

It is funny, I just checked the link to see what people spend on average in Michelle's area and it is between $15,033 - $45,099 guess we're gonna be the cheapo's in that... All we spend is basically 2 rings (which I buy over here since I know a less costly place hehe), the stuff for the wedding itself (such as the permission, weddingcertificates, some guy who leads the ceremony), probably some meat for the BBQ (if the people there don't throw that for us already, I kinda think they might lol) and that is about it.

There will be hardly any family or friends attending the wedding. Maybe her mother and some other relatives which live on the same island but more, nah, I doubt it... We're really gonna keep it small as it is just for us to be together and have the paper. A big wedding will be thrown in a couple of years (probably when we have the 10 year greencard so we can do a nice and decent honeymoon too and so we can pick a nice and decent date too (like oct 10 or oct 20, 2010 haha)), my family will also be invited by then (that is gonna cost me a LOT, I'll have to pay for that if lol).

I'd be surprised if we go a lot over $500 - $750



On a different note, my SO called the NVC yesterday to see if they have received our stuff yet and unlikely to the stories which you read everywhere on this forum, my SO actually had a very busy sounding lady who didn't sound so nice and didn't want to spend too much time on it. See was obviously bothered by Michelle calling her Anyways, she told Michelle that we will have to wait 2 to 4 weeks until they receive it, the maximum should be 90 days. She wont have to call as they will send us the papers and stuff. Bleh... weirdlo's... oh wellz, Michelle is gonna call again at the end of the week

Yeah she can always hang up if she gets same lady hahaha

I hope she'll be luckier next time she calls.
When Bryan called the NVC, he waited on the phone for a very long time and no-one ever answered, so instead he sent them an email. We got an answer 2 weeks later.

Good Morning All!

It's great having access again during the day - although unfortunately I will not be able to live on the site like I used to. Too much work and all.

Anyway Rachel, I've actually read that it's actually a good idea not to have the honeymoon right after the wedding, but rather at some point later. So much of the focus of the wedding week is placed on the wedding, and certainly by the time the blessed event comes around everyone is probably a little exhausted and frazzled. For these reasons the honeymoon often falls short of the "romantic" expectations and become more of an occasion for sleeping and recouperating rather than on getting the full enjoyment of starting a life off together (it's no longer about introducing one's partner to the joys of is it now.... ). So don't fret if you can't take a "moon" right away, because when you and Alex do so, you will be well rested and ready to have a wonderful time!

Personally, I think the huge mega weddings that cost $30- $45k are kinda rediculous and not about the importance of making a committment to one another - at that level it's more about keeping up with the Jones' rather than making a committment before God and family. Just me though.

Gooooooo Sunny.........

Making friends at the CSC - a new approach that just might work. It's time.... Positive Energy is now focused on you!!

This is your week.

Sunny, it's refreshing to me that you got someone helpful at the uscis! I do hope it means something for you soon!

Russell and I have spent in excess of $65,000 in travelling the world over the last 3 years (not to mention 2 years of lost wages which would more than quadruple that figure) so we're not planning a big to-do either. I've kind of had it with the 'hub-bub' anyway and really am looking forward to some normalcy and peace. We even talked to his family about flying up in the spring (when flights from NZ are much cheaper) instead of right away for a more formal ceremony and they agreed! Big stress off of us! We're still not sure what we'll do for our first ceremony but we've got a few days planned alone in Boston upon his arrival. We always saw ourselves on the beach at sunset for our vows so we'll probably fine a nice place to spend the night and get married soon after his arrival. The kids want to be involved and i'm sure some other close friends and/or family might want to come too but we're keeping it low key and low budget! There will be no honeymoon for now because we've already had several! No regrets..we've had GREAT time. But honestly, i'm so damn sick of travelling! The 10 year green card honeymoon sounds like a fabulous idea though! I guess because there is so much other drama I just dont want a big deal for our vows... I also think that psychologically, and very much like a child , I almost resent that my government is giving me a deadline to marry! And that after making us wait so long to be together! In the spring I think we'll be more prepared and willing to have a big party and to share our vows with a couple hundred people. I think I will look forward to planning and preparing for that after he is here and we are situated back into our day to day! It will give his family time to miss him again as well!

