When my wife and I married in Cebu province in 2008, there was no-one in the small town hall who could do the counseling (Am Eng) in English so we paid a little fee to get the signed paper that we had done it and that was that
Ah yes the seminar. What an experience! Elsa and I had ours under a tree outside the Palo Municipal building, along with 10 other couples. I think 10% of the seminar was in English, the rest in Tagalog.
Hmmm! My last update seeems to have gone astray! Ive booked an apartment in Manila near the embassy for a couple of days after I arrive - this gives me privacy for the first couple of nights with my fiancee and also means I can walk to the embassy if necessary! Reception venue is booked and reception paid, civil wedding is booked. I picked up the rings today (after adjustments for size) and also got measured for a suit! Final WU chunk sent to pay for various deposits and 'the dress' Organised transport to the airport for next Friday and also (easy to forget in the excitement!) the return transport when I get back - I got a 36 hour trip back with a 10 hour layover in Dubai landing Heathrow at 7:30pm, work at 8am next morning... Now what else?
hmmm - no official destination, although we do have a house booked (with aircon) in Tagaytay after the wedding (and before actually!) Our real honeymoon will be in UK when she gets here Im hoping at some point while Im there to do the trek up Taal - anyone done that?
I have Steve. Have you seen the writeup on it in Europinoy? I went with some of my wife's immediate family. It was a great day out. The main caldera is absolutely eyewateringly colossal. http://www.euro-pinoy.com/index.php/the-philippines/item/55-day-trip-to-tagaytay
Great. Good luck. It was a bit misty when we went so we didnt quite get to see clearly over great distances. I also regret not having a good quality camera with us.
Latest update... Scoped out a guided tour in Dubai I can do during my layover - photo opportunities in a place I've never been before! Got gifts galore for my sweetie (of course) and also for the family including about 5kgs of chocolate for all the cousins Speaking of chocolate everyone must try this for a big event - http://www.mymms.co.uk/ - design them yourself customised M&Ms!!! They are super cool (but expensive) I got 1.5kgs of claret and blue - half with our picture on and half with our name, super cool! Going through the documentation again - I have all original documents and copies of all too - all organised into labelled envelopes, I'm still paranoid about missing something! We had a little bit of dissapointment, the apartment we had been promised for the three weeks has been let out to someone else which means we had to find something else in a hurry, luckily Matabungkay came to the rescue with a beach front apartelle - lets just hope the typhoon season doesn't come early I forgot about travel Insurance!!! - Be back later...
I hope they like claret and blue, Steve Yep. I had to to a bit of typhoon dodging when I went out to get married. It worked okay. In some ways I preferred it as some of the days were sunshine and rain, a good cooler combination.
Whats not to like about Claret and Blue!? I was over there at a similar time last year for a couple of days and its super hot but when the wind and rain comes it is a relief - except that I didn't feel safe at all in her place, she's fast asleep there and I'm laid awake listening and feeling the wind blowing through the house - the thunder was so loud and close I thought I was done for!!
36 hours on the go including an 11 stopover in Dubai and finally im in Manila! Already been 'shopping' and had my fix of local food and red horse, fiancee finally has her engagement ring but we had to get it adjusted which bthey did in an hour. Tomorrow at 11am we go for 'CNI' appointment, the moment of truth....
