The plan

Pretty much what our get married in Peru plan looks like

I think we have a plan.

After thinking and examining our options, Pollito and I have a plan.  Its actually been around for a while, but I think we are actually going to stick with this plan.

To start off with, the best option (the one we like the most) was option 4.  Get married in Peru and process Pollito´s visa/residency from here.  It allows him to work up until he leaves for the US and allows him to enter as a legal resident.  The time it takes and the fewer steps involved also make this option very appealing.  Talking to other people who have done the whole marrying a foreigner thing, if they had had the option to do Direct Consular Filing (DCF), they would have.  I want to make sure that we use our time wisely and that Pollito isn´t stuck in limbo when he arrives in the US.  There is nothing more frustrating than waiting with your hands tied.

So, folks, we are getting married in Peru.  WHAT!?!?

We are going to have a civil ceremony before I leave Peru and then turn in the documents.  Once we turn in the documents I don´t have to do anything else, so I will go home to "establish domicile" in the US.  We are just going to have immediate family with us for this day and its going to be just the civil ceremony with no party/reception/white dress/flowers.   Now, don´t hate me, I know a good many of you want to be with me on this special day, and I want you to be there too.  However, I don´t want to plan a party for two months from now and have people not be able to come because it was spur of the moment.  It also doesn´t give me enough time to plan.

Pollito also wants to have a religious (Catholic) ceremony, which is really what says you are married in the eyes of most Peruvians.  We decided that when we do the religious ceremony we will have the big party as well.  We will hold this in Peru because I have no idea what to do with a Catholic Ceremony in the US and if we do it in Peru, Pollito will take care of it all!  It will be a destination wedding if you will, for those of you who like destination weddings.  (I´m not that person who has planned their wedding from the age of 5, but still,  I never would have imagined having a wedding outside of the US) This grand fiesta will probably be between December 2012-March 2013, TBD.  We will also have a reception in the US for all the folks who cannot come to Peru.  How do people feel about traveling during the holiday season?

To sum up: Civil ceremony with family in Feb. 2012, Catholic ceremony around Feb 2013 with a big reception in Peru, American reception....sometime.

Pollito will still stay in Peru while his visa and residency is approved and he will still come up to the states in August/September of 2011.  Another plus of getting married ...he HAS to come up. Muahahaha.  I will be moving home in March.  This, by the way was the plan even if we didn´t get married in Peru.

We now have to stick to our time line and make sure we get our documents and medical exams and dates all  under control before the middle of February.  Its a good thing I don´t have to work full time anymore after Thursday.  I will have time to go wallow through the Peruvian system.  Wish me luck!