However, we will NOT be spending no $25,000 on that day! That's an addition to our home! Don't get me wrong.. I did the big expensive wedding thing 17 years ago and it was lovely but in hindsight it would have been much easier to build our first home with those funds! And that $2,000 dress that I just had to have is still sitting in my basement doing nothing. All comes down to what you want. I'm lucky this time that it's very clear to me.

I think in the end what's most important is that you do what the two of you want. Whether it's a few words in front of a stranger in the courthouse in your jeans or a ceremony in full dress with hundreds of people there suporting you. What's most important is what that day symbolizes for the two of you.

How your love grows after that day has nothing to do with the way you did it or how much money you spent.

Kim, I agree with everything you said


Good morning Blake! it's good to see you again.

Actually, I was wondering how people can spend that much on a wedding. I mean, unless there are some plane tickets involved, or the location is in a very highly expensive castle (or something on these lines), what can make the budget so high?

Welcome back Blake! I (we) miss you! Okay, I know you posted yesterday, but you've still not been online as often.


Very true!

Plus my family will still be in the area for a week after the wedding, so I can spend more time with them, instead. Not to mention I am sure there will be parties or dinners to attend (Alex's grandpa's birthday is on the 31st December and his dad's is 1st January).


I, too, agree with Kim, and with Blake.

I think it is part keeping up with the Joneses, part brainwashing by the media, and part pressure by family/friends. It's not always what the couple themselves want but what they feel they're expected to have, or sometimes they may fall in love with a venue/dress/etc. that's more expensive than they had expected.

Cecile - I guess these things just build up! And don't forget that vendors themselves are also cashing in on the wedding business and automatically hike up their costs as soon as they hear that magic word. A small community hall can cost $1,000 easily - go for a larger venue with hired waiters/cleaners and that can reach several thousand. My dad recently rented large sea-front room with a bar attached for his 50th birthday; I believe he paid £900 ($1,800). A guest fell in love with the venue and asked about having a wedding reception there - and they quoted her £5,000 ($10,000)! Many weddings have between 150-300 guests - at, say, $40 a head the food alone can come to $12,000. Cakes cost several hundred. A photographer a couple of thousand. Flowers can cost a couple of thousand too depending on what type you have and how elaborate the arrangements are. Unfortunately it's all too easy to see how the expenses mount up.

Congratulations

Oh that's true! I forgot that most wedding have so many guests... since here we are all talking about how small the wedding will be, I forgot that usually people invite that many people

this one place we looked into in Maine required...

a $3,000 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking
minimum food & beverage purchase for a reception in 2008 is $15,000 (not including tax and gratuity)
Room rental fee of $2,500
Ceremony fee of $1,000
and all this with min/max guest requirements

Now I wonder how we can manage to do a small inexpensive wedding :S

AMEN & AMEN!



I guess the big chunk of the budget goes to the wedding gown worth $$$$ then to reception and food including cake, then photographer/videographer, etc.... here's an article on wedding budget percentages: http://www.onewed.com/articles/43/wedding-...et-percentages/

But if one will do most of the wedding stuff I think you could really cut expenses.



Others before us have done it, I know we can also do it.

Unbelievable! Yet many people will pay those prices without thinking twice about it.

I've been to three weddings. I was a bridesmaid for one - my aunt and uncle's. They are both highly-paid professionals and married late in life so they went all out. Everything for me was paid for - tailored dress, shoes, jewellery; I was too young to be made up but my aunt did have a hairdresser and a make-up artists for all of the bridal party. Cars were hired, the venue was a large city cathedral, and I cannot remember much about the reception except that there was plenty of food and that it was a full sit-down dinner. I imagine that did cost quite a bit, but it had all the trimmings and was very well done.


Actually from what I've read, at least in the UK, the average price of a wedding dress is really quite modest compared to the other expenses - just £950 (only $1,900!).

