How did immigration effect your wedding?

[CarolineM 0]

Ours was earlier...and only the location was different. I would have wanted it in the states, ideally, but the size was just right.

[Sinergy 3]

Im just glad we got married i didnt care where it was, who was there or when it was as long as it was before i died

[MHandMB 0]

Our civil marriage was just us and a notary. But, we didn't really consider ourselves married until we had the big ceremony in front of family and friends. We ended up having to do that later on because we had no idea of the timeline as to when the visa would be issued. However, our wedding was absolutely perfect except for the fact that his family couldn't come.

[chri'stina 190]

We had to have it sooner so that we could file for Sujeet's EAD asap, instead of having more time to plan the wedding/reception. Under normal circumstances there would have been around 200 ppl there instead of the 80.

The major issue was having none of Sujeet's family at our wedding for many reasons. If we had both been from the same country I doubt we would have had that problem. And even if they had wanted to come, I doubt they'd all be able to get tourist visas.

But I still loved our wedding and thought it was great for only having a smaller amount of time to plan it and not that much money. We didn't start planning the wedding or pick the date until Sujeet's visa was approved.

Edited December 12, 2006 by stina&suj

[rob&ana 0]

Well…

In our case, we just planned it around our immigration process. We sorta knew when I was moving to the US, and we knew that we HAD to get married to get the rest of the paperwork going (not that we didn’t want to get married, but it was required to before the 90 days). So, we just planned to have it more or less a month after I moved. I had bought my dress in Venezuela, and I SO totally trusted my Mother in Law with getting everything together. I have a VERY large family, so I would’ve loved to have them all there. Specially my Grandfather, who unfortunately passed away this last October, but my parents and sister came, also two of my great-aunts, one cousin and my best friend. So I had family, people whom I knew loved me, were there for me. But, the greatest surprise of all was that all of Rob’s friends, and all of the family friends that came to the wedding and of course his mom and two brothers, made me feel so welcomed, so loved … that it really couldn’t have been any better. I just love my wedding, and every time I see the pictures I just feel so warm inside.

Would it have been different if we had gotten married in Venezuela?? Hell yes! It would’ve been a HUGE party, with LOTS of people, and LOTS of music. We thought we’d celebrate the wedding the first time we went to Venezuela, and Rob’s family would come down with us to celebrate and get a taste of the Caribbean, but, things don’t always happen the way we plan. There are a lot of good things going on for us right now, and even though we will be going to Venezuela, we wont celebrate another wedding there. Now it’s a 5 year goal. Renew our vows, and celebrate in Venezuela…

I really think that it wouldn’t have mattered how we did it, as long as we had done it. I would’ve still be happy with him cause when you are totally certain you love your SO, you could get married under a palm tree and it would still be the most perfect day.

[LaL 418]

didnt really affect us since we had been ready to get married for quite awhile before the visa was issued, and we planned to get married alone anyway.

[Wild Wind 0]

We had our wedding overseas it was just my wife and I and two friends. Prior to the wedding we had the photographer take pictures at various locations. The reception later that evening was a very large family gathering. I would not have wanted it any other way.

[KarenCee 3]

We had hoped to get married sooner than we did, but the visa didn't get into his hands when we wanted it to. Eh, that's ok...it happened. As for the wedding itself, it was just what we wanted. Small and intimate.

[Mags 112]

MMmn, this is tricky. I don't know. I've never been a fan of marriage. Never wanted it, tended to just be in long term relationships.

I know I DO want to marry Larry (ha ha rhymes) but whether or not it would have been asked or discussed without the immigration process is unknown to me. If we want to be together we HAVE to be married. So it isn't as if we have a choice really. There isn't such thing as a "co-habiting visa" after all.....

With regards to the actual wedding. It'll be very small. I can't stand huge weddings. So, the immigration process hasn't affected that bit at all.

Edited December 12, 2006 by mags

[sophyie 0]

Ours was sooner than we thought it would be.

We had planned to get married for quite some time when we started to look into the immigration process. When we found out about DCF we decided to get married this last summer instead of next- and I am so very happy about this decision.

We had a lovely little wedding ceremony and will celebrate with family and friends next September in the US- with a big casual bbq- reception.

Looking back: I would not change a thing

[Nessa 23]

No. We did it exactly when we wanted. - we wantred to get married on our 2nd anniversary and we did.

Yes. It was much smaller/different than we wanted - yes for the reason being I would prefer to have some family and friends (close ones), not about being smaller, it was the way I wanted with that exception.

[MissStacey 1]

We got our license and found a Minister. Mel's mom was coming in from Houston one weekend and we surprised her. It was me and Mel, his mom and a few friends and we got married in Jackson Square. We didn't look at any Immigration stuff until after we got married. When my parents got married they had a JP and did it and my dad went to work. The whole big wedding was something I never wanted. We did have a big Crab boil a few weeks after and had people over to celebrate. It was fun and casual and exactly what I wanted.

[Kath 0]

we changed our dates a few times not because of immigration but because of where people would be at the time...our bestman was going to navada so it had to before...my attendent from canada didnt worry her and we had an australian friend who gave me away was in the states so we organised it around them....

it was smaller than i wanted i didnt have my family here ...just one of those things we didnt have time in oz to have a wedding with closing the house down and finishing work going to the embassey in syd saying goodbye to everyone..

if i had my time over i would of done the DCF way and got married in australia with all my friends and family there..dont get me wrong my wedding over here was perfect ...my husband arranged everything before he came to oz to get me...i couldnt of asked for a better day he did such a good job right down to cooking for the guests...

kath

[Lou Lou 1]

Couldn't really vote because we didn't want to get married, but did so to follow the rules and to get the fricking health insurance. We don't particularly agree with the idea of marriage and would have rather shacked up. I even remember when I was a kid just detesting the thought of it. When I was 13 I said if I was ever mad enough to get married I would do it in Vegas (because it seemed the most ridiculous place at the time). Sure enough that's where we ended up getting hitched.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

We basically obeyed Bro. Joe's approach of having it at Easter. Unfortunately (due to high consulate load), Pras' mum was not able to get a visa in time to come for the wedding--we're now hoping she can get one in time to visit us for our first anniversary.