I was lucky that apart from sorting the CNI at the embassy, i had little to do planing the wedding or sorting the paperwork.Originally Posted by mike1
Hi andypaul thanks for that , canI just ask is there anything I can dowhen i go in Dec like check out things to save me time when i go back to get married in Dec ? cheers Mike
I had to fill in a form along with my wife to be with all the information required name, address in the uk , religion, family details etc.
Your Girlfriend needs to find out what the local registrar needs, from what i read and have experienced this can vary at local level quite a bit.
In theory you are suposed to go to a pre marriage counsling session but many couples seem to find a way round that or the local area does not seem to be to concerned with checking if the session is held.
Others may have more info on this subject than me.
Do see where your Girlfriend or her family plan to have the wedding, and check on the plans. My Wife and her family seeme to be a bit laid back on the planing side and needed a little nagging from me to book venues etc.
Also work out how much the wedding is going to cost you can have a lovely guest list but its sure to increase.
The Wifes family turned down the venues offer of doing the catering so that the family did it. In the end we gave both family members, friends of the family and women who came round to do the washing at the lolas house a few days of pay which i insisted was at a far higher rate than normal in phil. We also seemed to have even with the huge crowds which turned up enough food for the family to be eating leftovers for the next two weeks solid. Cost slighty more than the venues offer im sure but was far better for the family. but do keep an eye on costs as you don't want to be worrying on the day trust me.
I have never heard/read this mentioned but its worth checking about security at the venue. The venue we booked supplied security (seeing guys walking round with pump action shotguns and a holster with a handgun was a bit odd to me but also reassuring. That might be over the top but i don't where your planning to gett married in phill and how many people might be attending from each family.
On this trip make sure you get bucket loads of Photos together (good for both of you as well as for the visa and cfo), also with family and friends in lots of locations.
Have you decided if your Wife to be is keeping her family name or taking yours? Need to decide now so you can sort out getting the passport changed once you are both married. This can add a few weeks to the application but..
We did it and it made things easier once in the uk as we have the same surname much easier for proof of address and when opening bank accounts etc.
The most important thing i can think off is spend lots of time together and relax as much as you can as the next time it might be hertic with regards all the wedding last mintue details.
Im sure others can think of things to add to the to do list