$1,900!!! GOLLY! I can't spend that much for a dress that I will only use once... not even for a dress I will use 100times over and over again... That will be our total wedding budget already!

ummm, I will try to find a wedding dress for less than $100. Ricky don't believe I could find a good one but I know I will and it will be a good fit and a red carpet worthy design.

Ah, oh hell - after I've paid for the police certificate and vaccinations that's all my money gone for this month! After that I'll be dipping into my overdraft again. I thought I had a little more...I'm not even counting my phone bill.

Have to love this process! The cost of the vaccinations would've at least covered all of my food bills for the rest of this month.

Wow. We were just going to do this. Only $700. Of course thats without the pink Cadillac.

I guess that's the good part about Hawaii...nothing is really formal hehe (no wonder when they got 85f-90f as average temps lol)... the dress we're looking at is $29.99 (40% clearance, usually its 49.99): http://www.hilohattie.com/acb/stores/3/CLE...-P6088C144.aspx

And for me it will be this shirt: http://www.hilohattie.com/acb/stores/3/CLE...-P6032C144.aspx which is $26.99 (also 40% clearance lol.. also the size mentioned above is a bit big for me lol.. I'm not small or tiny but 4x or 5x? geez lol).

Dunno what kind of pants I'll be wearing.. if I'm wearing shorts (well it IS Hawaii ) or just reg shorts.. doesn't matter really either as I got all kinds of clothes for that, I could wear a formal suit if needed but nah, thats not much fun when you want to do it Hawaiian style





Must be a good feeling that, even if you starve to death, you wont be able to get sick

That looks like alot of fun!

Here's the plan I have - small wedding party and guests, probably no more that 20 - 25 tops.

Chapel (including minister, music, and hall) $1,000
Receiption/dinner at a swinging Spanish rest. in Chicago including room & meal - $2,000
Flowers $300
Settings $300
Gown & frilly stuff $500
Photographer $500 (pay for the pictures later when cash returns to my account )
Misc. nonsense $500 (safety net for everything I've forgotten)

Total: $4,600 - $5,100

My whole idea is not to stage a broadway production, just to keep it simple, elegant, and intimate. As the groom I understand that this is for her (most guys honestly would be happy showing up at the justice of the peace or eloping) but with all the newness of a moving here, with new surroundings and all the other adaptations, a huge wedding might very well be overwhelming. I keep repeating to myself with every planning step....simple...elegant...intimate and I avoid a lot of expenses for things that I think, quite frankly, are not remembered anyway.

Oh yes, I'm not foolish..... I clear everything with Olga first

Since Levi and I both love fall the timing will be perfect for us..... Just something small with family and friends outdoors and cookout for the reception I think... Missouri in late September or early October is perfect for that

That sounds ideal, Blake. A lovely wedding for her, but not too intimidating.

Right...I'd best head home. Maybe it's time to look at my belongings and work out what can be sold!

Two positive points to end the day on:

Alex has managed to hire a cabana belonging to a friend of his mother's that can hold 200 people, so it's not only cheap, but we don't have to exclude anyone.

I might be moving out of this house! The current situation is: I'm renting a room off housemate whose boyfriend has recently moved in. I've mentioned him before. Anyway, it's been slightly awkward as he's not paying anything towards rent or bills whereas when we initially discussed his moving in my housemate promised we'd split the bills, if not the rent, three ways. Obviously I could do with the money. Now, boyfriend is a permanent house guest but still needs a place to store his belongings, so asked friend if he could rent her room. She's not entirely comfortable with the idea as she's housemate's friend, not his, and it could be awkward if anything happened. Also, it seems a bit needless to rent a room elsewhere that you're not planning to live in and then live in a house where you're unable to contribute towards the bills because you're already paying for a room!

The friend is away for six weeks over the summer and would prefer if someone could house-sit for her. So I'm thinking the best solution would be for me to rent off friend, for cheaper (the room is smaller), sell/move my belongings, and clear the room in this house so boyfriend has somewhere to store his stuff. Hopefully a win-win situation all round!

Good news on the Cabana, certainly.


