Hi everyone! Sorry I didn't post sooner, but it's been a whirlwind of a week! Doug crossed last Friday at the Ambassador....he brought a load in his car (keeping the rest in storage til Spring), along with a list of items. The agent gave him the yellow slip and waived him into the old duty free store, which is the immigration office during construction. When he got inside, he ran into one of the Commercial Agents (he's a truck driver) he knows, who promised to take good care of him! Brought another guy over who asked for his paperwork. Asked about his car, which he didn't want to import & they told him he had a year, took his fingerprints & picture, $6, he was out the door 45 minutes later. When he got outside, his car had been moved, but it didn't appear that they checked anything....didn't even GLANCE at the checklist. When he was walking to his car, the agent told him "Welcome to the U.S.!" (I thought that was nice). All in all, they were all very friendly, laughing and joking with Doug and each other...great experience! When he got to my house (OUR house now), he was so happy he had tears in his eyes..."it's so nice not to feel like a terrorist anymore, and now I can marry you". That was Friday.

Sunday morning we left for St. Pete Beach, Florida. Rented the "Grape Ape" (ie, purple HHR) and off we went to our hotel. The room wasn't posh, actually somewhat outdated, but the bed was WUNDERFULLLL, and it was a palace to us! We met the most incredible people: Don & Susan from Manchester England who joked they were coming to the wedding with hankies in hand "I knew her when she was just a little girl" (crying in their English accents...what a HOOT!) Then there was Willie & Crissie, married at 17, and 32 years together. They came to our beach wedding in their bathing suits: PERFECT! And we couldn't have done it without their help.

Tuesday: WEDDING DAY! We both started the day with a pedicure, then I had my hair/makeup done and was sitting at the pool drinking a cold beer an hour before the wedding...that's MY kind of wedding! Doug disappeared; turns out he was digging a heart in the sand, which he filled with rose petals. The officiant & photographer arrived, we dressed and Doug left for the beach. I walked down my aisle of sand and over a small hill to find Doug standing in the middle of this heart with the officiant (our new profile pic). He turned, saw me, and I'll never forget the look on his face; pure JOY. I love this man SOOO much!

We said the vows we wrote to each other, had a sand unity, and were taking pictures down the beach in the sunset when we noticed Crissy & Willie laying in our heart, embraced, while our officiant took pictures of them with their camara. I firmly believe they were there to solidfy our own commitments to one another...it was UNBELIEVABLE!

Enough mushy stuff....10 minutes later we're driving the Grape Ape to Madiera Beach to catch the casino dinner cruise. We meet Alan & Christy from Kansas, who inform the ship staff we're having a "wedding reception" on the lido (topside) deck. I couldn't believe how many people came up to celebrate with us! Course, we were TRASHED by midnight, but what a stinkin' riot we all had...my wedding reception with strangers, how funny is THAT?

Sooo....sorry for the long story, but this was a trip of a lifetime; and I'm now Mrs. Doug Fitzpatrick! I'm working on a MySpace page; I'll post the link.

Thanks to all my VJ family; and congratulations, good luck, and godspeed to all still waiting. It's WORTH EVERY SECOND.

I wish you all the happiness in the world...Your wedding story brought tears to my eyes!!!
Congratulations to both of you and best of luck for your future together!!!!

and OMG just looked at your picture!!! SO BEAUTIFUL! I want to see it bigger though

Congrats on your wedding....sounds like a beautiful day.

Good luck with the next steps!!!!

I'd like to see your beach picture bigger too.... can you post it on here bigger!!!

Wow! It sounds like a beautiful wedding and so much fun! Your story made me smile. Congratulations on the nuptials

Don't forget to post your myspace link - cheers!

Did you guys go through a certain company to do your wedding on the beach? Muz and I are also planning on getting married on the beach and want to find a legitament company to do it.

Did you have to go to the court house in florida to apply for the marriage license in person?


Thanks

steph

Congratulations .. sounds beautiful!!!

Since it was just the 2 of us, the "legitimate" companies were too expensive. I didn't want the arches, etc...just us; the heart was Doug's idea (he's so romantic). I searched yahoo local for wedding officiants in St. Pete, and found Vicki aka Beach Angel, and she was just that...an angel. She helped me with everything from flowers to the ceremony for $150...very reasonable!

I preprinted the form for the marriage license b4 we left and when we got there, we went to the county courthouse with the form, a picture ID, and $101 (for 4 certified copies for our AOS). We had the license within 30 minutes. Now here's the tip: after your wedding, take the marriage license back to the courthouse for filing yourself...you get your copies right on the spot !

Where are you planning to get married? Is it just the two of you?

Congratulations Doug and Amanda! The beach wedding idea is awesome...methinks I should propose this idea to my husband for when we fly home to do the reaffirmation ceremony - so many of his family and friends were not able to come to the States so we're doing this for them. He's from the Pubnicos and there are beaches all around.

I would if I could...I can't figure out how to add a photo into replies...does this work?

I HIGHLY recommend the beach wedding.....especially at sunset:

Beautiful!!

Congratulations and best wishes!

CONGRATSSSSSSS great story like the one with the heart reminded me when tony and i went for a walk and passd a baseball court , he desided to traw a heart in the sand with our names on half the court , was to cool
again congrats

Thanks fr your reply...

yes, it will most likely be just us two. I checked a company out called Bare foot weddings. The prices seem so steep for what we will actually get, which is pretty much nothing. We are going to get married on Destin Beach in Florida. We at first were aiming more towards Clearwater Beach, but have pretty much decided on Destin. Beaches seem to be much prettier there.

As far as as the marriage license...we have to have 4 certified copies of the license for AOS? Just out of curiosity, why 4 copies? Because Muz will not have a social security number before me marry, I'm guessing that he will only have to show his passport when we apply for the license? I think I seen some where on the marrige license form, a space for both the bride and grooms social security number. I have been a bit worried about this.

So you didn't have to have a witness? I always thought one was needed. What a relief!

Thanks so much for your responses.

Much appreciated!

Congratulations friends - you both look so happy! and you should be.

The pictures made me cry!!!
So beyond beautiful...
Congratulations again

Congratulations. What a beautiful event. It made me all giddy. Your pictures are wonderful. I can hardly wait for my day to arrive.

Best wishes to you both. May God bless your marriage and life together.

Doug and Amanda, thank you so much for the lovely post about your wedding! Congratulations and Best Wishes for a wonderful life together!

The pictures are beautiful. You make a lovely couple. Thanks so much for posting.

Carla

Awe.... makes me want to get married again Congrads!!

Congrats to you two!!!!

What a wonderful wedding, with gorgeous pictures, and your husband is indeed a very romantic man, the heart on the beach is sooo romantic

Wish you a lot of happiness in your new life!

Oh my goodness, I just LOOOOOVE the heart in the sand!!! That is so PERFECT. And I love how all the rose petals are blowing all around in the sunset pic. What a perfect day for you both. Congratulations!

Congrats! The pictures are beautiful!

Mary