I think it's a great idea moving. First of all it would clear up a situation that will probably only prove more irritating as time goes on. Secondly, moving will force you to make the first "cut" of items you will not need nor bring with you to the US. It'll be nice to be able to make these decisions without the pressure of a departure date staring you in the face. I'm happy to see things falling into place.

My ex-wife and I did it on the cheap back in '01. We married in Palm Springs, CA at the Moorten Botanical Garden for $300 on Palm Canyon Drive. Everything included (chairs, sun shade for guests, and free tour for guests to see cactii and Cactarium). We drove down the street to Palace of India restaurant and paid out $480 for 32 guests to dine for 3 hours. We were able to choose all of the great food in the buffet section, and the restaurant was happy that we wanted to hold our reception in their restaurant. 1 night in the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA for dirt cheap (in the Amistad room!!), and the next night everyone piled in my pickup and we drove to Tijuana where we partied like rock stars. Another cheap night out. The next morning everyone went with us to Disneyland. Then, we drove out the next day to Las Vegas to party/unwind. Great memories, but 1 year later, everything went downhill like a sinking (stinking?) ship.

I'm looking at packages in Las Vegas at the moment...

Thanks Blake - my thoughts are the same as yours. I'm also hoping it'll kick me into gear! Aah, I looked at my books and I'm going to have to be quite firm with myself - there are many I'd prefer not to get rid of, but which at the same time I probably won't want to read again.

Ken - that sounds like it was pretty awesome! Those prices are amazing, especially for the food! I bet the guests had a fabulous time, too. Sorry to hear the marriage wasn't quite as awesome.

Muchas Gracias!!

File # and Case # just now came in the mail. Can't wait to celebrate in Baja once the greencards arrive in the mail!

Me with my 4WD Club in San Diego, CA getting ready to take our 4WD vehicles into Baja, MEX!



I'm taking my Onelis to this spot in Baja once we get approved to cross the border. WOOHOO!

I do occasionally miss the sea!

Congratulations, Ken! Sorry I didn't say so before - I must've missed it. Good luck with the next stages!

Wow Ken, for those prices.... will you be doing the same thing in your upcoming wedding with Onelis or planning to do it differently? CONGRATS again for the NOA2.

Blake, it seems you have everything mapped out. Now that you have been approved, have you have a set a wedding date already?

Rachel, I am with you on the books.. the quote given to me by our local post office is $450-$500. I know that will probably be less than the prices in your place but for me that is still a staggering amount... i will just bring a few with me, those that i will really need then ask my sister to include a few when they send me christmas present then birthday next year and then some on another christmas and so on. They can even send me my own books as my own present.

We had a wonderful time, and the guests said this was their favorite wedding ever. Suzanne made all of the flowers by traveling into Downtown L.A. to the flower Market to buy all of the materials, and she made the corsages and bouquets herself. Everything was 1st rate, an inexpensive because we cut out so many "middle-men."

Always remember, when you call somewhere and say the word, "Wedding" the price multiplies.

AGREE!!! it holds true even when you go to dress maker/designers here in our country. For some reason, the wedding gown is a tad more expensive than the evening gown even if they will have the same cut.

Simple, elegant and intimate, Blake, this sounds just perfect. Bryan is actually the one who said we HAD to have a ceremony and not just do it fast at the courthouse with a few friends. And he wants a wedding that doesn't look cheap. I didn't know what I wanted at first (knowing that most of my family wouldn't be there anyway, why would I plan something big?)
There is a thread on the Canada forum where they show their wedding pictures, and some were saying "I can't believe that at first I only wanted to do it fast at the courthouse! This wedding has been the best day of my life!". And to see all these pictures made me realize that he is right, we need to have that wonderful wedding next year, even though it will be relatively small, that will still be better than the courthouse. That is the wedding we will remember our entire life.


Jeroen, even though that dress doesn't look like a wedding gown, it is just beautiful! And wearing that Hawaii style shirt will complement it very well.

Congrats for the Cabana!
And moving out now sounds like the best solution, everyone would be winning.


Ahah it's like a 3 days long wedding! that must have been tiring!

Thanks And yeah, it's a bit why we choose for that option (well basically it was my fiance's idea in the first place hehe), its not expensive and looks very nice, especially for the area where we're marrying

CONGRATS to a 1/31 filer that got approval! Come on CSC get the rest of us January people PUHLEASEEEEE

I just received packet 3!
and I agree with you Rachel, they certainly don't look very professional. They even crossed out I-864 and manually wrote I-134.

Michelle is very sensible! Lovely dress, cheap price, and entirely suited to the occasion. Now I have our location, I think my dress will be similar - I wouldn't want to wear anything too big or flouncy.


I agree! Dear CSC, please don't forget about sunny!


Congratulations, though! I expect you'll return yours before I return mine...Alex says 'end of month'. Oh well, I couldn't afford to have the medical or interview this month anyway.

Thanks! I'd like to return it tomorrow morning. I have everything ready except the DS-156, DS-156K, DS-230, that I want to file today while at work (I don't have a printer at work so I have to print everything at work). But now that I took a look at the DS-230 that has to be sent back, I'm wondering if I have all the information to fill it out (example, list all the places where you lived: that's written on my G-325A but I don't think I have a copy here at work! I should have brought my big file here with me today )

And on the DS-2001, they ask to put the case number, but it isn't written anywhere on what they sent me should it be the USCIS case number? or the NVC one?

And also, they ask the address where I want to receive the appointment letter and I'm wondering if I should put my parents' address since I will probably be back over there at the middle of July, until I leave the country. so maybe that would be better...
Oh yeah and I also have to work this afternoon... Kinda forgot about that...

Alright so I got my answer, the case number is the USCIS number (the one starting by WAC).
And I think i'll put my parents' address.

Hmm... your posts made me look at the required forms for the consulate in my country and now I am kinda wondering/worrying about something...

I'm pretty sure my fiance gave at the question 'Name all of your fiance's children' on the original petition (the I-129F) the following answer: 'none'... She said 'none' as it is not our intention to have my daughter come to the states as well (my fiance does know about me having a daughter btw)..

Now I am reading the DS-230 and I am wondering if we did right with that answer... I just noticed the DS-230 asks for 'List Names, Dates and Places of Birth, and Addresses of ALL Children.' and it struck me that they were not asking for the children who are joining to the US but just all kids that I may have...

I already have the birth certificate for my daughter as they might ask for it but now I really wonder what to do :S I mean, I don't want to lie about anything at all and it is, I think, more like a miscommunication than something else but I am starting to be afraid that they might deny our visa based on that small error. I have no intention in not telling them about me having a daughter but I also have no intention of bringing her over to the States (which is what we thought at first that the question was).

Anyone got any ideas in what to do? I could really use some input here :/

Yes, you should have listed your daughter on the I-129F. But, it was an honest mistake/misunderstanding, and it won't be cause for denial. And yes, your daughter needs to be listed on the DS-230. Just be up front and open about everything from this point forward, and I really don't think there will be any problems because of this.

JMO......good luck to you!

I agree with Don E.
Write her name on the DS-230, and maybe when you send it back, you can add a letter stating that you realized that you should have put her name on the I-129F but that at the time you filled it out, you thought it asked for the children who would come to the USA with you. Explain everything. It shouldn't be too big of a deal, since you were not trying to lie.

Thanks for the heads up peeps

I will indeed list her on the DS-230 as originally intended. An extra letter with the explanation of why she is missing on the original form might be a great idea indeed, I'll do that also

Thanks again, it makes me feel a better about it again

Good morning all

Morning Heather! How're you doing?

Doing great! How are you? Was hoping I'd see more approvals when I logged in but doesn't look like much has happened?

I'm fine thank you!

Sadly not - still, hopefully CSC will surprise us all on Friday as it has done the past couple of weeks.

I hope you receive packet 3 promptly!

Good Morning All - I agree with Rachel, tomorrow will probably be a good day. These things appear to come in waves these days rather than at a steady rate. Still, I'm disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm by the CSC. It is time to clear out us January folk so the CSC can move on to February (with a clear concience )